Job 28:1
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
Job 28:1 in other translations
| BSB | “Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. |
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| WEB | “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine. |
| ASV | Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place for gold which they refine. |
| YLT | Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine; |
| DARBY | Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine; |
| BBE | Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out. |
| Webster | Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. |
What does Job 28:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Job 28:1-28. Job's Speech Continued.
In the twenty-seventh chapter Job had tacitly admitted that the statement of the friends was often true, that God vindicated His justice by punishing the wicked here; but still the affliction of the godly remained unexplained. Man has, by skill, brought the precious metals from their concealment. But the Divine Wisdom, which governs human affairs, he cannot similarly discover (Job 28:12, &c.). However, the image from the same metals (Job 23:10) implies Job has made some way towards solving the riddle of his life; namely, that affliction is to him as the refining fire is to gold. 1. vein--a mine, from which it goes forth, Hebrew, "is dug." place for gold--a place where gold may be found, which men refine. Not as English Version, "A place--where," (Mal 3:3). Contrasted with gold found in the bed and sand of rivers, which does not need refining; as the gold dug from a mine does. Golden ornaments have been found in Egypt, of the times of Joseph.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Job, in showing the vanity of human pursuits in reference to genuine wisdom, mentions mining for and refining gold and silver, Job 28:1; iron and other minerals, Job 28:2; the difficulties of mining, Job 28:3, Job 28:4; produce of grain for bread from the earth, and stones of fire from under it, Job 28:5. He speaks of precious stones and gold dust, Job 28:6; of the instinct of fowls and wild beasts in finding their way, Job 28:7, Job 28:8; and of the industry and successful attempts of men in mining and other operations, Job 28:9-11 : but shows that with all their industry, skill, and perseverance, they cannot find out true wisdom, Job 28:12; of which he gives the most exalted character, Job 28:13-22; and shows that God alone, the fountain of wisdom, knows and can teach it, Job 28:24-27; and in what this true wisdom consists, Job 28:28. Verse 1 Surely there is a vein for the silver - This chapter is the oldest and finest piece of natural history in the world, and gives us very important information on several curious subjects; and could we ascertain the precise meaning of all the original words, we might, most probably, find out allusions to several useful arts which we are apt to think are of modern, or comparatively modern, invention. The word מוצא motsa, which we here translate vein, signifies literally, a going out; i.e., a mine, or place dug in the earth, whence the silver ore is extracted. And this ore lies generally in veins or loads, running in certain directions. A place for gold where they fine it - This should rather be translated, A place for gold which they refine. Gold ore has also its peculiar mine, and requires to be refined from earthy impurities.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 28:1-11
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Job 28:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Job 28:1
- 1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
- Malachi 3:2-3
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
- Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
- Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
- Proverbs 27:21
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
- 1 Kings 10:21
And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
- 1 Chronicles 29:2-5
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?
- Psalms 12:6
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
- Genesis 23:15
My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
- Genesis 24:22
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
- 1 Kings 7:48-50
And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was, And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.
- Genesis 2:11-12
The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12 But wisdom is an excellent gift of God.
vein. or, mine. the silver.
Ge 2:11,12; 23:15; 24:22; 1Ki 7:48-50; 10:21; 1Ch 29:2-5
where they fine it.
Ps 12:6; Pr 17:3; 27:21; Isa 48:10; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:2,3; 1Pe 1:7
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Job 28:1
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
- Job 28:2
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
Job 28:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | CIERTAMENTE la plata tiene sus veneros, y el oro lugar donde se forma. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Oui, il y a pour l’argent un endroit d’où on le tire, et un lieu pour l’or qu’on affine; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn für das Silber gibt es einen Fundort, und eine Stätte für das Gold, das man läutert. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Habet argentum venarum suarum principia, et auro locus est in quo conflatur. |