Job 28:9
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
Original Language Analysis
שָׁלַ֣ח
He putteth forth
H7971
שָׁלַ֣ח
He putteth forth
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
2 of 6
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
יָד֑וֹ
his hand
H3027
יָד֑וֹ
his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 6
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
הָפַ֖ךְ
he overturneth
H2015
הָפַ֖ךְ
he overturneth
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
4 of 6
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
Historical Context
Ancient mining operations did indeed move mountains—quarrying stone, extracting ore, and physically reshaping landscapes. Archaeological evidence from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Sinai shows massive scale mining requiring thousands of workers and sophisticated engineering. Job's description isn't hyperbole but realistic portrayal of humanity's greatest technological achievements. This makes the poem's conclusion more powerful: even our most impressive accomplishments are irrelevant to obtaining wisdom.
Questions for Reflection
- How does our culture's ability to 'overturn mountains' through technology create the illusion that we can solve spiritual problems through human effort?
- What does it mean that transforming external creation (mountains) doesn't transform internal character (heart)?
- How should recognizing that wisdom comes from 'fearing the Lord' rather than human achievement reshape our discipleship and spiritual formation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock—the miner attacks the hardest geological formations. Hebrew challamish (חַלָּמִישׁ) refers to flint, the hardest stone known to ancient people. He overturneth the mountains by the roots uses haphak (הָפַךְ, "overturneth"), meaning to transform or revolutionize, and shoresh (שֹׁרֶשׁ, "roots"), suggesting total excavation from foundation upward. Job describes mining's massive scale—humans literally reshape mountains seeking treasure.
This verse reaches the poem's height of human achievement: we conquer flint, we overturn mountains, we remake creation itself. Yet verses 12-14 reveal wisdom's location remains unknown despite these herculean efforts. The contrast is devastating—all human power cannot obtain what God alone provides. Jesus echoes this principle: "many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord... and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you" (Matthew 7:22-23). Religious activity, even of mountain-moving scale, doesn't equal knowing God. Wisdom comes through humble fear of the Lord (verse 28), not through conquering creation.