Job 28:13
Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Original Language Analysis
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָדַ֣ע
knoweth
H3045
יָדַ֣ע
knoweth
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
2 of 8
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אֱנ֣וֹשׁ
Man
H582
אֱנ֣וֹשׁ
Man
Strong's:
H582
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִ֝מָּצֵ֗א
thereof neither is it found
H4672
תִ֝מָּצֵ֗א
thereof neither is it found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
6 of 8
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature (Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Edomite) emphasized human reason's capacity to discover truth through observation and reflection. Job's poem radically counters this: wisdom cannot be found through human search or purchased with accumulated wealth. This theological precision distinguished Israelite faith from surrounding cultures that equated wisdom with human achievement. The passage influenced later Jewish and Christian epistemology, establishing that revelation precedes discovery.
Questions for Reflection
- How does modern culture assign 'price' to education and credentials while missing wisdom's true value and source?
- What does it mean practically that wisdom 'is not found in the land of the living'—that earthly life alone cannot produce it?
- How should recognizing wisdom's transcendent source humble our intellectual pride and drive us to Scripture and prayer?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Man knoweth not the price thereof—after describing mining's achievements (verses 1-11), Job pivots: "But where shall wisdom be found?" (verse 12). Verse 13 continues: humanity doesn't know wisdom's erek (עֵרֶךְ, "price"), meaning value, worth, or proper estimation. Neither is it found in the land of the living uses erets chayim (אֶרֶץ חַיִּים), literally "land of the living," meaning the realm of mortal existence. Wisdom cannot be located through earthly search or purchased with earthly currency.
This establishes wisdom's transcendence: it exists beyond creation's boundaries, inaccessible to natural discovery. Verses 15-19 will elaborate that no amount of gold, silver, or precious stones can purchase wisdom—it's categorically different from material treasure. Reformed theology recognizes this as the doctrine of transcendence: God and His wisdom exist beyond creation, accessible only through divine condescension in revelation. Proverbs 8:11 confirms: "wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." Solomon, despite unprecedented wealth and wisdom, acknowledged wisdom's supreme value and divine source (1 Kings 3:9-12).