Job 28:1
in Job 28“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place for gold which they refine.
KJV
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
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This verse in Job 28
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Surely there is a vein for silver - Margin, “mine” Coverdale renders this, “There are places where silver is molten.” Prof. Lee renders it, “There is an outlet for the silver,” and supposes it means the coming out or separation of the silver from the earthy particles by which it is surrounded in the ore, not the coming out from the mine.
This site's exposition
Surely there is a mine for silver
on Job 28:1-3
"Surely there is a mine for silver" opens the fullest account of mining in the ancient world. Delitzsch notes how advanced mining already was in the patriarchal world. Clarke reads the miner who "probes the farthest recesses" as reaching every corner of the working.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
He means that if God has established an order in the realities of nature, he did even more with regard to human realities. Indeed, he foresees and takes care of events, and nothing comes from him at random. Or, on the other hand, [he means] that the whole of realities is quite visible but the plans of God are invisible; in fact, silver and copper have a place, whereas nobody has ever known the "place" of wisdom. But God only knows wisdom, and he has said to mortals that "piety is wisdom," and knowledge means to do good.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Above Job had shown how frail and perishable is the lot which the wicked receive from God. (27:13) Now he intends to show on the contrary the dignity of the spiritual good which just men receive from God even in this world. He understands the …
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XVIII · Written before 604.
proposed
The silver hath the beginning of its veins, and to the gold there is a place, where they fine it. Thus the holy man after he had adequately filled up the punishments of the men of power that are lifted up in the world, again directs his words to the pride of heretics, who are lifted up in speech. In silver the power of speaking, in gold brightness of life or of wisdom is used to be denoted.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Surely there is a vein for the silver,....
I know thy parentage is base and low; Man found thee poor and dirty in a mine. Surely thou didst so little contribute To this great kingdom which thou now hast got That he was fain, when thou wast destitute, To dig thee out of thy dark cave and grot.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The precious stones, though bright themselves, yet, because buried in obscurity and out of sight, are called stones of darkness and the shadow of death. Men may search long before they light on them. When found out it is hard to be fetched out.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
vein--a mine, from which it goes forth, Hebrew, "is dug." place for gold--a place where gold may be found, which men refine. Not as English Version, "A place--where," (Mal 3:3).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Surely there is a vein for the silver - This chapter is the oldest and finest piece of natural history in the world, and gives us very important information on several curious subjects; and could we ascertain the precise meaning of all the original words, we might, most probably, find out allusions to several useful arts which we are apt to think are of modern, or comparatively modern, invention. The word מוצא motsa, which we here translate vein, signifies literally, a going out; i.e., a mine, or place dug in the earth, whence the silver ore is extracted. And this ore lies generally in veins or loads, running in certain directions. A place for gold where they fine it - This should rather be translated, A place for gold which they refine. Gold ore has also its peculiar mine, and requires to be refined from earthy impurities.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
For silver has a mine This, too, is another reason for his first statement that he said (27:6), “I have maintained my righteousness,” for why should I be wicked? If for silver or gold, each one has a source and an end, but from where does wisdom come?
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יֵ֣שׁ | yesh | there | H3426 → | 140 times |
| לַכֶּ֣סֶף | lakesef | for <the> silver | H3701 → | 403 times |
| מוֹצָ֑א | motza' | [is] a mine | H4161 → | |
| וּ֝מָק֗וֹם | umakom | and a place | H4725 → | 401 times |
| לַזָּהָ֥ב | lazahav | for <the> gold | H2091 → | 389 times |
| יָזֹֽקּוּ׃ | yazoku | [which] people refine | H2212 → |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
יֵ֣שׁthere
yeshH3426 →140 times
לַכֶּ֣סֶףfor <the> silver
lakesefH3701 →403 times
מוֹצָ֑א[is] a mine
motza'H4161 →
וּ֝מָק֗וֹםand a place
umakomH4725 →401 times
לַזָּהָ֥בfor <the> gold
lazahavH2091 →389 times
יָזֹֽקּוּ׃[which] people refine
yazokuH2212 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 1:7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- Job 23:10
Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- James 1:3–4
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
- Job 23:10
Through
Isaiah 48:10See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 17:3
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
- Psalms 66:10
For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
- Hebrews 12:10–11
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- 1 Peter 4:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About Job
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVIII; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON JOB 27:14-28:3; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.