Job 39:20

20 Canst thou make him leap as a grasshopper? The glory of his nostrils is formidable.

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 In her time she lifts up herself on high; she scorns the horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Canst thou make him leap as a grasshopper? The glory of his nostrils is formidable.
21 He paws at the earth and rejoices in his strength; he goes forth to meet the armed men.
22 He mocks fear and is not afraid; neither does he turn his face from the sword.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010