Job 39:20

20 "Do you make him ¹leap like the locust? His majestic ²snorting is terrible.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Job 39:20 In-Context

18 "When she lifts herself on high, 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 snorting is terrible.

21 "He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He goes out to meet the weapons.

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

Cross References

• 1. Joel 2:5
• 2. Jeremiah 8:16