28:18 Of coral and jasper no mention will be made;
the price 1 of wisdom is more than pearls. 2
1 tn The word מֶשֶׁךְ (meshekh) comes from a root meaning “to grasp; to seize; to hold,” and so the derived noun means “grasping; acquiring; taking possession,” and therefore, “price” (see the discussion in R. Gordis, Job, 309). Gray renders it “acquisition” (so A. Cohen, AJSL 40 [1923/24]: 175).
2 tn In Lam 4:7 these are described as red, and so have been identified as rubies (so NIV) or corals.