Job 28:28
New International Version
And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

New Living Translation
And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

English Standard Version
And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Berean Standard Bible
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ”

King James Bible
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

New King James Version
And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
“And to mankind He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

NASB 1995
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

NASB 1977
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
So He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Amplified Bible
“But to man He said, ‘Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Christian Standard Bible
He said to mankind, “The fear of the Lord —that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He said to mankind, “The fear of the Lord is this: wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.”

American Standard Version
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.

Contemporary English Version
God told us, "Wisdom means that you respect me, the Lord, and turn from sin."

English Revised Version
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So he told humans, 'The fear of the Lord is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.'"

Good News Translation
God said to us humans, "To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord. To understand, you must turn from evil."

International Standard Version
He has commanded mankind: 'To fear the Lord—that is wisdom; to move away from evil—that is understanding.'"

Majority Standard Bible
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

NET Bible
And he said to mankind, 'The fear of the LORD--that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

New Heart English Bible
To man he said, 'Look, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

World English Bible
To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He says to man: Behold, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, "" And to turn from evil [is] understanding.”

Young's Literal Translation
And He saith to man: -- 'Lo, fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to turn from evil is understanding.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to man, Behold, the fear of Jehovah, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”

New American Bible
And to mortals he said: See: the fear of the Lord is wisdom; and avoiding evil is understanding.

New Revised Standard Version
And he said to humankind, ‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And to man he said, Behold, the reverence of God, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to a son of man: ‘the awe of God is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And unto man He said: 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
27then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; He established it and searched it out. 28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Cross References
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

James 3:13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

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.

Proverbs 2:5-6
then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. / For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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.

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

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.

Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.


Treasury of Scripture

And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

unto man

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Proverbs 8:4,5,26-32
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man…

fear

Deuteronomy 4:6
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

to depart

Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 13:14
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

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Job 28
1. There is a knowledge of natural things
12. But wisdom is an excellent gift of God














And He said to man
This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to humanity. The Hebrew word for "man" here is "adam," which can refer to mankind in general. This highlights the universal nature of the message, emphasizing that the wisdom and understanding God imparts are meant for all people, transcending time and culture. It underscores the personal relationship God seeks with each individual, inviting them to listen and respond to His divine instruction.

The fear of the Lord
The Hebrew word for "fear" is "yirah," which encompasses reverence, awe, and respect. This is not a fear that paralyzes but one that acknowledges God's majesty and holiness. In the biblical context, "the fear of the Lord" is foundational to wisdom. It is the starting point for a life that aligns with God's will. This reverence leads to a deeper understanding of God's nature and His expectations for righteous living. It is a call to recognize God's authority and to live in a way that honors Him.

that is wisdom
The Hebrew word for "wisdom" is "chokmah," which implies skill, insight, and moral discernment. In the biblical sense, wisdom is not merely intellectual knowledge but a practical application of God's truth in daily life. It involves making choices that reflect God's character and purposes. This wisdom is a gift from God, available to those who seek Him with a humble heart. It is a guiding principle that directs one's path and decisions, leading to a life that is pleasing to God.

and to turn away from evil
The phrase "turn away" comes from the Hebrew "suwr," meaning to depart or remove oneself. This action requires intentionality and a conscious decision to reject sin and its enticements. "Evil" in Hebrew is "ra," which encompasses anything that is morally wrong or harmful. Turning away from evil is an active pursuit of righteousness and purity. It involves a transformation of heart and mind, aligning one's actions with God's standards. This turning away is evidence of true understanding and a commitment to live according to God's ways.

is understanding
The Hebrew word for "understanding" is "biynah," which signifies discernment and comprehension. It is the ability to see things from God's perspective and to grasp the deeper truths of His Word. Understanding goes beyond surface knowledge; it penetrates the heart and influences behavior. It is cultivated through a relationship with God, prayer, and meditation on Scripture. This understanding empowers believers to navigate life's complexities with clarity and purpose, rooted in the truth of God's revelation.

(28) And unto man he said.--No one can for a moment suppose that this is an historical statement, or is to be treated as being one; but it is nevertheless profoundly and universally true. It is the wisdom of man as man to fear the Lord and to depart from evil; and this is God's primary revelation to man, which virtually underlies and is involved in all others. When we are told, as we are elsewhere, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, this implies that the fear of the Lord does not supersede, though it may be essential to, any other revelation, or any other development of wisdom, or any other manifestation of it. It is to be observed that the word rendered "the Lord" here is not the four-lettered name Jehovah which was used by Job in Job 12:9, but the other name for the Divine Being (Adonai), which was in later times universally substituted for the name Jehovah by the Jews in reading.

Verse 28. - And unto man he said. Not in so many words, not by any written or spoken revelation; but by the nature which he implanted in man, and especially by the conscience wherewith he endowed him. Man feels in his heart of hearts that whatever wisdom may be in the abstract, his true wisdom is "the fear of God," his true understanding "to depart from evil." No amount of intelligence, no amount of cleverness, or of information, or of knowledge, or of worldly or scientific wisdom, will be of any avail to him, unless he starts with this "beginning" (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7), and builds on this foundation. This foundation, at any rate, Job had. since God bore him witness that he had it (Job 2:3).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And He said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ׀ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to man,
לָֽאָדָ֗ם (lā·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

‘Behold,
הֵ֤ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

the fear
יִרְאַ֣ת (yir·’aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3374: Fear, reverence

of the Lord,
אֲ֭דֹנָי (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

that [is]
הִ֣יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

wisdom,
חָכְמָ֑ה (ḥāḵ·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451: Wisdom

and to turn away
וְס֖וּר (wə·sūr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

from evil
מֵרָ֣ע (mê·rā‘)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

[is] understanding.’”
בִּינָֽה׃ (bî·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 998: An understanding


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OT Poetry: Job 28:28 To man he said 'Behold the fear (Jb)
Job 28:27
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