Job 28:14
New International Version
The deep says, “It is not in me"; the sea says, “It is not with me.”

New Living Translation
‘It is not here,’ says the ocean. ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.

English Standard Version
The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

Berean Standard Bible
The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’

King James Bible
The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

New King James Version
The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

New American Standard Bible
“The ocean depth says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

NASB 1995
“The deep says, ‘It is not in me’ And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

NASB 1977
“The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

Legacy Standard Bible
The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

Amplified Bible
“The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

Christian Standard Bible
The ocean depths say, “It’s not in me,” while the sea declares, “I don’t have it.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The ocean depths say, “It’s not in me,” while the sea declares, “I don’t have it.”

American Standard Version
The deep saith, It is not in me; And the sea saith, It is not with me.

Contemporary English Version
Nor can it be discovered in the deepest sea. *

English Revised Version
The deep saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The deep ocean says, 'It isn't in me.' The sea says, 'It isn't with me.'

Good News Translation
The depths of the oceans and seas Say that wisdom is not found there.

International Standard Version
The deepest ocean says, 'It's not within me.' and the sea says, 'You'll never find it with me.'

NET Bible
The deep says, 'It is not with me.' And the sea says, 'It is not with me.'

New Heart English Bible
The deep says, 'It isn't in me.' The sea says, 'It isn't with me.'

Webster's Bible Translation
The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’

World English Bible
The deep says, ‘It isn’t in me.’ The sea says, ‘It isn’t with me.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The deep has said, It [is] not in me, "" And the sea has said, It is not with me.

Young's Literal Translation
The deep hath said, 'It is not in me,' And the sea hath said, 'It is not with me.'

Smith's Literal Translation
The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, Not with me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not with me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”

New American Bible
The Deep says, “She is not in me”; and the Sea says, “She is not with me.”

New Revised Standard Version
The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The depth says, It is not in me, and the sea says, It is not with me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The depths said: ‘It was not in me!”, and the sea said: ‘It is not with me!’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The deep saith: 'It is not in me'; And the sea saith: 'It is not with me.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
13No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. 14The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’ 15It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.…

Cross References
Proverbs 3:13-15
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, / for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. / She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.

Proverbs 8:11
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Proverbs 2:4-5
if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, / then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 16:16
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

Matthew 13:44-46
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. / Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

Ecclesiastes 7:24
What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

1 Corinthians 2:7-10
No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began. / None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. / Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” ...

Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

Proverbs 8:19
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

Proverbs 23:23
Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.


Treasury of Scripture

The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.

Romans 11:33,34
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! …

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Deep Depth Not Sea Waters
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Deep Depth Not Sea Waters
Job 28
1. There is a knowledge of natural things
12. But wisdom is an excellent gift of God














The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’
This phrase emphasizes the profound and elusive nature of wisdom. In the biblical context, the ocean depths often symbolize mystery and the unknown, as seen in Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God hovers over the waters. The depths of the ocean are beyond human reach and understanding, much like the wisdom of God. This imagery is used to convey that true wisdom cannot be found in the natural world or through human exploration. The ocean, vast and deep, represents the limits of human discovery and the need for divine revelation to access true wisdom.

while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’
The sea, in biblical literature, often represents chaos and unpredictability, as seen in passages like Psalm 93:3-4, where the seas lift up their voice in tumult. Here, the sea's declaration that wisdom is not with it further underscores the idea that wisdom is not inherent in the created order. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that wisdom is a divine attribute, as seen in Proverbs 2:6, where it is stated that the Lord gives wisdom. The sea's inability to contain wisdom points to the necessity of seeking God for true understanding, highlighting the insufficiency of human efforts and the need for a relationship with the Creator to gain insight.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who undergoes severe trials and suffering.

2. The Deep
Refers to the depths of the earth or the ocean, symbolizing the hidden and mysterious aspects of creation.

3. The Sea
Represents vastness and the unknown, often used in Scripture to symbolize chaos or the limits of human understanding.

4. Wisdom
The central theme of Job 28, depicted as something elusive and beyond human reach, not found in the physical world.

5. God
The ultimate source of wisdom, as the chapter later reveals, emphasizing that true wisdom comes from reverence for the Lord.
Teaching Points
The Elusiveness of Wisdom
Wisdom is not found in the physical world or through human effort alone. It is a divine attribute that requires seeking God.

The Limitations of Human Understanding
Just as the deep and the sea cannot contain wisdom, human understanding is limited. We must acknowledge our need for divine guidance.

The Source of True Wisdom
True wisdom comes from God. We are encouraged to seek Him and His Word to gain understanding and insight.

