Job 39:17-27

17 because God has made her forget wisdom and ¹given her no share in understanding.

18 When she rouses herself to flee,^[a] she laughs at the horse and his rider.

19 "Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?

20 Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic ²snorting is terrifying.

21 He paws^[b] in the valley and exults in his strength; he ³goes out to meet the weapons.

22 He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword.

23 Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin.

24 With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; he cannot stand still at ⁴the sound of the trumpet.

25 When the trumpet sounds, he says 'Aha!' He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 "Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south?

27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his ⁵nest on high?

Job 39:17-27 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

• 1. [Job 35:11]
• 2. Jeremiah 8:16
• 3. [Jeremiah 8:6]
• 4. Jeremiah 4:19; Amos 3:6
• 5. [Numbers 24:21; Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 4; Habakkuk 2:9]

Footnotes

• [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
• [b]. Hebrew They paw