Job 28:23

28:22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

KJV

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“God understands its way, and he knows its place.

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

God understands the way thereof, and he knows the place thereof.

28:24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

What does Job 28:23 mean?

Job 28:23 is a verse in the book of Job, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym), בִּין (bîyn), דֶּרֶךְ (derek). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

understandethבִּיןbîyn/bene/H995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand

the

wayדֶּרֶךְderek/deh'-rek/H1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

thereof,

and

knowethיָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)

the

placeמָקוֹםmâqôwm/maw-kome'/H4725properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

thereof.

Commentary on Job 28:23

HENRY_FULL · Job 28:23

nd comes closer to the general question that was in dispute between him and them, Whether outward prosperity, and the continuance of it, were a mark of the true church and the true members of it, so that the ruin of a man's prosperity is sufficient to prove him a hypocrite, though no other evidence appear against him: this they asserted, but Job denied. I. His preface here is designed for the moving of their affections, that he might gain their attention, ver. 1-6 . II. His discourse is designed for the convincing of their judgments and the rectifying of their mistakes. He owns that God does sometimes hang up a wicked man as it were in chains, in terrorem —as a terror to others, by some visible remarkable judgment in this life, but denies that he always does so; nay, he maintains that commonly he does otherwise, suffering even the worst of sinners to live all their days in prosperity and to go out of the world without any visible mark of his wrath upon them. 1. He describes the great prosperity of wicked people, ver. 7-13 . 2. He shows their great impiety, in which they are hardened by their prosperity, ver. 14-16 . 3. He foretels their ruin at length, but after a long reprieve, ver. 17-21 . 4. He observes a very great variety in the ways of God's providence towards men, even towards bad men, ver. 22-26 . 5. He overthrows the ground of their severe censures of him, by showing that the destruction of the wicked is reserved for the other world, and that they often escape to the last in this world ( v. 27, to the end ), and in this Job was clearly in the right. The Reply of Job to Zophar. ( b. c. 1520.) 1 But Job answered and said, 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Judges 9:7

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Job 13:4

But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Job 15:11

Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

Job 16:2

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. miserable: or, troublesome

Job 18:2

How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

Job 33:1

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

Job 33:31

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

Job 34:2

Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. spend: Heb. weigh

Hebrews 2:1

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. let: Gr. run out as leaking vessels

Topics

God Measures Readings, Select

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Job 28:23.

Genesis 1:9

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

Genesis 18:19

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Genesis 24:21

And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

Genesis 28:16

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

Genesis 38:16

And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

Frequently asked questions

What does Job 28:23 say?

Job 28:23 (King James Version) reads: "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof."

Is Job 28:23 in the Old or New Testament?

Job 28:23 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Job.

Reflect

As you read Job 28:23, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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