The Bible Dept. Podcast

Host: Dr. Manny Arango
Episode: Day 320: Job 25-28
Date: November 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Manny Arango guides listeners through Job chapters 25–28, emphasizing the powerful literary structure and rich theology, especially the pivotal role of Job 28 regarding the pursuit of wisdom. With his usual mix of scholarly insight and relatable commentary, Dr. Arango unpacks the final speech of Bildad, Job’s responses, and the famous wisdom poem at the heart of the book—shedding light on their meaning, ancient context, and practical application for modern listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context and Structure in Job (01:12 – 07:00)

• Dr. Arango highlights the “rhythm” of speakers in Job—Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, followed by Job’s responses.
• Bildad’s Final Speech: Chapter 25 presents Bildad’s last and shortest speech (only 6 verses).
• Job’s Sequence: Job responds in chapter 26 and continues his discourse into chapters 27 and 29, but chapter 28 stands out as unique.
• Authorship Debate (03:30):
  • Commonly assumed that Job speaks chapter 28, but Dr. Arango challenges this:
    • “It is not Job. Okay? And multiple versions of the Bible are gonna actually, like, low key get this wrong.” (04:52)
    • The ESV and NIV differ; some label it as Job’s words, others mark it as an “interlude.”
  • Dr. Arango’s Position: "I think that this is the narrator...interjecting that human wisdom has gotten everybody to as far as they can go." (06:17)
• Chiasm Structure: Job is laid out as a literary chiasm with chapter 28 at the center—suggesting its thematic importance.
  • “The center of the entire book of Job is...Chapter 28...the whole point, the whole purpose.” (05:56)

2. Chapters Snapshots & Themes

a. Job 25 – Bildad’s Last Stand (09:13 – 11:30)

• Summary: Bildad reiterates the majesty of God and the impurity of humanity, albeit bluntly.
• Notable Quote:
  • “How much less a mortal who is but a maggot?...a human being who is only a worm.” (10:37)
• Insight:
  • Bildad’s theology about God is largely correct, but his application to Job’s situation is wrong.
    • “So right, but so wrong. Which that should be the theme. That should be the subtitle of the book of Job.” (11:22)
• Foreshadowing: When God speaks later, He challenges mortals questioning Him, echoing themes from Bildad’s speech.

b. Job 26 – Job’s Sarcasm and Creation Poem (12:00 – 15:40)

• Tone: Job’s opening is heavy with sarcasm in his response to Bildad.
  • “What advice you have offered to one without wisdom and what great insight you have displayed. This is sarcasm.” (12:44)
• Creation Language:
  • Verses 7–14 comprise a creation poem featuring mythological language:
    • “By his power, he churned up the sea. By his wisdom, he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath, the skies became fair. His hand pierced the gliding serpent.” (14:10)
• Mythological Motifs: Mention of “Rahab,” a chaos sea monster, foreshadows themes God will later address.
• Timeless Truth Preview: Despite personal chaos, Job confesses God’s power over chaos.

c. Job 27 – Job’s Oath of Innocence (17:12 – 18:30)

• Summary: Job emphatically states his innocence:
  • “‘As long as I have life within me...my lips will not say anything wicked and my tongue will not utter lies...I will not deny my integrity.’” (17:38)
• Point: Job refuses to falsely confess sin just to satisfy his friends’ theology.
• Context: This is a condensed version of the fuller oath found in chapters 29-31.

3. Job 28 – The Heart of the Book: The Poem of Wisdom (19:05 – 26:40)

• Opening Analogy:
  • Humans dig for silver, gold, iron, copper, and precious stones from the earth.
  • “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Drop the mic, like that is such a freaking dope setup…” (21:00)
• Main Point:
  • Wisdom is incomparable to earthly treasures—unreachable by human effort or acquisition.
  • “You can get a lot of things out of the earth. Can't get wisdom out of the earth. Can't dig for it, can't tunnel for it, can't mine for it.” (25:15)
• Resolution:
  • Only God possesses wisdom, and the key for humanity is “the fear of the Lord.”
  • Direct Quotation (26:10):
    • “And he said to the human race, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
• Connection to Proverbs: Echoes that wisdom exceeds all material value, and it is God who grants wisdom.

4. Timeless Truth: Knowing God Beyond Experience (16:00 – 16:58, 24:00 – 25:00)

• Life Application:
  • Dr. Arango connects Job’s confession of God’s power to our need to base knowledge of God on Scripture, not only on personal experience.
  • “There should be a massive firewall between your personal experiences with God and what you just know to be true about God.” (16:30)
• Key Quote:
  • “Whether or not God provides for you has nothing to do with whether or not he's a provider, period. Whether or not he heals you has nothing to do with whether or not he's a healer…The Bible is how we know God. My personal experience is not how I know God.” (16:42–17:02)
• Summary Statement:
  • “Job admits: Yahweh alone tames chaos. And how do I know that? Because Job is using chaos language…the deep, the sea, Rahab…to talk about God’s dominance over the creation.” (15:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 04:52 | “It is not Job. Okay? And multiple versions of the Bible are gonna actually, like, low key get this wrong.” | Dr. Arango | | 05:56 | “The center of the entire Book of Job is. Chapter 28. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.” | Dr. Arango | | 10:37 | “How much less a mortal who is but a maggot? … A human being who is only a worm. Dang. Job gets called a maggot and a worm.” | Dr. Arango (quoting Bildad) | | 11:22 | “So right, but so wrong. That should be the theme. That should be the subtitle of the book of Job.” | Dr. Arango | | 14:10 | “By his power, he churned up the sea. By his wisdom, he cut Rahab to pieces…” | Job (quoted by Dr. Arango) | | 16:30 | “There should be a massive firewall between your personal experiences with God and what you just know to be true about God.” | Dr. Arango | | 21:00 | “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Drop the mic, like that is such a freaking dope setup…” | Dr. Arango | | 26:10 | “And he said to the human race, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” | Narrator (Job 28:28, quoted by Dr. Arango) | | 25:15 | “Can’t get wisdom out of the earth. Can't dig for it, can't tunnel for it, can't mine for it.” | Dr. Arango |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:12: Context clue – Overview of Job’s literary structure and speakers
• 03:30: Who is speaking in chapter 28?
• 05:56: Chapter 28 as literary center (chiasm)
• 09:13: Bildad’s speech (Job 25) summary
• 12:00: Job’s sarcasm and poetic response (Job 26)
• 14:10: Creation poem and mythological references
• 16:00–17:02: Timeless truth—Knowing God by Scripture, not experience
• 17:12: Job’s oath of innocence (Job 27)
• 19:05: Exploration of Job 28’s wisdom poem
• 21:00: Main transition in Job 28—“But where can wisdom be found?”
• 26:10: Culmination: “The fear of the Lord...that is wisdom”

Recap & Takeaway

Dr. Arango’s examination of Job 25–28 peels back the literary and theological genius of the book, showing how its structure centers on the poem about wisdom:

“The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” (26:10)

He encourages listeners to recognize the difference between knowing God through fleeting experience versus the enduring truth found in Scripture, much as Job does amid his suffering. The episode closes with anticipation for the next installment, inviting listeners to continue seeking wisdom—not by digging into the earth, but by reverently seeking God.

Next Episode: Day 321, covering Job 29–31.
Host’s signoff:
“I’ll be here. My only question is, will you be here? If you’re on a streak, I’m proud of you. If you’re not on a streak, I love you. There is now no condemnation for those of you who are in Christ Jesus.” (End)