Job 28:16

“It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, etc.] Which is often spoken of in Scripture as choice gold, if not the best; (see Gill on “<182224>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 Gill on “<022809>Exodus 28:9, 18, 20”); but not so precious, or of such value as wisdom. Pliny f981 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 Gill on…”

“gold of Ophir--the most precious (See on Job 22:24 and Psa 45:9). onyx-- (Gen 2:12). More valued formerly than now. The term is Greek, meaning "thumb nail," from some resemblance in color. The Arabic denotes, of two colors, white preponderating.”

“The gold of Ophir - Uniformly spoken of as the most precious gold; see the notes at Job 22:24. With the precious onyx - The onyx is a semi-pellucid gem, with variously colored veins or zones. It is a variety of the chalcedony. The Arabic word denotes that which was of two colors, where the white predominated. The Greeks gave the name “onyx” ὄνυξ onux to the gem from its resemblance to the color of the thumbnail; see Passow. Or the sapphire - See the notes at Job 28:6. return to 'Top of Page'”

“28:16-19 The metals, gemstones, and glass listed here were precious in the ancient world, but the speaker says that wisdom is much more precious than wealth.”

“the gold: Ch1 29:4; Psa 45:9; Isa 13:12 onyx: Exo 28:20; Eze 28:13 Job 28:17”