Job 28:1
New International Version
There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

New Living Translation
“People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold.

English Standard Version
“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.

Berean Standard Bible
“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

King James Bible
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.

New King James Version
“Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where gold is refined.

New American Standard Bible
“Certainly there is a mine for silver And a place for refining gold.

NASB 1995
“Surely there is a mine for silver And a place where they refine gold.

NASB 1977
“Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where they refine gold.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where they refine for gold.

Amplified Bible
“Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where they refine gold.

Christian Standard Bible
Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

American Standard Version
Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place for gold which they refine.

Contemporary English Version
Gold and silver are mined, then purified;

English Revised Version
Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"There is a place where silver is mined and a place where gold is refined.

Good News Translation
There are mines where silver is dug; There are places where gold is refined.

International Standard Version
"Surely there are mines for silver and places where gold is refined.

Majority Standard Bible
?Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

NET Bible
"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined.

New Heart English Bible
"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.

Webster's Bible Translation
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.

World English Bible
“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Surely there is a source for silver, "" And a place for the gold they refine;

Young's Literal Translation
Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;

Smith's Literal Translation
For there is a going forth for silver, and a place for gold they will purify it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.

New American Bible
There is indeed a mine for silver, and a place for refining gold.

New Revised Standard Version
“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold to be refined.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
SURELY there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because there is silver coming forth and the place where gold pours out
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For there is a mine for silver, And a place for gold which they refine.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
1“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. 2Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.…

Cross References
Proverbs 2:4
if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,

Proverbs 3:13-15
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, / for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. / She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.

Proverbs 8:10-11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. / For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Proverbs 16:16
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Matthew 13:44-46
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. / Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7
Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. / No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Psalm 19:9-10
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous. / They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

Psalm 119:72
The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

Psalm 119:127
Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.


Treasury of Scripture

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.

vein.

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; …

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;

where they fine it

Psalm 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

Proverbs 27:21
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

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Job 28
1. There is a knowledge of natural things
12. But wisdom is an excellent gift of God














Surely
The Hebrew word used here is "אָכֵן" (aken), which conveys a sense of certainty and affirmation. It sets the tone for the verse, emphasizing the undeniable truth of what follows. In the context of Job, this word underscores the assuredness of human endeavors to seek and extract valuable resources. It reflects the human pursuit of understanding and wisdom, paralleling the certainty of God's wisdom and sovereignty.

there is a mine
The term "mine" refers to a place where minerals are extracted from the earth. In ancient times, mining was a labor-intensive and dangerous task, yet it was pursued for the wealth it could bring. This phrase highlights humanity's relentless quest for material wealth and the lengths to which people will go to obtain it. Spiritually, it can be seen as a metaphor for the search for deeper truths and the effort required to uncover divine wisdom.

for silver
Silver, in biblical times, was a precious metal used for currency, ornaments, and various utensils. It symbolizes wealth, value, and purity. The pursuit of silver represents the human desire for prosperity and security. In a spiritual sense, it can also symbolize the refining process of the soul, where impurities are removed to reveal true worth and character.

and a place
This phrase suggests a designated, specific location where activities occur. It implies order and purpose in the pursuit of valuable resources. In a broader sense, it can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual journey, where individuals seek a place of understanding and enlightenment. It reminds believers that there is a divine order and purpose in the quest for wisdom.

where gold is refined
Gold, like silver, is a symbol of wealth and purity. The refining process involves removing impurities to achieve a pure and valuable end product. This phrase not only speaks to the physical process of refining gold but also serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual refinement. Just as gold is purified through fire, believers are refined through trials and tribulations, emerging stronger and more faithful. The process of refining gold parallels the journey of faith, where believers are continually shaped and molded by God's hand.

XXVIII.

(1) Surely there is a vein for the silver.--In this chapter Job draws out a magnificent contrast between human skill and ingenuity and Divine wisdom. The difficulty to the ordinary reader is in not perceiving that the person spoken of in Job 28:3 is man, and not God. Man possesses and exercises this mastery over nature, but yet is ignorant of wisdom unless God bestows it on him. That Job should say this is but natural, after his painful experience of the want of wisdom in his friends.

Verses 1-28. - The connection of this chapter with the preceding is somewhat obscure. Probably we are to regard Job as led to see, even while he is justifying God's ways with sinners (Job 27:8-23), how many and how great are the difficulties in the way of forming a single consistent theory of the Divine action, which shall be applicable to all cases. Hence he comes to the conclusion that God is incomprehensible by man and inscrutable; and that it is only given to man to know him sufficiently for his practical guidance. To impress this on his hearers is his main object (vers. 12-28); and, to impress it the more, he introduces it by a sharp contrast. Wonderful as is man's cleverness and ingenuity in respect of earthly things and physical phenomena (vers. 1-11), with respect to heavenly things and the spiritual world - wherewith true wisdom is concerned - he knows next to nothing. All that he knows is just enough to guide his conduct aright (ver. 28). Verse 1. - Surely there is a vein for the silver; literally, an issue for silver? i.e. a place or places whence it is drawn forth from the earth. The silver-mines of Spain were very early worked by the Phoenicians, and produced the metal in great abundance (see the author's 'History of Phoenicia,' p. 314). But Asia itself was probably the source whence silver was obtained in primitive times. And a place for gold where they fine it; or, fuse it. Gold is very widely spread over the earth's surface, and in ancient times was especially abundant in Arabia (Diod. Sic.. 2:1; 3:42; Strabo, 16:4. § 18; Pit,y, 'Hist. Nat.,' 6:32, etc.); so that Job might easily have been acquainted with the processes of fusing and refining it. Two processes of refining are mentioned by Diodorus as practised by the Egyptians (3:11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Surely
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there is
יֵ֣שׁ (yêš)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

a mine
מוֹצָ֑א (mō·w·ṣā)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4161: A place or act of going forth, issue, export, source, spring

for silver
לַכֶּ֣סֶף (lak·ke·sep̄)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

and a place
וּ֝מָק֗וֹם (ū·mā·qō·wm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

where gold
לַזָּהָ֥ב (laz·zā·hāḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

is refined.
יָזֹֽקּוּ׃ (yā·zōq·qū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2212: To strain, extract, clarify


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OT Poetry: Job 28:1 Surely there is a mine for silver (Jb)
Job 27:23
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