Job 28:17 — Word Study
WLCלֹא־ יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה זָ֭הָב וּזְכוֹכִ֑ית וּתְמ֖וּרָתָ֣הּ כְּלִי־ פָֽז׃
BSANeitherlôʼ [nor can be compared to] goldzâhâb [a valuable metal] nor crystalzᵉkûwkîyth△ [glass, transparent and clear] can compare to itʻârak▸ nor jewelskᵉlîy of fine goldpâz [pure, refined] be exchanged for ittᵉmûwrâh [traded, bartered, this precious thing, of great value]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה | it will be comparable to it | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| זָ֭הָב | gold | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וּזְכוֹכִ֑ית | and glass | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וּתְמ֖וּרָתָ֣הּ | and [is] exchange its | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| כְּלִי־ | a vessel of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| פָֽז׃ | pure gold | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it. |
| KJV | The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. |
| ASV | Gold and glass cannot equal it, Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. |
| YLT | Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold. |
| WEB | Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. |
| BBE | Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence presents a main idea followed by additional comparisons, illustrating the worth of wisdom in contrast to valuable materials.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 28:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Value of Wisdomgenerated
Job 28:17 emphasizes the incomparable value of wisdom, stating that it cannot be measured against precious materials like gold or crystal. The surrounding verses further illustrate the futility of seeking wisdom in earthly treasures, reinforcing the theme that true wisdom is of far greater worth than any material possession.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 1:22 | Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal. |
| 2 | Revelation 4:6 | And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. |
| 3 | Revelation 21:11 | shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal. |
| 4 | Revelation 22:1 | Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה, ya.'ar.Khe.nahgenerated
The verb יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה (ya'ar'khenah) is a third person masculine singular imperfect form, indicating an action that will take place. It conveys the idea of valuing or arranging something in a particular order, which in this context refers to the act of comparing or estimating worth.
This word encapsulates the process of assessing value, suggesting that wisdom cannot be arranged or valued in the same way as material possessions. The implication is that wisdom transcends material wealth and cannot be quantified by earthly standards.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations of this verse generally agree on the idea that wisdom cannot be compared to gold or crystal.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה, it will be comparable to it, which governs the comparison being made. The structure emphasizes that neither gold nor crystal can match the value of wisdom.
The sentence is constructed with a series of negations and comparisons, highlighting the superiority of wisdom over material wealth.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה is rendered as αὐτῇ (autē), which translates to 'to it.' This choice indicates a direct comparison rather than a valuation, suggesting that wisdom is not merely compared but stands apart from material goods.
This translation reflects a broader interpretation of the Hebrew text, emphasizing the distinct nature of wisdom.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 28:17 states that wisdom cannot be compared to gold or crystal, nor can it be exchanged for precious jewels. This verse emphasizes that wisdom is far more valuable than any material possession.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is highlighting that wisdom holds a value that far exceeds that of precious materials, indicating its unique and unparalleled worth.
Gold and crystal are universally recognized as valuable and precious, making them effective benchmarks to illustrate the greater value of wisdom.
This phrase underscores that no amount of material wealth can purchase wisdom, reinforcing its intrinsic value.
The verse reflects Job's exploration of suffering, wisdom, and the understanding of God's ways, emphasizing that true wisdom is sought after and cannot be quantified by earthly standards.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I valued material possessions over wisdom in my own life?
- How can I seek wisdom in my daily decisions rather than relying solely on material wealth?
- What are some examples of wisdom that I have encountered that cannot be measured by money?
- How does understanding the value of wisdom change my perspective on life's challenges?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse reflects on the incomparable nature of wisdom, as seen in the writings of Gregory the Dialogist.
The gold and the glass cannot equal it. Neither shall vessels of gold high and overtopping be exchanged instead of it. Who that is sound of perception would deem it worthy to understand this according to the letter? For 'glass,' as we said…Early Church Fathers on Job 28 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 28:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe gold and the crystal cannot equal it,.... Crystal was found in an island of the Red sea, situated before Arabia, called Neron, and in another, which from a gem found in it bears the name of
Read John Gill on Job 28 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. Crystal , [ zªkowkiyt (H2137)] - or else glass, if then known, very costly. From a root [ zaakah (H2135)], to be transparent.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 28 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe crystal; or, amber, which in those parts was of very great price; or, the diamond. The Hebrew word is not elsewhere used, and it hath in it the signification of purity, or clearness, or brightness. Jewels; or, vessels; wherein there is not only the excellency of the materials, but the curiosity of art, which renders the other much more valuable.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 28 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 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. 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…
Read John Trapp on Job 28 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) The exchange of it.—Or, according to some, the attraction of it. The remainder of this chapter calls for little remark: its unrivalled sublimity is patent, and comment is superfluous. There is a general resemblance between this chapter and Proverbs 8, and both seem to imply a knowledge of the Mosaic narrative of creation.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 28 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. and the crystal] Probably glass, which was rare and counted precious in ancient times. cannot equal it] The word means to arrange, to set over against, to compare with. The idea here is that gold and glass cannot be set against Wisdom by way of barter, as the next clause distinctly states.
