“From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
Job has just described miners tunnelling into rock for silver, gold and sapphires, and now he asks his question again. The verses around it press two things at once: no created place holds wisdom, and someone does know where it is.
Why the Question Comes Twice
Job asked the same question in verse 12. Why ask it again?
Samuel RidoutBut why speak of what all searching cannot find, or wealth cannot buy? The question of verse 12 is repeated, not hopelessly, but to show man how useless a merely natural search is. "From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?" Nature does speak of wisdom, but it does not give it.
What the Mining Proves
The verses before this describe real skill and real success. Yet what men bring up is ore.
William Kelly"He binds the streams so they do not overflow, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. But where shall wisdom be found?" No, there is no wisdom in any of that. There is self in all of that. There is what will make a man rich. There is what will bring money and perhaps distinction. But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
Job's list of human achievements was short by our standards.
F. B. HoleThey dig down, they divert the underground stream, they make paths that the strongest beasts and the sharpest-eyed birds have never walked. But in all this searching they never find wisdom... Men may discover much. Since Job's day they have discovered an immense amount more, but wisdom escapes them.
Hidden From Every Creature
The verses just after this one say where wisdom is not.
Leslie M. GrantJob knew there is such a thing as wisdom, and people generally realise that wisdom exists. But where? All man's searching does not find it: "it is hidden from the eyes of all living" and even "concealed from the birds of the air" (vv. 20-21)... "Destruction and death say, We have heard a report about it with our ears" (v. 22), but only a report. Wisdom itself comes only by God's direct revelation.
Death Heard the Report
Why would death and destruction have heard of wisdom at all? One writer sees a pointer to the Cross here.
H. J. VineIf creation does not hold it, where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding, seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living? In answer, we are told, "God understands the way of it"; also that "destruction and death" had heard the fame of it. This is surely a hint of the Cross of Christ. Yes, God knew the wisdom that was needed. When that "hidden wisdom" came out in Christ, and the world crucified the Lord of glory, then death and destruction heard its fame!
There is a lesson here for the living.
Samuel RidoutHow true it is that those who think about their own end are near to wisdom, ready to receive the revelation which God gives. This is the wisdom that comes down from above, and is given to the meek.
The Turn From Nature to God
The chapter now turns from creation to God Himself.
Samuel RidoutWe turn now from nature to its Author, from creation to God. He knows the way, and He alone can reveal it to man. And it is not merely God as Creator, but as Revealer in the person of His Son — "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."... He has seen wisdom; no, He is that Wisdom.
Where the Chapter Lands
The search that began in a mineshaft ends with words God spoke to man.
W. W. FeredayGod alone can declare its true nature and value. "And to man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."... So until God gets His rightful place in a person's mind and heart, he is unable to view anything wisely. His thoughts are off centre. His beginning is all wrong.
Summary
- Asked twice — The repeated question is not despair. It shows how useless a purely natural search is: nature speaks of wisdom but never gives it.
- Not in the mine — Human skill reaches where no bird or lion goes. It brings hidden things to light, but it turns up wealth and self, never wisdom.
- Not in any creature — Wisdom is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the birds too. Death and destruction have only heard a report of it.
- Known to God — The chapter turns from creation to its Author. He knows the way, He alone reveals it, and He reveals it in His Son.
- Given to man — God speaks the answer Himself: fear the Lord and turn from evil. Until God has His rightful place, every other thought starts off centre.