Job 28 · Verse 15

Job 28:15

It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
Job 28:15, King James Version

Job 28:15 in other translations

BSBIt cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
WEBIt can’t be gotten for gold, neither will silver be weighed for its price.
ASVIt cannot be gotten for gold, Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
YLTGold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed--its price.
DARBYChoice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
BBEGold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
WebsterIt cannot be obtained for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price of it.

What does Job 28:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Not the usual word for "gold"; from a Hebrew root, "to shut up" with care; that is, purest gold (1Ki 6:20, Margin). weighed--The precious metals were weighed out before coining was known (Ge 23:16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 It cannot be gotten for gold - Genuine religion and true happiness are not to be acquired by earthly property. Solomon made gold and silver as plentiful as the stones in Jerusalem, and had all the delights of the sons of men, and yet he was not happy; yea, he had wisdom, was the wisest of men, but he had not the wisdom of which Job speaks here, and therefore, to him, all was vanity and vexation of spirit. If Solomon, as some suppose, was the author of this book, the sentiments expressed here are such as we might expect from this deeply experienced and wise man.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 28:12-19

Job here speaks of wisdom and understanding, the knowing and enjoying of God and ourselves. Its worth is infinitely more than all the riches in this world. It is a gift of the Holy Ghost which cannot be bought with money. Let that which is most precious in God's account, be so in ours. Job asks after it as one that truly desired to find it, and despaired of finding it any where but in God; any way but by Divine…

Read the full comment on Job 28:12-19 →

Job 28:15 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.

לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יֻתַּ֣ןyu.Tanit will be givenH5414
סְג֣וֹרse.Gorfine goldH5458
תַּחְתֶּ֑יהָtach.Tei.hafor itH8478
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
יִ֝שָּׁקֵ֗לyi.sha.Kelit will be weighed outH8254
כֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefsilverH3701
מְחִירָֽהּ\׃me.chi.Rahprice itsH4242

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 28:15

  • Proverbs 16:16

    How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

  • Proverbs 8:19

    My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

  • Proverbs 3:13-15

    Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

  • Proverbs 8:10-11

    Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

  • Proverbs 8:17

    I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

  • Job 28:18

    No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
It cannot be gotten for gold. Heb. Fine gold shall not begiven for it.
18; Pr 3:13-15; 8:10,17,19; 16:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 28:14

    The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

  • Job 28:15

    It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

  • Job 28:16

    It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Read all of Job 28

Job 28:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No se dará por oro, ni su precio será á peso de plata.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Elle ne s’échange pas contre de l’or pur, et l’argent ne se pèse pas pour l’acheter.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Geläutertes Gold kann nicht für sie gegeben, und Silber nicht dargewogen werden als ihr Kaufpreis.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non dabitur aurum obrizum pro ea, nec appendetur argentum in commutatione ejus.