“No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.”
Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; the acquisition of wisdom is better than pearls, introducing less common precious materials to assert that all fall short, and explicitly declaring wisdom superior to the most prized materials. The dismissal of coral and crystal establishes that even materials of remarkable rarity prove inadequate to wisdom's value. The explicit assertion that wisdom exceeds pearls—traditionally the ultimate symbol of precious value—establishes a hierarchy in which wisdom crowns all material value. The verse moves beyond comparison to direct assertion of superiority.
Church Fathers on Job 28:18
-15. But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof: neither is it found in the land of them that live pleasantly. The depth saith, It is not with me, and the sea saith, It is not with me. Fine gold shall not be given for it: neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof: It is first to be noted, that two points be proposed to himself, and two he adds making answer. For to this that he said above, Where…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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