Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

  • KJV King James Version

    The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Gold and glass cannot equal it; neither shall the exchange thereof be vessels of fine gold.

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Cross-references (5)

Passages linked to Job 28:17 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Revelation 22:1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
  • Proverbs 16:16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
  • Ezekiel 1:22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like an awesome crystal to look at, stretched out over their heads above.
  • Revelation 4:6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
  • Revelation 21:11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (12 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Job 28:17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal…

Job 28:17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it [shall not be for] jewels of fine gold.

Ver. 17. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it] For crystal some read diamond, others adamant. It hath its name from its purity and transparency. Junius rendereth it therefore nitidissima gemma. It seems to be, saith one, the last attempt of nature, and makes us find heaven on earth.

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And the exchange of it shall not be for jewels (or vessels) of fine gold] Of phez gold, so Broughton renders it, Vas auri puri puti, and would have it come from Fesse, in Barbary. The Arabians now call gold phes. Of this solid fast gold were made many precious jewels or vessels, like that French coin in the historian, in qua plus formae quam ponderis, in which was not so much weight as workmanship: Pro 25:11, "Apples of gold in lattices of silver"; or put in a case of silver cut work.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The crystal; or, amber, which in those parts was…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain The gold and the crystal cannot equal it,.... Crystal…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 17. See Clarke on Job 28:16.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain The gold and the crystal - A crystal, in…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Gold. This is the third time it has been…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain crystal--Or else glass, if then known, very costly. From…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 17. Crystal — Probably glass. The manufacture of glass…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 17. and the crystal] Probably glass, which was rare…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (17) The exchange of it.—Or, according to some, the…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; rather,…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain And the crystal cannot equal it.

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