Job 28:19
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַ֭עַרְכֶנָּה
shall not equal
H6186
יַ֭עַרְכֶנָּה
shall not equal
Strong's:
H6186
Word #:
2 of 8
to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
בְּכֶ֥תֶם
gold
H3800
בְּכֶ֥תֶם
gold
Strong's:
H3800
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, something carved out, i.e., ore; hence, gold (pure as originally mined)
טָ֝ה֗וֹר
with pure
H2889
טָ֝ה֗וֹר
with pure
Strong's:
H2889
Word #:
6 of 8
pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense)
Cross References
Proverbs 8:19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.Exodus 39:10And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.Exodus 28:17And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.Ezekiel 28:13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Historical Context
Ethiopian (Kushite) topaz was legendary in antiquity for exceptional quality. Pure gold from Ophir was considered the finest available (1 Kings 9:28). Job exhaustively catalogs ancient wealth's pinnacle items, then dismisses them all as inadequate for wisdom. This would profoundly impact his audience—if the sum total of earthly treasure cannot obtain wisdom, where can it be found? The poem answers: through fearing God (verse 28), receiving divine revelation rather than pursuing human acquisition.
Questions for Reflection
- How does exhaustively listing earthly treasures' inadequacy help us reorient our values toward eternal wisdom?
- What does it mean that wisdom must be revealed rather than earned, given rather than purchased?
- How should recognizing that God alone possesses and gives wisdom affect our prayer life and dependence on Scripture?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it—even the most exotic and valuable gem fails to match wisdom. Hebrew pitdah (פִּטְדָה, "topaz") refers to a yellow or green precious stone, possibly chrysolite or peridot. Ethiopia (Kush, כּוּשׁ) was famous for producing the finest specimens. Neither shall it be valued with pure gold uses shalah (שָׁלָה, "valued"), meaning to compare or weigh against, and ketem tahor (כֶּתֶם טָהוֹר, "pure gold"), the most refined gold available, possibly referring to Ophir gold (1 Kings 10:11).
This concludes Job's economic argument (verses 15-19): gold, silver, crystal, fine gold vessels, coral, pearls, rubies, Ethiopian topaz, pure gold—the complete inventory of ancient wealth—cannot equal, purchase, or be compared to wisdom. The cumulative effect is overwhelming: wisdom transcends all earthly value systems. This prepares for verse 23's revelation: "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof." Wisdom belongs to God's realm, not humanity's marketplace. Romans 11:33-36 worships this reality: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Wisdom cannot be bought because it must be revealed.