Job 39:20

20 Do you make him leap like a locust? His proud snorting [fills one with] terror.

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 proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at the horse and its rider.
19 Do you give strength to the horse? Do you adorn his neck with a mane?
20 Do you make him leap like a locust? His proud snorting [fills one with] terror.
21 He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; He charges into battle.
22 He laughs at fear, since he is afraid of nothing; he does not run from the sword.
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