Bible Strands
Job 28:23
But God understands its way, and He knows its place.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator addresses humanity within Job 28’s discourse on wisdom, positioned after detailing human excavation efforts and immediately preceding the declaration that Death and Abaddon lack this knowledge.
The words — הֵבִין (he.Vin) translates to “he understands,” and יָדַע (ya.Da') means “he knows,” both describing divine cognitive grasp over wisdom’s origin and location.
The thread — This theme of exclusive divine knowledge appears in Proverbs 8:22, where wisdom is presented as God’s first creation, and in Romans 11:33, which contrasts human inability to trace God’s judgments with His unsearchable wisdom.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that wisdom’s source and destination remain inaccessible to human effort or mortal inquiry, requiring reliance on God’s complete understanding instead.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 8:22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- 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!
- Jude 1:25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
- Psalms 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
- Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Psalms 19:7 The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
- Proverbs 8:14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
- Matthew 11:27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
- Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.