The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
Parallel translations
- WEB Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
- BSB Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
- NKJV Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
- NASB “Gold or glass cannot equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of pure gold.
- NLT Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Neither gold nor glass can equal wisdom, nor can it be traded for the finest gold vessels.
Overview
Glass was a rare and costly item in antiquity, here paired with gold to express the highest material value. Job insists that even these cannot be exchanged for wisdom. The accumulating comparisons drive home that wisdom is beyond all earthly price, a treasure ultimately found in God and revealed in Christ (Colossians 2:3).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Rev 22:1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
- Rev 21:11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- Ezek 1:22And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Rev 4:6And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 28:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.