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Job 28:20

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 28:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Gold and glass cannot equal it, Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
21Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the birds of the heavens.
22Destruction and Death say, We have heard a rumor thereof with our ears.
23God understandeth the way thereof, And he knoweth the place thereof.
← Job 28:19Job 28:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding?] The same questions as in (<182812>Job 28:12); repeated to set forth the superior excellency of wisdom, and to carry on the discourse, and lead on to other things concerning it. (See Gill on “<182812>Job 28:12”).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“job 28:20Job 28:12 repeated with great force.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Whence then cometh wisdom? - This question is now repeated from Job 28:12, in order to give it greater emphasis. It is designed to fix the attention on the inquiry as one which found no solution in the discoveries of science, and whose solution was hidden from the most penetrating human intellect. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whence, &c. - By a diligent inquiry, we find at length, that there is a twofold wisdom; one hid in God, which belongs not to us, the other revealed to man, which belongs to us and to our children. Job 28:21”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Job 28:12; Pro 2:6; Ecc 7:23, Ecc 7:24; Co1 2:6-15; Jam 1:5, Jam 1:17 Job 28:21”
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Related study paths

Read Job 28 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification