Job 39:11

11 Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?

Job 39:11 Meaning and Commentary

Job 39:11

Wilt thou trust him, because his strength [is] great?
&c.] No; tame oxen are employed because they are strong to labour, ( Psalms 144:14 ) ; and they are to be trusted, in ploughing or treading out the corn, under direction, because they are manageable, and will attend to business with constancy; but the wild ox, though stronger, and so fitter for labour, is yet not to be trusted, because unruly and unmanageable: if that sort of wild oxen called "uri" could be thought to be meant, for which Bootius ^F8 contends, Caesar's account of them would agree with this character of the "reem", as to his great strength: he says of them ^F9, they are in size a little smaller than elephants, of the kind, colour, and shape of a bull; they are of great strength and of great swiftness, and not to be tamed;

or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
to plough thy fields, to harrow thy lands, and to bring home the ripe corn? as in ( Job 39:12 ) ; thou wilt not.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F8 Animadvers. Sacr. l. 3. c. 1. s. 14.
F9 Comment. de Bello Gall. l. 6. c. 27.

Job 39:11 In-Context

9 "Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?

10 Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?

11 Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?

12 Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, And gather the grain of your threshing floor?

13 "The wings of the bas haya`anah wave proudly; But are they the pinions and plumage of love?