Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains. New Living Translation People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains. English Standard Version “Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. Berean Standard Bible The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base. King James Bible He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. New King James Version He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots. New American Standard Bible “He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the base. NASB 1995 “He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the base. NASB 1977 “He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the base. Legacy Standard Bible He sends his hand forth to the flint; He overturns the mountains at the base. Amplified Bible “Man puts his hand on [and tears apart] the flinty rock; He overturns the mountains at the base [looking for treasure]. Christian Standard Bible The miner uses a flint tool and turns up ore from the root of the mountains. Holman Christian Standard Bible The miner strikes the flint and transforms the mountains at their foundations. American Standard Version He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; He overturneth the mountains by the roots. Contemporary English Version With their own hands they remove sharp rocks and uproot mountains. English Revised Version He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Humans exert their power on the flinty rocks and overturn mountains at their base. Good News Translation Miners dig the hardest rocks, Dig mountains away at their base. International Standard Version "Using a flint, he thrusts his hand, overturning mountains by the roots. NET Bible On the flinty rock man has set to work with his hand; he has overturned mountains at their bases. New Heart English Bible He puts forth his hand on the flinty rock, and he overturns the mountains by the roots. Webster's Bible Translation He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base. World English Bible He puts his hand on the flinty rock, and he overturns the mountains by the roots. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe sent forth his hand against the flint, "" He overturned mountains from the root. Young's Literal Translation Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains. Smith's Literal Translation He stretched forth his hand upon the flint; he overturned the mountains from the roots. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots. Catholic Public Domain Version He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains. New American Bible He sets his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns the mountains at their root. New Revised Standard Version “They put their hand to the flinty rock, and overturn mountains by the roots. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe miner puts forth his hand upon the hard rock to break it; he overturns the mountains from their foundations. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated His hand reaches on the rock of flints and overturns the mountains from their roots OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; He overturneth the mountains by the roots. Brenton Septuagint Translation He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp rock, and turned up mountains by the roots: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Where Can Wisdom Be Found?…8Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it. 9The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base. 10He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure.… Cross References 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 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 8:10-11 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. / For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her. Isaiah 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. 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. Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 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. 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. / No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began. 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! Psalm 19:10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. Psalm 119:72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. Psalm 119:127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold. Proverbs 16:16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. 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. Treasury of Scripture He puts forth his hand on the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots. rock. Nahum 1:4-6 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth… Jump to Previous Assaults Bare Base Flint Flinty Forth Hand Hard Lays Mountains Overturned Overturneth Overturning Overturns Puts Putteth Rock Root RootsJump to Next Assaults Bare Base Flint Flinty Forth Hand Hard Lays Mountains Overturned Overturneth Overturning Overturns Puts Putteth Rock Root RootsJob 28 1. There is a knowledge of natural things12. But wisdom is an excellent gift of God The miner strikes the flint; This phrase highlights the miner's determination and skill in extracting valuable resources from the earth. In biblical times, mining was a labor-intensive and dangerous occupation, requiring significant effort and expertise. The mention of "flint" suggests the hardness and difficulty of the task, as flint is a tough material. This can be seen as a metaphor for human perseverance and the pursuit of wisdom, which is a central theme in the Book of Job. The imagery of striking flint may also remind readers of the need for spiritual diligence and the pursuit of divine truth, as seen in Proverbs 2:4, where wisdom is sought as silver and hidden treasures. he overturns mountains at their base. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure in the Book of Job, a man known for his righteousness and suffering. Job is the speaker in this chapter, reflecting on the nature of wisdom and human endeavors. 2. Miners Representing human effort and ingenuity, miners are depicted as those who labor intensively to extract valuable resources from the earth, symbolizing the pursuit of wisdom and understanding. 3. Mountains In this context, mountains symbolize formidable challenges or obstacles that humans strive to overcome through determination and skill. 