John Gill's Exposition on Job 28:16

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

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 “<182806>Job 28:6”). The word for “valued” is by some rendered “strowed” f982, as goods are when they are exposed to sale; but wisdom should not be laid, or put on a level with these, though so excellent and precious.

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