Article August 13, 1938 Issue

Bible Notes

"Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it" (Job 28:1)—The term translated "vein" means literally "a place of going forth" or "source," and is often taken, in this context, to mean "a place whence silver comes,—a mine" (Brown, Driver, Brigges: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 425); while the second clause is more literally "a place for [the] gold they refine." Moffatt translates: "For silver there are mines, and places for refining gold;" and Smith: "Surely there is mine for silver, and a place where they refine gold" (cf. also Kent); while the Revised Version has: "a place for gold which they refine."

"Jewels of fine gold" (Job 28:17)—The word "jewels," in modern usage, commonly means "precious stones," but the word "keli," used in the original at this point, denotes literally "articles, utensils, vessels" in a general sense, though it was often employed in the meaning of "precious things, ornaments" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 479). The margin of the Revised Version translates: "vessels of fine gold;" and Smith: "articles of fine gold."

"His understanding is infinite" (Ps. 147:5)—The original Hebrew means literally: "His understanding has no number;" from which the sense of infinitude is very readily deduced. Moffatt renders: "His wisdom is unsearchable;" and Smith has: "There is no limit to his understanding."

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