Job 39:20

20 Is it through you that he is shaking like a locust, in the pride of his loud-sounding breath?

Job 39:20 Meaning and Commentary

Job 39:20

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?
&c.] Which is frightened at every noise, and at any approach of men; but not so the horse; or canst thou move him, or cause him to skip and jump, or rather leap like a grasshopper? that is, hast thou given, or canst thou give him the faculty of leaping over hedges and ditches, for which the horse is famous? so Neptune's war horses are said F17 to be (euskarymoi) , good leapers;

the glory of his nostrils [is] terrible:
which may be understood of his sneezing, snorting, pawing, and neighing, when his nostrils are broad, spread, and enlarged; and especially when enraged and in battle, when he foams and fumes, and his breath comes out of his nostrils like smoke {r}, and is very terrible.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 Homeri Iliad. 13. v. 31.
F18 "Iguescunt patulae nares". Claudian. in 4. Consul. Honor.

Job 39:20 In-Context

18 When she is shaking her wings on high, she makes sport of the horse and of him who is seated on him.
19 Do you give strength to the horse? is it by your hand that his neck is clothed with power?
20 Is it through you that he is shaking like a locust, in the pride of his loud-sounding breath?
21 He is stamping with joy in the valley; he makes sport of fear.
22 In his strength he goes out against the arms of war, turning not away from the sword.
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