Job 39:3-13

3 They crouch down to give birth to their young; they deliver their newborn.^[a]

4 Their offspring are healthy and grow up in the open field. They leave and do not return.^[b]

5 Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from its harness?

6 I made the wilderness its home, and the salty wasteland^[c] its dwelling.

7 It scoffs at the noise of the village and never hears the shouts of a driver.

8 It roams the mountains for its pastureland, searching for anything green.

9 Would the wild ox be willing to serve you? Would it spend the night by your feeding trough?

10 Can you hold the wild ox by its harness to the furrow? Will it plow the valleys behind you?^[d]

11 Can you depend on it because of its strength?^[e] Would you leave it to do your hard work?

12 Can you trust the wild ox to harvest your grain and bring [it] to your threshing floor?

13 The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but are her feathers and plumage like the stork's?^[f][g]

Job 39:3-13 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or they send away their labor pains
• [b]. Lit return to them
• [c]. Ps 107:34; Jr 17:6
• [d]. Isa 28:24; Hs 10:11
• [e]. Ps 33:17-21
• [f]. Hb obscure
• [g]. Dt 32:11; Ps 91:4