4. Flint A hard type of rock that requires significant effort to break, symbolizing the challenges faced in the pursuit of wisdom. 5. The Book of Job A poetic and philosophical text in the Old Testament that explores themes of suffering, divine justice, and the quest for wisdom. Teaching Points The Pursuit of WisdomJust as miners exert great effort to extract valuable resources, believers are called to diligently seek wisdom, understanding that it requires perseverance and dedication. Overcoming Obstacles The imagery of overturning mountains reminds us that with God's help, we can overcome significant challenges in our pursuit of spiritual growth and understanding. Human Effort vs. Divine Wisdom While human effort is commendable, true wisdom ultimately comes from God. We must balance our endeavors with reliance on divine guidance. The Value of Persistence The miner's persistence in striking flint and overturning mountains serves as a metaphor for the Christian's need to persist in prayer, study, and seeking God's will. Reflecting on God's Creation The natural imagery in this verse invites us to marvel at God's creation and recognize His power and wisdom in the world around us. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 28:9?2. How does Job 28:9 illustrate God's power over creation and nature's elements? 3. What does "laying his hand on the flint" signify about human determination? 4. How can Job 28:9 inspire us to seek God's wisdom in challenges? 5. Connect Job 28:9 with Genesis 1:1-2 on God's authority over creation. 6. How can we apply the perseverance shown in Job 28:9 to our lives? 7. How does Job 28:9 illustrate human limitations in understanding God's creation? 8. What does Job 28:9 reveal about God's power over nature? 9. How does Job 28:9 challenge our perception of human achievement? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 28? 11. Why does the chapter describe hidden treasures of nature yet fail to mention methods beyond ancient superstition for finding them (Job 28)? 12. What is the Bible's perspective on crystals? 13. Who is Lucifer also known as Satan? 14. How can Job 28 claim humans search the depths of the earth (Job 28:1-4) when ancient mining technology was so limited? What Does Job 28:9 Mean The miner strikes the flint– Job pictures a skilled seeker who “strikes the flint,” chipping away rock to uncover hidden ore. • The scene highlights human ingenuity and persistence (Job 28:3–4). • Scripture often connects flint with hardness and sparks of fire, underscoring the difficulty of the task (Deuteronomy 8:9; Isaiah 50:7). • Yet even this determined labor stops short of discovering true wisdom, a theme the chapter keeps repeating (Job 28:12, 20). • The verse reminds us that people will spare no effort to gain earthly treasures—gold, silver, precious stones—while often neglecting “the fear of the LORD” that Proverbs 2:4–6 says is the real treasure. He overturns mountains at their base – Miners in the ancient world tunneled under mountains, loosening their foundations to reach rich veins of metal. • The image presses the point: humanity can reshape creation in dramatic ways (Psalm 104:32), even “moving” mountains in a physical sense long before Jesus spoke of mountain-moving faith (Mark 11:23). • Yet Job 28 leads us to ask what all that effort ultimately accomplishes. Gold is valuable, but it cannot purchase life or wisdom (Psalm 49:6–8; Matthew 16:26). • The verse implicitly contrasts man’s power to alter the landscape with God’s unsearchable wisdom that formed the mountains to begin with (Psalm 90:2). • By acknowledging the limits of human achievement, the text gently redirects our attention to the One who “looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24). summary Job 28:9 uses vivid mining imagery to showcase the extremes of human effort—striking flint, undercutting mountains—in pursuit of material gain. The greater lesson: if people labor this hard for perishable wealth, how much more should we seek the imperishable wisdom that “belongs to God” (Job 28:23) and is ultimately revealed in Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). (9) He putteth forth his hand upon the rock.--The process described is that of tunnelling and excavating, and that of making canals and lining them with stone; and in the course of such works many precious things would be discovered. The canals and cisterns were made so accurately that they retained the water, and did not even weep or trickle.Verse 9. - He putteth forth his hand upon the rock. Our Revisers translate, upon the flinty rock; while Canon Cook maintains that "the word used means either granite or quartz." Probably Job meant no more than that man does not shrink from attacking any - even the hardest - rock; but will subdue it, and cut his way through it, if he has occasion so to do. He overturneth the mountains by the roots. Herodotus, in describing what he had seen of the Phoenician mining operations in the island of Thasos, observes, "a huge, mountain has been turned upside down in the search for ores" (Herod., 6:47). Pliny says of the process employed for detaching huge masses from the metalliferous hills in Spain, "They attack the rock with iron wedges and hammers. When this work is complete, they destroy the supports, and notify by signal that the fall is about to take place. A watchman, stationed on the mountain-top, alone understands the signal; and he proceeds at once to have all the workmen called in, and himself makes a hurried retreat. Then the mountain falls m upon itself with a crash that cannot be imagined, and an incredible concussion of the air. The successful engineers contemplate the ruin which they have achieved" ('Hist. Nat.,' 33:4. § 73).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The miner strikesשָׁלַ֣ח (šā·laḥ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out the flint; בַּֽ֭חַלָּמִישׁ (ba·ḥal·lā·mîš) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2496: Flint he overturns הָפַ֖ךְ (hā·p̄aḵ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert mountains הָרִֽים׃ (hā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country at their base. מִשֹּׁ֣רֶשׁ (miš·šō·reš) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8328: A root Links Job 28:9 NIVJob 28:9 NLT Job 28:9 ESV Job 28:9 NASB Job 28:9 KJV Job 28:9 BibleApps.com Job 28:9 Biblia Paralela Job 28:9 Chinese Bible Job 28:9 French Bible Job 28:9 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 28:9 He puts forth his hand (Jb) |
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