Job 28:20 - Where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?
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What does "Job 28:20" mean?
Job 28:20, "Where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?" is a pivotal verse in a chapter dedicated to exploring the nature and source of true wisdom. To understand its meaning, we need to look at the context of the entire chapter.
Here's a breakdown:
Context of Job 28: This chapter contrasts human ingenuity and skill in mining (v. 1-11) with the elusiveness of true wisdom. Humans can conquer the earth, extract precious metals and stones from the depths, and perform amazing feats of engineering. However, they cannot find wisdom in the same way they find physical treasures.
The Question Itself: The verse poses a direct, challenging question. It acknowledges the difficulty in locating wisdom and understanding. It's not something you can just dig up or discover through ordinary means.
Implications:
Wisdom is Hidden and Precious: The verse implies that wisdom is something of immense value, like the rare treasures mentioned earlier in the chapter. But unlike those treasures, it's hidden from common view and requires more than physical effort to obtain.
Human Limitations: It highlights the limitations of human intellect and effort in acquiring wisdom. Job, and by extension humanity, is forced to acknowledge that even with great skill and knowledge, true wisdom remains elusive.
A Search for a Higher Source: The question implicitly suggests that wisdom must come from a source beyond human reach. It prepares the reader for the chapter's eventual conclusion that wisdom is found in fearing the Lord and turning away from evil (Job 28:28).
Understanding is Not Easily Attained: The verse acknowledges the difficulty of attaining true understanding. It requires more than just intelligence or knowledge.
The Answer (Implied in the Chapter and Fully Revealed Later): The chapter does not explicitly answer the question in verse 20 immediately. Instead, it builds suspense, culminating in verse 28, which provides the answer: "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.'" True wisdom and understanding are ultimately rooted in reverence for God and a commitment to righteous living.
In essence, Job 28:20 is a critical inquiry that sets the stage for the revelation that true wisdom is not found through human effort alone, but through a relationship with God. It's a recognition of human limitations and a call to look beyond ourselves for the source of genuine understanding.
Job 28:20 - Where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?
What does "Job 28:20" mean?
Job 28:20, "Where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?" is a pivotal verse in a chapter dedicated to exploring the nature and source of true wisdom. To understand its meaning, we need to look at the context of the entire chapter.
Here's a breakdown:
Context of Job 28: This chapter contrasts human ingenuity and skill in mining (v. 1-11) with the elusiveness of true wisdom. Humans can conquer the earth, extract precious metals and stones from the depths, and perform amazing feats of engineering. However, they cannot find wisdom in the same way they find physical treasures.
The Question Itself: The verse poses a direct, challenging question. It acknowledges the difficulty in locating wisdom and understanding. It's not something you can just dig up or discover through ordinary means.
Implications:
Wisdom is Hidden and Precious: The verse implies that wisdom is something of immense value, like the rare treasures mentioned earlier in the chapter. But unlike those treasures, it's hidden from common view and requires more than physical effort to obtain.
Human Limitations: It highlights the limitations of human intellect and effort in acquiring wisdom. Job, and by extension humanity, is forced to acknowledge that even with great skill and knowledge, true wisdom remains elusive.
A Search for a Higher Source: The question implicitly suggests that wisdom must come from a source beyond human reach. It prepares the reader for the chapter's eventual conclusion that wisdom is found in fearing the Lord and turning away from evil (Job 28:28).
Understanding is Not Easily Attained: The verse acknowledges the difficulty of attaining true understanding. It requires more than just intelligence or knowledge.
The Answer (Implied in the Chapter and Fully Revealed Later): The chapter does not explicitly answer the question in verse 20 immediately. Instead, it builds suspense, culminating in verse 28, which provides the answer: "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.'" True wisdom and understanding are ultimately rooted in reverence for God and a commitment to righteous living.
In essence, Job 28:20 is a critical inquiry that sets the stage for the revelation that true wisdom is not found through human effort alone, but through a relationship with God. It's a recognition of human limitations and a call to look beyond ourselves for the source of genuine understanding.