Job 15:18 — Word Study
WLCאֲשֶׁר־ חֲכָמִ֥ים יַגִּ֑ידוּ וְלֹ֥א כִֽ֝חֲד֗וּ מֵאֲבוֹתָֽם׃
BSAwhatʼăsher was declarednâgad▸ [told, shared openly] ◂by wise menchâkâm [skilled, intelligent, leaders, fathers] and was notlôʼ [never] concealedkâchad■ [hidden, kept secret] from their fathersʼâb [ancestors, heritage]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֲשֶׁר־ | [that] which | Particle |
| חֲכָמִ֥ים | wise [people] | Adj |
| יַגִּ֑ידוּ | they have told | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וְלֹ֥א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| כִֽ֝חֲד֗וּ | they have hidden | Verb, Piel, perfect third person common plural |
| מֵאֲבוֹתָֽם׃ | from ancestors their | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers, |
| KJV | Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it: |
| ASV | (Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hid it; |
| YLT | Which the wise declare — And have not hid — from their fathers. |
| WEB | (which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it; |
| BBE | (The things which wise men have got from their fathers, and have not kept secret from us; |
The translations agree on the key terms in this verse, maintaining a consistent understanding of the concepts presented.
The sentence features a main clause followed by a conjunction and two subordinate phrases, emphasizing the declaration and negation of concealment.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectחָכָם
verbנָגַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 15:18
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 — Job's Response to His Friendsgenerated
Job 15:18 is part of Job's discourse where he addresses the wisdom of the past, emphasizing that the insights of wise men have been openly shared and are not hidden from their ancestors. This verse highlights the importance of tradition and the continuity of knowledge through generations, as Job defends his understanding of suffering and divine justice against the views of his friends.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 15:10 | Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father. |
| 2 | Job 8:8 | Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers. |
| 3 | Psalm 71:18 | Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. |
| 4 | Psalm 78:3–6 | that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us. |
| 5 | Isaiah 38:19 | The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֲכָמִ֥ים, cha.kha.Mimgenerated
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and describes individuals who possess skillfulness and intelligence. This term encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including ethical understanding and practical skill, indicating a class of learned individuals.
In this verse, it emphasizes that wisdom is not only about knowledge but also about the responsibility to share it openly, as wise men do not conceal their insights from their ancestors.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the verb יַגִּ֑ידוּ, they have told, which is supported by a noun phrase and a prepositional phrase. The structure emphasizes the act of declaration by wise men and the negation of concealment.
The Hebrew word order places the subject first, highlighting the importance of the wise men who are declaring the truths, followed by the action they take.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חֲכָמִ֥ים as σοφοὶ (*sophoi*), meaning 'wise ones.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a slightly broader connotation of wisdom in the Greek context, emphasizing the philosophical aspect of wisdom.
The translation reflects the continuity of the concept of wisdom from the Hebrew to the Greek tradition, maintaining the focus on the importance of openly sharing knowledge.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 15:18 emphasizes that wise men openly share their knowledge and do not hide it from their ancestors. This highlights the importance of passing down wisdom and understanding through generations.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that those who are wise and skilled share their insights openly, ensuring that important truths are not kept hidden.
The heritage of ancestors represents the accumulated wisdom and experiences that shape understanding and guide future generations.
Job uses this verse to illustrate that wisdom about suffering and divine justice has been shared openly and should be acknowledged rather than concealed.
Tradition plays a crucial role in preserving and transmitting wisdom, as it connects the past with the present and informs our understanding of life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen wisdom shared openly in my community?
- How can I ensure that I am passing down important truths to future generations?
- What role does tradition play in my understanding of faith and life?
- How can I apply the wisdom of the past to my current challenges?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers often referenced Job's insights on wisdom and suffering. Here are quotations that reflect their interpretations and teachings based on this verse.
Ver. 18. Wise men confess, and do not hide their fathers. And at once they leap out in praise of them, and boast that they had been as it were the only rulers of the Church.Early Church Fathers on Job 15 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 15:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhich wise men have told from their fathers,.... Men wise in the best sense, not to do evil, but to do good; not worldly wise men, but such who have wisdom, sound wisdom in the inward parts; who are
Read John Gill on Job 15 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhich wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it: 'Which, as handed down from their fathers, wise men have told, and have not concealed.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 15 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWise men; who are most able to be witnesses and judges in these matters. From their fathers, or ancestors; who diligently observed this, and carefully transmitted their own judgment and experience successively to their posterity. Have not hid it; they judged it to be so certain and important a truth, that they would not conceal it in their own breasts, but made conscience of publishing it for the instruction and comfort of succeeding ages.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 15 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 15:18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid [it]:Ver. 18. Which wise men have told from their fathers] Who have carefully and faithfully transmitted it as a doctrinal truth to us, their posterity, from hand to hand. For in Job’ s time it is likely that the Scriptures were not yet written. Which, or, which things wise men Who did, in their generations, Deum recte cognoscere et colere, rightly know and worship God, which is the highest wisdom, saith Lactantius. Have told] Have spoken it so plainly and plentifully, as if they had showed us the things acted before our eyes. From their fathers] Who were careful to instil good instructions and heavenly truths into the…
Read John Trapp on Job 15 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) Which wise men have told from their fathers.—Here he adopts the language of Bildad (Job 8:8), appealing both to his own experience and that of universal tradition in an age prior to civil commotion and foreign disturbance.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 15 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. The doctrine of Eliphaz is no novelty,—it is his (Job 15:17), but it is the consistent moral tradition of the wise from generation to generation. The phrase “have told … and have not hid” means, have told openly, it is matter of public consent and teaching among them; cf. Isaiah 3:9, where the same words occur.
