Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 28:18

18. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of Wisdom is above rubies.

They are of no value, nor worthy to be named the same day with this, nor fit to be mentioned as a price or recompence, wherewith to purchase this.

Or, the attraction or acquisition: or rather, the Extraction, or drawing forth. For Iob useth the word of art which was proper in the taking of Pearls, as the following word, rendred by our Translators Rubies, is understood by divers, both Hebrew and Christian Interpreters, and amongst others by the late eminently learned Bochart, who proveth it by divers Arguments. Now these Pearls are and were taken by men that dived to the bottom of the Sea, and drew them out thence, which is the very word which both Arabick and Latine Authors use in the case, as indeed the same word is used of all Fisher-men, who are said to draw forth with their Hook, or Net▪ or otherwise, Fishes, or any other thing for which they are fishing. Moreover this diving, as it produced great profit, so it was not without some danger and difficulty; for if they heedlesly put their fingers into the gaping shell, within which the Pearl was, it speedily closed upon them, and put them to exquisite pain, to the loss of their finger, and sometimes of their Life. Which is a fit representation of the state of those persons who search after the knowledge of Gods Counsels, and ways, and the grounds of them, who as when they modestly enquire into them, and truly discover them, they have infinite advantage and satisfaction therein, so if they prie into them too boldly, searching into those things which God hath concealed, and rashly judging of them above what they know, which Iob judged to be his Friends case, they expose themselves to manifold snares and dangers. And this extraction, or drawing forth, is aptly used concerning this Wisdom, which lying very deep and remote from the reach of ordinary men, is not be obtained without diligent search and consideration. And so the place may be thus translated, the extraction or drawing forth of Wisdom is above that (to wit, the extraction) of Pearls.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word]