Job 28:18
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
Original Language Analysis
רָאמ֣וֹת
shall be made of coral
H7215
רָאמ֣וֹת
shall be made of coral
Strong's:
H7215
Word #:
1 of 7
something high in value, i.e., perhaps coral
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִזָּכֵ֑ר
No mention
H2142
יִזָּכֵ֑ר
No mention
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
Cross References
Proverbs 3:15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.Proverbs 31:10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.Ezekiel 27:16Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.Lamentations 4:7Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
Historical Context
Coral from the Red Sea, pearls from the Persian Gulf, and rubies from India were luxury trade goods circulating in ancient Near Eastern commerce. Mentioning them together represents the sum of commercial wealth. Job's dismissal—they're not even worth mentioning in comparison to wisdom—would shock an audience familiar with these items' astronomical value. The passage exposes materialism's bankruptcy regarding ultimate values.
Questions for Reflection
- How does our culture's obsession with luxury goods (modern equivalents of coral, pearls, rubies) reveal misplaced values?
- What does it mean practically to 'sell all' to obtain the pearl of great price (Christ, God's wisdom)?
- How should recognizing wisdom's supreme worth affect our daily choices about time, money, and priorities?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls—even naming these precious items in comparison to wisdom is inappropriate. Hebrew ramoth (רָאמוֹת, "coral") refers to red coral, highly prized for jewelry. Gabish (גָּבִישׁ, "pearls") may refer to crystal or pearls. For the price of wisdom is above rubies uses meshek (מֶשֶׁךְ, "price"), meaning acquisition or drawing out, and peninim (פְּנִינִים, "rubies"), probably referring to corals or pearls, possibly rubies. The comparison is dismissed—wisdom so transcends these valuables that mentioning them together seems absurd.
This verse echoes Proverbs 3:15 ("She is more precious than rubies") and 8:11 ("wisdom is better than rubies"), establishing a canonical theme: wisdom's incomparable worth. The repetition across wisdom literature emphasizes this foundational truth: no earthly treasure compares to fearing the Lord. Jesus commanded: "lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-20). Earthly treasures—coral, pearls, rubies—are temporary; wisdom is eternal. The wise merchant sold all to purchase the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46)—Christ Himself, God's wisdom incarnate.