Job 28:23
in Job 28But God understands its way, and He knows its place.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
God understandeth the way thereof, And he knoweth the place thereof.
KJV
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
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This verse in Job 28
Commentary
8 notes on this verseGod understandeth the way thereof; and He knoweth the place thereof. This Wisdom coeternal with God has 'a way' in one sense, and in another sense 'a place;' but only a 'place,' if a person understand it a place not local. For God is not capable of being held close after the manner of a body. But as has been said, a place not local is meant. The 'place' of 'Wisdom' is the Father, 'the place' of the Father is 'Wisdom,' as, Wisdom Herself bearing testimony, it is said, I am in the Father, and the Father in Me.
This site's exposition
But God understands its way
on Job 28:23-27
"But God understands its way, and He knows its place" answers the chapter's question: wisdom belongs to God. "He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens", a sight no mine or sea could claim.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
To show the root of wisdom he then says, "God understands the way to her," the whole process of wisdom, since he himself is both the origin of wisdom and the "place of understanding." (v.20) Because God knows himself perfectly, he then says, "and he …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The way - The methods which he takes in the management of all affairs, together with its grounds and ends in them. The place - Where it dwells, which is only in his own mind.
God understandeth the way thereof,....
This knowledge he has in perfection, but keeps to himself. Two reasons are here given why God must needs understand his own way, and he only:-- (1.) Because all events are now directed by an all-seeing and almighty Providence,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
God understandeth the way thereof - These are doubtless the words of Job. The meaning is, that the reason of the divine dispensations could be known only to God himself. He had given no clew by which man could discover this. He might carry his investigations far into the regions of science; he could penetrate the earth, and look on the stars, but still all his investigations fell short of disclosing the reasons of the divine dispensations. The secret was lodged in his bosom, and he only could communicate it where and when he pleased.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
God understandeth the way thereof - It can only be taught by a revelation from himself. Instead of הבין hebin, understandeth, six MSS. have הכין hechin, disposed or established. This reading is also supported by the Septuagint; Ὁ Θεος ευ συνεστησεν αυτης ὁδον, “God hath well established her way:” falsely rendered bene cognovit, hath well known, in the Latin version of the Septuagint in the London Polyglot; but bene constituit, hath well established, in the Complutensian, Antwerp, and Paris Polyglots.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֱ֭לֹהִים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| הֵבִ֣ין | hevin | he understands | H995 → | 170 times |
| דַּרְכָּ֑הּ | darkah | way its | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וְ֝ה֗וּא | vehu' | and he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יָדַ֥ע | yada' | he knows | H3045 → | 945 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מְקוֹמָֽהּ׃ | mekomah | place its | H4725 → | 401 times |
אֱ֭לֹהִיםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
הֵבִ֣יןhe understands
hevinH995 →170 times
דַּרְכָּ֑הּway its
darkahH1870 →707 times
וְ֝ה֗וּאand he
vehu'H1931 →1879 times
יָדַ֥עhe knows
yada'H3045 →945 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
מְקוֹמָֽהּ׃place its
mekomahH4725 →401 times
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
Proverbs 2:6For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
it leads to
- Ephesians 1:17–18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
- 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.
- Ephesians 1:17–18
Through
1 Corinthians 1:30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
it leads to
- Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
- Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
- Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 1:7
Through
Romans 11:33O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
it leads to
- Job 11:7–9
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 5:9
the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
- Job 11:7–9
Through
Jude 1:25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 1:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About Job
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 XIX; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.