Read Cambridge on Job 28 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe gold and the crystal - A crystal, in chemistry, is an inorganic body which, by the operation of affinity, has assumed the form of a regular solid, terminated by a number of plane and smooth surfaces.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 28 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible17. Crystal — Probably glass. The manufacture of glass is of great antiquity, as is evident from the paintings at Beni Hassan, of more than 3,800 years ago, which still represent the process of glass-blowing.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 28 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
Neither gold nor crystal can be compared with it, nor can a vase of gold match its worth.
Tyndale line
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
Gold and glass cannot equal it, Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
Gold and glass cannot equal it: neither shall the exchange thereof be jewels of fine gold.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
The golde nor the chrystall shall be equall vnto it, nor the exchange shalbe for plate of fine golde.
Strictly literal
Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
Gold and crystal do not equal it, || Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
Gold and crystal cannot equal it in worth; neither can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
From the Latin
Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
Simplified
Gold or fine glass cannot compare with wisdom; it cannot be exchanged for gold jewelry.
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording for Job 28:17. The Septuagint's translation aligns with the Hebrew, maintaining the same core message about the incomparable nature of wisdom.
לֹא־ יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה זָ֭הָב וּזְכוֹכִ֑ית וּתְמ֖וּרָתָ֣הּ כְּלִי־ פָֽז׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 28:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
עָרַךְ (arak) means to arrange or set in order, applicable in various contexts such as preparing a table, organizing a battle, or stating a legal case. It can also denote valuing or taxing in the Hiphil form. The word encompasses a wide range of meanings related to order and comparison.
עָרַךְ vb. arrange or set in order
Qal
arrange in order, seven altars
set or lay in order, as wood
in common life, arrange a table
arrange a battle, i.e. draw up in battle order
arrange weapons of army in order for battle
arrange words
state in order, set forth a legal case
compare (as result of arranging in order)
intrans. be comparable
base
עָרַךְ vb. denom. Hiph. value (for taxation), tax
base
H6186a עָרַךְ arrange or set in order .. . arrange in order, seven altars
. set or lay in order, as wood
. in common life, arrange a table
. arrange a battle, i.e. draw up in battle order
. arrange weapons of army in order for battle
. arrange words
. state in order, set forth a legal case
. . compare (as result of arranging in order)
. intrans. be comparable
H6186b עָרַךְ vb. denom. Hiph. value (for taxation), tax
6186 `arak aw-rak'
a primitive root; to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order
(in a very wide variety of applications):--put (set) (the
battle, self) in array, compare, direct, equal, esteem,
estimate, expert (in war), furnish, handle, join (battle),
ordain, (lay, put, reckon up, set) (in) order, prepare, tax,
value.
עָרַךְ (a.rakh) — to arrange.
1) to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to arrange or set or lay in order, arrange, state in order, set forth (a legal case), set in place
1a2) to compare, be comparable
עָרַךְ (a.rakh) — to value.
(Hiphil) to value, tax
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqi3ms/Sp3fs
זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.
זָהָב 385 n.m. gold
= gold-ore, gold in raw state
gold as wealth
gold as spoil of war
gold as merchandise
gold as costly gift
gold as material
gold described by its source
gold defined by var. adj. and pts.
as measure of weight and value
= golden oil, from colour
often named with
the chief vbs. used
base
H2091 זָהָב gold
2091 zahab zaw-hawb'
from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,
something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--
gold(-en), fair weather.
זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.
1) gold
1a) as precious metal
1b) as a measure of weight
1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
gold (zahabh; chrusos):
1. Terms:
No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).
Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;
Gold
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…
A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…
זְכוּכִית (zkuwkiyth) refers to glass or crystal, indicating a form of transparency. It is derived from the root word for 'to be clear' and is noted in Job 28:17 as being precious, though of lesser value than wisdom.
