Skip to Content
Commentary Library

Job 28:16

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

Read in KJV Bible Reader

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,.... Which is often spoken of in Scripture as choice gold, if not the best;

[See comments on Job 22:24]; the sense is, that the gold of Ophir is not of the value of wisdom, or of the same worth with that, and so not sufficient to purchase it: with the precious onyx and sapphire: two precious stones that were in the breastplate of the high priest, of which [See comments on Exodus 28:9],

[See comments on Exodus 28:18], and

[See comments on Exodus 28:20]; but not so precious, or of such value as wisdom. Pliny (y) speaks of the onyx stone as in Arabia, near which Job lived, and who doubtless was acquainted with it and its worth, and also with the sapphire he makes mention of before,

[See comments on Job 28:6]. The word for "valued" is by some rendered "strowed" (z), as goods are when they are exposed to sale; but wisdom should not be laid, or put on a level with these, though so excellent and precious.

(y) Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 6. (z) תסלה "verbum significat sternere", Michaelis.

Other commentaries on this verse

All commentaries on this verse

Other commentaries on this chapter