then He looked at wisdom and appraised it;
In this phrase, the focus is on God's omniscience and His ability to perceive and evaluate wisdom. The act of "looking" signifies God's active engagement with wisdom, suggesting that wisdom is not merely an abstract concept but something tangible and valuable in the divine perspective. This aligns with Proverbs 8, where wisdom is personified and described as being present with God during creation. The appraisal indicates that God discerns the true worth of wisdom, emphasizing its supreme value above all earthly treasures. This reflects the biblical theme that true wisdom originates from God and is foundational to understanding life and creation.

He established it
Here, the text highlights God's role as the originator and sustainer of wisdom. To "establish" wisdom means that God has set it in place as a fundamental principle governing the universe. This echoes the creation narrative in Genesis, where God orders the cosmos with wisdom. It also connects to Colossians 1:16-17, where Christ is described as the one through whom all things were created and are held together, suggesting that wisdom is integral to the divine order and purpose. The establishment of wisdom underscores its stability and reliability, contrasting with human understanding, which is often transient and flawed.

and searched it out.
This phrase suggests a thorough and exhaustive understanding of wisdom by God. The act of searching implies a deep and comprehensive exploration, indicating that God's knowledge of wisdom is complete and perfect. This can be linked to Romans 11:33, which speaks of the depth of the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge. It also reflects the idea that God's wisdom is beyond human comprehension, as seen in Isaiah 55:8-9, where God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. The searching out of wisdom by God assures believers that divine wisdom is both profound and accessible to those who seek it through a relationship with Him, as encouraged in James 1:5.

1. Job
The central figure of the Book of Job, a man known for his righteousness and suffering. The book explores profound questions about God's justice and human suffering.

2. God
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who is depicted as the source of all wisdom in this passage.

3. Wisdom
Personified in this chapter as something that God alone fully understands and possesses. It is portrayed as a divine attribute that humans should seek.

4. Heavenly Council
While not directly mentioned in this verse, the broader context of Job includes scenes where God interacts with heavenly beings, emphasizing His supreme authority and wisdom.

5. Creation
The backdrop for this verse, as the chapter discusses the natural world and the hidden treasures of the earth, illustrating the depth and mystery of divine wisdom.The Divine Source of Wisdom
Wisdom originates from God, and He alone fully understands and possesses it. As believers, we should seek wisdom from Him through prayer and study of His Word.

The Value of Wisdom
Just as God appraised and established wisdom, we should recognize its value in our lives. Pursuing wisdom leads to a deeper understanding of God's will and purpose.

The Process of Gaining Wisdom
God examined wisdom, indicating a process of discernment and understanding. We are called to diligently study and apply God's Word to grow in wisdom.

Wisdom in Creation
The natural world reflects God's wisdom. Observing creation can lead us to a greater appreciation of His power and intelligence.

Wisdom and Suffering
In the context of Job, wisdom is crucial for navigating suffering. Trusting in God's wisdom can provide comfort and guidance during trials.1. What is the meaning of Job 28:27?

2. How does Job 28:27 reveal God's role in establishing wisdom's foundation?

3. What does "He looked at wisdom and appraised it" teach about God's omniscience?

4. How can we apply God's example in Job 28:27 to seek wisdom today?

5. How does Job 28:27 connect with Proverbs 9:10 about the fear of the Lord?

6. In what ways can we "declare" and "establish" wisdom in our daily lives?

7. What does Job 28:27 reveal about God's role in creation and wisdom?

8. How does Job 28:27 emphasize the importance of divine wisdom over human understanding?

9. In what ways does Job 28:27 challenge our perception of knowledge and wisdom?

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

11. Why does Job 28 offer poetic descriptions of wisdom's source without reconciling them with scientific or pagan wisdom traditions of the time?

12. What is the order of the Bible's books?

13. In light of Job 35:16, why would a merciful God remain silent if Job's pleas are without merit, given other scriptures showing God responding to human need?