זְכוּכִית n.[f.] glass; as precious, yet of less value than wisdom Jb 28:17.
ref
H2137 זְכוּכִית
2137 zkuwkiyth zek-oo-keeth
from 2135; properly, transparency, i.e. glass:--crystal.
see HEBREW for 02135
זְכוּכִית (ze.khu.khit) — glass.
glass, crystal, fine glass
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
glas (zekhukhith; hualos):
1. History:
Glass is of great antiquity. The story of its discovery by accident, as related by Pliny (NH, xxxvi.65), is apocryphal, but it was natural for the Greeks and Romans to ascribe it to the Phoenicians, since they were the producers of the article as known to them. The Egyptian monuments have revealed to us the manufacture in a time so remote that it must have preceded that of the Phoenicians. A representation of glass-blowing on monuments of the Old Empire, as formerly supposed, is now regarded as doubtful, but undoubted examples of glazed pottery of that age exist. A fragment of blue glass has been found inscribed with the name of Antef III, of the XIth Dynasty, dating from 2000 or more BC (Davis, Ancient Egypt, 324). The oldest dated bottle, or vase, is one bearing the name of Thothmes III, 1500 or more BC, and numerous examples occur of later date.…
Glass
Was known to the Egyptians at a very early period of their national history, at least B.C. 1500. Various articles both useful and ornamental were made of it, as bottles, vases, etc. A glass bottle with the name of Sargon on it was found among the ruins of the north-west palace of Nimroud. The Hebrew word zekukith (Job 28:17), rendered in the Authorized Version “crystal,” is rightly rendered in the Revised Version “glass.” This is the only allusion to glass found in the Old Testament. It is referred to in the New Testament in Rev. 4:6; 15:2; 21:18, 21. In Job 37:18, the word rendered “looking-glass” is in the Revised Version properly rendered “mirror,” formed, i.e., of some metal. (Comp.
The Hebrew word occurs only in (Job 28:17) where in the Authorized Version it is rendered "crystal." In spite of the absence of specific allusion to glass in the sacred writings, the Hebrews must have been aware of the invention from paintings representing the process of glass-blowing, which have been discovered at Beni-hassan, and in tombs at other places, we know that the invention vas known at least 3500 years ago. Fragments too of wine-vases as old as the exodus have been discovered in Egypt. The art was also known to the ancient Assyrians. In the New Testament glass is alluded to as an emblem of brightness. (Revelation 4:6; 15:2; 21:18)
Was well known to the ancients, and no doubt to the Jews; its invention is traced to an incident on the coast to Phoenica, and the arts of blowing, coloring, and cutting it were familiar to the ancient Egyptians. The "looking glasses" of the Jews, however, were of highly polished metal, usually small and round, Ex 38:8 Job 37:18 Jas 1:23. Glass does not appear to have been used at that time for mirrors, nor for windows; but for cups, bottles, vases, ornaments, sacred emblems, etc. It is alluded to in 1Co 13:12 Re 4:6 15:2 21:18,21; probably also in Job 28:17, where…
תְּמוּרָה (tmuwrah) refers to the concepts of exchange and recompense. It is derived from a root meaning to barter or compensate. The term encompasses ideas of substitution and restitution, indicating a range of meanings related to trading or compensating for something.
תְּמוּרָה n.f. exchange, recompense
base
H8545 תְּמוּרָה exchange, recompense
8545 tmuwrah tem-oo-raw'
from 4171; barter, compensation:--(ex-)change(-ing),
recompense, restitution.
see HEBREW for 04171
תְּמוּרָה (te.mu.rah) — exchange.
that which is exchanged, exchange, substitute, recompense
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs
כְּלִי (kliy) refers to an article or utensil, encompassing a wide range of objects such as vessels, tools, and implements used for various purposes, including music and warfare. It is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare' and can denote anything from furniture to weapons. The entries highlight its general use in the Old Testament without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel
base
H3627 כְּלִי article, utensil, vessel
3627 kliy kel-ee'
from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an
implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour
((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that
which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool,
vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
see HEBREW for 03615
כְּלִי (ke.li) — article/utensil.
1) article, vessel, implement, utensil
1a) article, object (general)
1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel
1b1) implement (of hunting or war)
1b2) implement (of music)
1b3) implement, tool (of labour)
1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen)
1b5) utensils, furniture
1c) vessel, receptacle (general)
1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
פָּז (paz) refers to refined or pure gold. It is derived from a related root and specifically denotes gold that has been purified. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as fine or pure gold, with no notable disagreements among the lexicons.
פַּז n.m. refined, pure gold
base
H6337 פָּז refined, pure gold
6337 paz pawz
from 6338; pure (gold); hence, gold itself (as
refined):--fine (pure) gold.
see HEBREW for 06338
פַּז (paz) — pure gold.
refined or pure gold
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
gold (zahabh; chrusos):
1. Terms:
No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).
Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;
Gold
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…
A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…