Job 28 · Verse 2

Job 28:2

Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
Job 28:2, King James Version

Job 28:2 in other translations

BSBIron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
WEBIron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted out of the ore.
ASVIron is taken out of the earth, And copper is molten out of the stone.
YLTIron from the dust is taken, And from the firm stone brass.
DARBYIron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
BBEIron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
WebsterIron is taken out of the earth, and brass is melted out of the stone.

What does Job 28:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. brass--that is, copper; for brass is a mixed metal of copper and zinc, of modern invention. Iron is less easily discovered, and wrought, than copper; therefore copper was in common use long before iron. Copper-stone is called "cadmium" by Pliny [Natural History, 34:1; 36:21]. Iron is fitly said to be taken out of the "earth" (dust), for ore looks like mere earth.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Iron is taken out of the earth - This most useful metal is hidden under the earth, and men have found out the method of separating it from its ore. Brass is molten out of the stone - As brass is a factitious metal, copper must be the meaning of the Hebrew word נחושה nechusah: literally, the stone is poured out for brass. If we retain the common translation, perhaps the process of making brass may be that to which Job refers; for this metal is formed from copper melted with the stone calamine; and thus the stone is poured out to make brass.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 28:1-11

Job maintained that the dispensations of Providence were regulated by the highest wisdom. To confirm this, he showed of what a great deal of knowledge and wealth men may make themselves masters. The caverns of the earth may be discovered, but not the counsels of Heaven. Go to the miners, thou sluggard in religion, consider their ways, and be wise. Let their courage and diligence in seeking the wealth that perishes…

Read the full comment on Job 28:1-11 →

Job 28:2 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.

בַּ֭רְזֶלBar.zelironH1270
מֵעָפָ֣רme.'a.Farfrom [the] dustH6083
יֻקָּ֑חyu.Kachit is takenH3947
וְ֝אֶ֗בֶןve.'E.venand stoneH68
יָצ֥וּקya.Tzuksomeone pours outH6694
נְחוּשָֽׁה\׃ne.chu.ShahcopperH5154

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

Cross references for Job 28:2

  • Deuteronomy 8:9

    A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.

  • Genesis 4:22

    And Zillah, she also bare Tubal–cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal–cain was Naamah.

  • Numbers 31:22

    Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

  • 1 Chronicles 22:14

    Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Iron.
Ge 4:22; Nu 31:22; De 8:9; 1Ch 22:14
earth. or, dust.

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 28:3

    He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

Read all of Job 28

Job 28:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El hierro se saca del polvo, y de la piedra es fundido el metal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le fer se tire de la poussière, et la pierre fondue donne le cuivre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Eisen wird hervorgeholt aus der Erde, und Gestein schmelzt man zu Kupfer.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ferrum de terra tollitur, et lapis solutus calore in æs vertitur.