Read Cambridge on Job 15 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhich wise men have told from their fathers - Which they have received from their ancestors and communicated to others. Knowledge among the ancients was communicated chiefly by tradition from father to son.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 15 →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
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
(which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it;
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
what wise men declare, hiding nothing, from the tradition of their ancestors,
Tyndale line
Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:
(Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hid it;
(Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it;
Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it :
Which wise men haue tolde, as they haue heard of their fathers, and haue not kept it secret:
Strictly literal
Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hidden;
Which the wise declare — And have not hid — from their fathers.
Which the wise declare—And have not hid—from their fathers.
Which wise men have ever told, and have not concealed, as they obtained it from their fathers;
the things that wise men have passed down from their fathers, the things that their ancestors did not hide.
From the Latin
Wise men confess and hide not their fathers.
Simplified
This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
(The things which wise men have got from their fathers, and have not kept secret from us;
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 on the wording of this verse, with all six words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the importance of wisdom and its transmission through generations.
אֲשֶׁר־ חֲכָמִ֥ים יַגִּ֑ידוּ וְלֹ֥א כִֽ֝חֲד֗וּ מֵאֲבוֹתָֽם׃
6 of the 6 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 15:18
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.
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
Rel — ParticleHTr
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.
חָכָם adj. wise
skilful in technical work
wise in the administration of affairs
shrewd, crafty, cunning
pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
prudent
wise, ethically and religiously
base
H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work
. wise in the administration of affairs
. shrewd, crafty, cunning
. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
. prudent
. wise, ethically and religiously
2450 chakam khaw-kawm'
from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or
artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),
man).
see HEBREW for 02449
חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.
1) wise, wise (man)
1a) skilful (in technical work)
1b) wise (in administration)
1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle
1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)
1e) prudent
1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Adj — AdjHAampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.
[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous
Hiph. declare, tell
Hoph. be told, announced, reported
base
H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell
. be told, announced, reported
5046 nagad naw-gad'
a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out
opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;
figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one
present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,
praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),
denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,
rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.
1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known
1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1a1) to tell, announce, report
1a2) to declare, make known, expound
1a3) to inform of
1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim
1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess
1a5a) messenger (participle)
1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVhi3mp
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)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
כָּחַד (kachad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hide or conceal. It can also imply destruction or desolation, with various forms indicating actions like being hidden (Niphal) or actively hiding (Hiphil). The entries highlight its use in different contexts, but do not provide specific verse references.
[כָּחַד] vb. not in Qal; Pi. Hiph. hide, efface; Niph. (usu.) pass.
Niph.
be hidden
be effaced, destroyed
Pi. hide
Hiph.
hide
efface, annihilate
base
H3582 [כָּחַד] not in Qal; Pi. Hiph. hide, efface; Niph. (usu.) pass.
3582 kachad kaw-khad'
a primitive root; to secrete, by act or word; hence
(intensively) to destroy:--conceal, cut down (off), desolate,
hide.
כָּחַד (ka.chad) — to hide.
1) to hide, conceal, cut off, cut down, make desolate, kick
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be hidden
1a2) to be effaced, be destroyed, be cut off
1b) (Piel) to cover, hide
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to hide
1c2) to efface, annihilate
V-Piel-Perf-3cp — Verb · Piel · perfect third person common pluralHVpp3cp
hid'-'n: The translation of Taman, "to hide," "to bury" (Job 3:16); of tsaphan "to conceal," "store up" (Job 15:20, "The number of years is hidden to the oppressor," the Revised Version (British and American) "even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor," margin "and years that are numbered are laid up"; Job 24:1, "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty," the Revised Version (British and American) "Why are times not laid up by the Almighty?" margin as the King James Version with "Why is it?" prefixed; Ps 83:3, "They consulted (the Revised Version (British and American) "consult") against thy hidden ones"); of matspunim (from tsaphan), "hidden…
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp