Job 39:16-26

16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain,
17 for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.
18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider.
19 “Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Do you make it leap like a locust, striking terror with its proud snorting?
21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, and charges into the fray.
22 It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against its side, along with the flashing spear and lance.
24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.
25 At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’ It catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout of commanders and the battle cry.
26 “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread its wings toward the south?

Job 39:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 39

This chapter treats of various creatures, beasts and birds, which Job had little knowledge of, had no concern in the making of them, and scarcely any power over them; as of the goats and hinds, Job 39:1-4; of the wild ass, Job 39:5-8; of the unicorn, Job 39:9-12; of the peacock and ostrich, Job 39:13-18; of the horse, Job 39:19-25; and of the hawk and eagle, Job 39:26-30.

Cross References 16

  • 1. ver 17; Lamentations 4:3
  • 2. S ver 16; S Job 21:22; Job 35:11
  • 3. S Job 5:22
  • 4. S ver 11
  • 5. Joel 2:4-5; Revelation 9:7
  • 6. Job 41:25
  • 7. Jeremiah 8:16
  • 8. ver 11
  • 9. Jeremiah 8:6
  • 10. S Job 5:22
  • 11. Isaiah 5:28; Jeremiah 5:16
  • 12. Nahum 3:3
  • 13. Numbers 10:9; Jeremiah 4:5,19; Ezekiel 7:14; Amos 3:6
  • 14. Joshua 6:5
  • 15. Jeremiah 8:6; Amos 1:14; Amos 2:2
  • 16. Jeremiah 8:7
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.