Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
Job pauses his argument to describe something men do well. They go down into the dark places of the earth and drag out its treasure. The picture admires their skill. But it sets up the question of the chapter: if men can conquer the darkness underground, why can they not find wisdom?
A Snapshot of Early Mining
The verse sits inside a description of early mining. One commentator walks through what the miners were after and how they reached it.
William KellyGold is not found in veins like silver. It is found in quite a different way — very often in the form of dust, and sometimes of nuggets. But silver lies in large and rich veins... "He sets an end to darkness." He now gives us a remarkable sketch of mining in very early times. "He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection" — searching for these precious metals, gold, silver or the like — "the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death." That is, he goes down to the depths of the earth after them.
The Words of the Verse
These writers quote an older English translation, which has "searches out all perfection" where the ESV has "searches out to the farthest limit." One of them explains the phrase. He also names what the search costs the man who makes it.
Samuel RidoutIn his search after these treasures, man digs into the dark hollows of the earth with his lamp. He makes an end to the darkness as he goes into the farthest extremities (rather than "perfection") of the mines. He is searching for those ore-laden "stones of darkness" — stones hidden in the darkness. The depths of the earth are like the shadow of death, and often bury the tough miner in them, but nothing holds him back. Men will give their lives for gold.
What Powers the Search
Something has to be strong enough to send a man into a pit that could become his grave. One commentator names what lies behind the daring.
William KellyHe knows how to make his way despite the darkness, overcoming it with artificial light, no matter what the danger — a danger learnt every now and then at the cost of a life... Man's daring resources, with covetousness behind, conquer all difficulties. The hard flint gives way to his hand, and he overturns mountains by the root if they stand in his way.
Discovery Is Not Wisdom
Job's point is not that mining is wrong. It is that all this digging never turns up the one thing worth having. Later discovery has not changed that.
F. B. HoleThey dig down. They divert the underground stream. They make paths where the strongest beasts and the sharpest-eyed birds have never been. But in all this searching they never find wisdom... Men may discover much. Since Job's day they have discovered an immense deal more. But wisdom eludes them.
The same commentator asks what all this effort actually produces.
William Kelly"He holds back the floods from overflowing, and brings what is hidden out into the light. But where shall wisdom be found?" No, there is no wisdom in all that. There is self in all that. There is what will make a man rich. There is what will bring money and perhaps standing. But where shall wisdom be found?
Where Wisdom Comes From
If wisdom is not in the deepest shaft, it must have another source.
William KellyWhat a very solemn thing that is! True wisdom and true understanding not found in the earth at all! It comes down from heaven. It is found only in Christ — and Christ had not yet come. This came out even more clearly in Christ's rejection and death.
The chapter ends with God's own answer to the question.
Leslie M. Grant"To man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding" (v.28). The only reason that wisdom eludes people is this: "there is no fear of God before their eyes." So they have no heart to depart from evil. The fear of the Lord is not terror, but a wholesome reverence that gives Him the place of supreme honour.
Summary
- Lamp — "An end to darkness" is a miner carrying light into the deepest shaft. He hunts "stones of darkness" hidden in the gloom.
- Cost — The depths are like the shadow of death, and they often bury the miner. Nothing holds him back. Men will give their lives for gold.
- Motive — Behind the daring is covetousness. There is self in all of it — what makes a man rich, what brings money and standing.
- Limit — Every barrier gives way except one. Men discover an immense deal, and wisdom still eludes them.
- Answer — Wisdom is not in the earth at all. It comes down from heaven, and God names it: the fear of the Lord, and turning from evil.