Job 28:21
New International Version
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.

New Living Translation
It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.

English Standard Version
It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.

Berean Standard Bible
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.

King James Bible
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

New King James Version
It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.

New American Standard Bible
“It is hidden from the eyes of every living creature, And concealed from the birds of the sky.

NASB 1995
“Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living And concealed from the birds of the sky.

NASB 1977
“Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the sky.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living And concealed from the birds of the sky.

Amplified Bible
“It is hidden from the eyes of all the living And concealed from the birds of the heavens.

Christian Standard Bible
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the sky.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the sky.

American Standard Version
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the birds of the heavens.

Contemporary English Version
It is hidden from human eyes and even from birds.

English Revised Version
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It is hidden from the eyes of every living being, hidden even from the birds in the air.

Good News Translation
No living creature can see it, Not even a bird in flight.

International Standard Version
It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature and hidden even from the birds in the skies.

Majority Standard Bible
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.

NET Bible
For it has been hidden from the eyes of every living creature, and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed.

New Heart English Bible
Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the birds of the sky.

Webster's Bible Translation
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

World English Bible
Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the birds of the sky.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens "" It has been hidden.

Young's Literal Translation
It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.

Smith's Literal Translation
And being hid from the eyes of all living, and covered from the birds of the heavens.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is hid from the eyes of all living. and the fowls of the air know it not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.

New American Bible
She is hidden from the eyes of every living thing; even from the birds of the air she is concealed.

New Revised Standard Version
It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is hid from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowls of the air.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
It is covered to the eyes of everything that lives, and from the bird of the sky it is hidden
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the fowls of the air.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
20From where then does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell? 21It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air. 22Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’…

Cross References
Proverbs 8:22-36
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. / From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. / When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water. ...

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.” ...

Romans 11:33-36
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” / “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” ...

Colossians 2:2-3
that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, / in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Isaiah 40:13-14
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? / Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 3:19-20
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. / By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.

Matthew 11:25-27
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. / Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. / All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 1:24-25
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. / For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

Ephesians 3:8-10
Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, / and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. / His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

Daniel 2:20-22
and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. / He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. / He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.

Luke 10:21-22
At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. / All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.


Treasury of Scripture

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

hid

Psalm 49:3,4
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding…

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Matthew 13:17,35
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them

from the fowls

Job 28:7
There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:

air.

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Job 28
1. There is a knowledge of natural things
12. But wisdom is an excellent gift of God














It is hidden
The phrase "It is hidden" suggests a deliberate concealment, indicating that the subject—wisdom—is not easily accessible or apparent to humanity. In Hebrew, the word used here can imply something that is kept secret or covered. This aligns with the biblical theme that true wisdom is not something that can be discovered through human effort alone but is a divine gift. The hidden nature of wisdom emphasizes the need for humility and reverence before God, who alone can reveal it.

from the eyes
The "eyes" symbolize perception and understanding. In biblical literature, the eyes often represent insight or the ability to discern truth. The fact that wisdom is hidden from the eyes suggests that human perception is limited and cannot grasp divine truths without God's revelation. This serves as a reminder of the limitations of human wisdom and the necessity of seeking divine guidance.

of every living thing
This phrase underscores the universality of the limitation. "Every living thing" includes all of creation, emphasizing that no creature, regardless of its intelligence or capabilities, can naturally perceive divine wisdom. This reflects the biblical teaching that all creation is dependent on God and that wisdom is a gift that transcends natural understanding.

and concealed
The word "concealed" reinforces the idea of intentional obscurity. In the Hebrew context, this term can imply something that is purposefully kept out of reach. This suggests that wisdom is not only hidden but also protected, indicating its preciousness and the need for a relationship with God to access it. The concealment of wisdom calls believers to seek God earnestly and to value the wisdom He provides.

from the birds of the air
Birds, often seen as creatures with a broad perspective due to their ability to fly, symbolize a higher vantage point or insight. The fact that wisdom is concealed even from the birds of the air highlights that no matter how elevated one's perspective might be, divine wisdom remains beyond natural reach. This imagery serves to humble humanity, reminding us that even the most insightful or elevated perspectives fall short of comprehending God's wisdom without His revelation.

Verse 21. - Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living. Man cannot see it, because it is immaterial, but he cannot even conconceive of it, because its nature transcends him. And kept close from the fowls of the air. (comp. ver. 7). The sight of birds is far keener than that of man; but even birds cannot detect where wisdom is.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
It is hidden
וְֽ֭נֶעֶלְמָה (wə·ne·‘el·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5956: To veil from sight, conceal

from the eyes
מֵעֵינֵ֣י (mê·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of every
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

living thing
חָ֑י (ḥāy)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

and concealed
נִסְתָּֽרָה׃ (nis·tā·rāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5641: To hide, conceal

from the birds
וּמֵע֖וֹף (ū·mê·‘ō·wp̄)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5775: Flying creatures

of the air.
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky


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OT Poetry: Job 28:21 Seeing it is hidden from the eyes (Jb)
Job 28:20
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