Job 28:5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;

◄ Job 28:5 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;

English Standard Version
As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.

New American Standard Bible
"The earth, from it comes food, And underneath it is turned up as fire.

King James Bible
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Food may come from the earth, but below the surface the earth is transformed as by fire.

International Standard Version
"While the ground produces food, underneath it is torn up and burning hot,

American Standard Version
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread; And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.

Darby Bible Translation
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;

Young's Literal Translation
The earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

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, shame us out of slothfulness and faint-heartedness in labouring for the true riches. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! How much easier, and safer! Yet gold is sought for, but grace neglected. Will the hopes of precious things out of the earth, so men call them, though really they are paltry and perishing, be such a spur to industry, and shall not the certain prospect of truly precious things in heaven be much more so?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. Its fertile surface yields food; and yet "beneath it is turned up as it were with fire." So Pliny [Natural History, 33] observes on the ingratitude of man who repays the debt he owes the earth for food, by digging out its bowels. "Fire" was used in mining [Umbreit]. English Version is simpler, which means precious stones which glow like fire; and so Job 28:6 follows naturally (Eze 28:14).