Job 28:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Wisdom is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds that fly high above the earth.
What Does Job 28:21 Mean?
Job answers by emphasizing how completely hidden wisdom is. It is concealed from the eyes of all living creatures, and kept close even from the birds of the air, who soar above and see far. No earthly vantage point, however high, can spot it.
The image of the birds recalls the earlier picture of the vulture's keen but limited sight. Even the highest, sharpest view of any creature cannot find wisdom. This thorough hiddenness is not God being stingy; it is a way of showing that wisdom belongs to a realm above the creaturely. It cannot be discovered by looking around, only by receiving from above. Job is teaching that the search for understanding ends not in a clever discovery but in humble reception from the God who alone possesses it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 28:21
What does Job 28:21 mean?
Wisdom is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds that fly high above the earth.