Job 28 · Verse 20

Job 28:20

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:20, King James Version

Job 28:20 in other translations

BSBFrom where then does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell?
WEBWhere then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?
ASVWhence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
YLTAnd the wisdom--whence doth it come? And where is this, the place of understanding?
DARBYWhence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
BBEFrom where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
WebsterWhence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

What does Job 28:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Job 28:12 repeated with great force.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Whence then cometh wisdom? - Nearly the same words as in Job 28:12 (note), where see the note.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 28:20-28
There is a two-fold wisdom; one hid in God, which is secret, and belongs not to us; the other made known by him, and revealed to man. One day's events, and one man's affairs, have such reference to, and so hang one upon another, that He only, to whom all is open, and who sees the whole at one view, can rightly judge of every part. But the knowledge of God's revealed will is within our reach, and will do us good. Let man look upon this as his wisdom, To fear the Lord, and to depart from evil. Let him learn that, and he is learned enough. Where is this wisdom to be found? The treasures of it are hid in Christ, revealed by the word, received by faith, through the Holy Ghost. It will not feed pride or vanity, or amuse our vain curiosity. It teaches and encourages sinners to fear the Lord, and to depart from evil, in the exercise of repentance and faith, without desiring to solve all difficulties about the events of this life.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 28:20 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.

וְֽ֭הַחָכְמָהVe.ha.cha.khe.mahand <the> wisdomH2451
מֵאַ֣יִןme.'A.yinfrom where?H370
תָּב֑וֹאta.Vo'does it comeH935
וְאֵ֥יve.'Eiand where?H335
זֶ֝֗הZehthisH2088
מְק֣וֹםme.Kom[is the] place ofH4725
בִּינָֽה\׃bi.NahunderstandingH998

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

Cross references for Job 28:20

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • Job 28:12

    But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

  • Job 28:28

    And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  • Job 28:23

    God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:6-15

    Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. …

  • Ecclesiastes 7:23-24

    All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

  • Proverbs 2:6

    For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12; Pr 2:6; Ec 7:23,24; 1Co 2:6-15; Jas 1:5,17

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

Context

  • Job 28:19

    The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

  • Job 28:20

    Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

  • Job 28:21

    Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

Read all of Job 28

Job 28:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿De dónde pues vendrá la sabiduría? ¿y dónde está el lugar de la inteligencia?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais la sagesse, d’où vient-elle? et où est le lieu de l’intelligence?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Weisheit nun, woher kommt sie, und welches ist die Stätte des Verstandes?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Unde ergo sapientia venit? et quis est locus intelligentiæ?