The Fear of the Lord
Reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom. Our relationship with Him is foundational to gaining true knowledge.

The Role of Creation in Revealing God
While creation itself does not hold wisdom, it points us to the Creator, who is the source of all wisdom and understanding.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Job 28:14?

2. How does Job 28:14 illustrate the limits of human wisdom and understanding?

3. What does "The deep says, ‘It is not in me’" teach about wisdom's source?

4. How can we seek God's wisdom in our daily decision-making processes?

5. Which other scriptures emphasize God's wisdom surpassing human understanding?

6. How can acknowledging our limitations lead to a deeper reliance on God?

7. What does Job 28:14 suggest about the location of true wisdom?

8. How does Job 28:14 challenge the human pursuit of knowledge?

9. Why does Job 28:14 emphasize wisdom's inaccessibility in the natural world?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 28?

11. How does faith lead to prosperity?

12. How can Job 28 claim humans search the depths of the earth (Job 28:1-4) when ancient mining technology was so limited?

13. Why does Job 38:16 assume the existence of 'springs of the sea,' given that deep-sea hydrothermal vents were only discovered relatively recently?

14. Proverbs 30:18-19 highlights four 'mysterious' ways; does understanding them through science undermine their portrayal as unfathomable?
What Does Job 28:14 Mean
The ocean depths say, “It is not in me”

• Job pictures the literal “ocean depths,” the unfathomable trenches God carved out on day three of creation (Genesis 1:9–10). Even the most remote places on earth confess they do not contain the wisdom Job seeks.

• The statement echoes the Lord’s own challenge: “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?” (Job 38:16). If humans cannot even reach those depths, how could they expect to find the treasure of wisdom there?

Psalm 95:4-5 reminds us that “the depths of the earth are in His hand… and the sea is His, for He made it.” Because God holds the oceans, wisdom belongs to Him, not to the oceans themselves.

Deuteronomy 30:12 warns, “It is not in heaven that you should say, ‘Who will go up for us…?’” by implication adding that neither is it sunk below, placing every human shortcut off-limits.

Romans 10:6-7 applies that Deuteronomy text: we need not “descend into the abyss” to bring wisdom up. Christ has already come down; the deep cannot add to what God freely gives.

• Taken literally, the seabed is magnificent yet silent on life’s great questions. Nature’s grandeur points beyond itself to its Maker (Romans 1:20), underscoring that wisdom is personal, found in God rather than in creation.


while the sea declares, “It is not with me”

• The broad, surface-level “sea” joins the chorus. Whether skimming its waves or plumbing its trenches, mankind will come up empty-handed for ultimate understanding.

Deuteronomy 30:13 observes that wisdom is “not beyond the sea” requiring a perilous voyage; God did not hide it at the horizon.

Proverbs 8:24-30 pictures Wisdom present before the seas existed, proving the sea is a latecomer that cannot possess what preceded it.

Job 9:8 notes that God “tramples down the waves of the sea,” emphasizing His authority above those waters. The sea itself testifies, “Look higher.”

Revelation 5:13 records every creature “on the sea and all that is in them” praising the Lamb. Even in eternity, the sea yields its voice to exalt the One who is Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).

• Practical takeaways:

– Don’t romanticize adventure, education, or exploration as substitutes for seeking God (Proverbs 3:5-6).

– Let the sea’s confession humble us; true insight begins with fearing the Lord (Job 28:28).

– Since “in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3), turn to Him, not to the created order, for life’s answers.


summary

Job 28:14 personifies the ocean depths and the sea to drive home one truth: no matter how vast or mysterious the realm, created things cannot supply the wisdom our souls crave. Their united testimony directs us to the Creator, who has revealed His wisdom finally and fully in Christ. Therefore, seekers must lift their eyes above the waves and bow their hearts before the Lord, the only source of true understanding.

Verse 14. - The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. The deep abysses of the ocean declare that it is not with them; and the wide reaches of the far-extending sea proclaim that it is not with them either.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The ocean depths
תְּה֣וֹם (tə·hō·wm)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 8415: An abyss, the deep

say,
אָ֭מַר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘It [is]
הִ֑יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

in me,’
בִי־ (ḇî-)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

while the sea
וְיָ֥ם (wə·yām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

declares,
אָ֝מַ֗ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘[It is] not
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

with me.’
עִמָּדִֽי׃ (‘im·mā·ḏî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5978: Against, by, from, me, mine, of, that I take, unto,


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OT Poetry: Job 28:14 The deep says 'It isn't in me (Jb)
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