Job 39:17-27

17 For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.^[a]

18 When she proudly^[b] 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?^[c]

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

21 He paws^[d] in the valley and rejoices in his strength; He charges into battle.^[e]

22 He laughs at fear, since he is afraid of nothing;^[f] he does not run from the sword.

23 A quiver rattles at his side, along with a flashing spear and a lance.^[g]

24 He charges ahead^[h] with trembling rage; he cannot stand still at the trumpet's sound.

25 When the trumpet blasts, he snorts defiantly.^[i] He smells the battle from a distance; he hears the officers' shouts and the battle cry.

26 Does the hawk take flight by your understanding and spread its wings to the south?

27 Does the eagle soar at your command and make its nest on high?^[j]

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jb 38:36
• [b]. Hb obscure
• [c]. Hb obscure
• [d]. LXX, Syr; MT reads digs
• [e]. Lit He goes out to meet the weapon
• [f]. Dt 1:21; Jos 1:9
• [g]. Or scimitar
• [h]. Lit He swallows the ground
• [i]. Lit he says, "Aha!"
• [j]. Jr 49:16; Ob 4