14. In Job 24:12, why does it seem like God remains silent in the face of rampant oppression, clashing with other biblical passages where God intervenes?He looked at wisdom

God’s first action is simply to gaze upon wisdom. Far from being distant, He beholds it as something that belongs to Him. Scripture often pictures the Lord surveying His creation—“The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men” (Psalm 33:13). When 2 Chronicles 16:9 reminds us that “the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth,” it shows a God who is never ignorant of anything, least of all wisdom itself. By looking at wisdom, He:

• Affirms that real wisdom exists independently of human opinion.

• Establishes Himself as the One who defines what wisdom truly is (Proverbs 8:22-23).

• Demonstrates His intimate involvement in every detail of life, inviting us to seek our understanding from Him rather than from shifting cultural voices.

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and appraised it

The verse then says He “appraised” wisdom—He set its worth. Earlier in the chapter Job lists gold, onyx, sapphire, and “crystal” yet concludes, “It cannot be bought with gold” (Job 28:15-19). God alone measures wisdom’s value because He alone is qualified. Proverbs 8:11 echoes, “For wisdom is more precious than rubies.” By appraising wisdom, God:

• Declares that nothing we chase—wealth, status, knowledge—compares with knowing Him.

• Reveals that wisdom’s price is beyond earthly currency; it is accessed through relationship with Him (James 1:5).

• Calls us to adopt His value system. When Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that His thoughts are higher than ours, it urges us to trust the One who has already weighed and declared wisdom priceless.

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He established it

Next, God “established” wisdom. This speaks of laying a foundation. “The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding” (Proverbs 3:19). Jeremiah 10:12 uses the same language, showing that wisdom is woven into the universe’s very framework. In establishing wisdom, God:

• Anchors all reality in His ordered, purposeful design.

• Guarantees that moral and spiritual laws are as fixed as physical ones.

• Provides a steady compass for every generation, so that even when society drifts, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

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and searched it out

Finally, He “searched it out.” This does not imply ignorance; rather, it pictures complete comprehension. Romans 11:33 marvels, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” When God searches something, He plumbs its depths and fully understands its nuances—something no human mind can do. His searching means:

• Every facet of wisdom is exposed to His sight; nothing is hidden (Psalm 147:5).

• He can apply wisdom perfectly in every circumstance, assuring us that His judgments are always right (Isaiah 40:13-14).

• We are safe to follow His lead, for He has already explored every possible outcome.

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summary

Job 28:27 paints four movements—God looks, appraises, establishes, and searches—that together affirm His exclusive ownership and mastery of wisdom. Because He sees its essence, sets its value, builds creation upon it, and understands it completely, we can rest in the next verse’s conclusion: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). True wisdom is found by revering the One who already possesses it in full.

(27) The terms employed with reference to the Lord's knowledge of wisdom are remarkable. They are: (1) seeing, or intuition; (2) declaring or numbering, ratiocination; (3) preparing or establishing, determination; (4) searching out, or investigation. Each of these actions implies the operation of mind, and is so far opposed to the fatality of an impersonal law or the fixed necessity of an inevitable nature.

Verse 27. - Then did he see it, and declare it. From the creation of the world, and before it, God foresaw all that was necessary to maintain his universe in the perfect order and the perfect beauty that he designed for it. At the Creation he, in a certain sense, "declared it," or set it forth, before such intelligences as then existed. Subsequently, in part to Adam, in part to Noah, in part to Moses, he further declared, by revelation, at any rate a portion of the design of his creation, and of the laws by which it was regulated. He prepared it, yea, and searched it out. This is an inversion of what seems to us the natural order, whereof there are many examples. God must first have investigated and searched out, in his own secret counsels, the entire scheme of creation, and afterwards have proceeded to the "preparation" or "establishment" of it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


then
אָ֣ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

He looked at [wisdom]
רָ֭אָהּ (rā·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

and appraised it;
וַֽיְסַפְּרָ֑הּ (way·sap·pə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

He established it
הֱ֝כִינָ֗הּ (hĕ·ḵî·nāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

and searched it out.
חֲקָרָֽהּ׃ (ḥă·qā·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2713: To penetrate, to examine intimately


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OT Poetry: Job 28:27 Then he saw it and declared it (Jb)