Job 28:20 | KingComments | STEP | Job again asks the question of the origin and finding place of wisdom and understanding ( ; ). It takes a revelation from God to know where wisdom comes from, namely from God Himself. To know where the place of insight is, the same applies. “The eyes of all living”, that is, men, do not discover wisdom. It is covered, hidden from them ( ). By “the birds in the sky” can be meant in connection with the first part of this verse and the first part of the following verse: (evil) spiritual powers. Divine wisdom is also hidden from the most cunning spirits, whose intelligence is many times greater than that of man. “Abaddon and Death” are the places where the spirits of unbelievers find themselves after their death ( ). Anyone who comes into contact with them through a death in his family or surroundings realizes that he lacks the wisdom to comprehend what these places mean, what lies behind death. In this sense a rumor penetrates man’s ears. God with His wisdom sees through what is dark to man ( ). He can lift its veil and give insight into the situation after death ( ). In summary, we see three areas where wisdom is not (cf. ). Wisdom is 1. not on earth with all the living, with men; 2. not above the earth with the birds in the sky or the world of the spirits; 3. not beneath the earth in the realm of death with Abaddon and Death.

‏ Job 28:20

Wisdom Is Neither Visible nor Audible

Job again asks the question of the origin and finding place of wisdom and understanding (Job 28:20; Job 28:12). It takes a revelation from God to know where wisdom comes from, namely from God Himself. To know where the place of insight is, the same applies. “The eyes of all living”, that is, men, do not discover wisdom. It is covered, hidden from them (Job 28:21). By “the birds in the sky” can be meant in connection with the first part of this verse and the first part of the following verse: (evil) spiritual powers. Divine wisdom is also hidden from the most cunning spirits, whose intelligence is many times greater than that of man.

“Abaddon and Death” are the places where the spirits of unbelievers find themselves after their death (Job 28:22). Anyone who comes into contact with them through a death in his family or surroundings realizes that he lacks the wisdom to comprehend what these places mean, what lies behind death. In this sense a rumor penetrates man’s ears. God with His wisdom sees through what is dark to man (Pro 15:11). He can lift its veil and give insight into the situation after death (Lk 16:19-23).

In summary, we see three areas where wisdom is not (cf. Phil 2:10). Wisdom is

1. not on earth with all the living, with men;

2. not above the earth with the birds in the sky or the world of the spirits;

3. not beneath the earth in the realm of death with Abaddon and Death.