Job 39:18-28

18 When it spreads its wings {aloft}, it laughs at the horse and its rider.

19 "Do you give power to the horse? Do you clothe its neck [with] a mane?

20 Do you make it leap like the locust? [The] majesty of its snorting [is] terrifying.

21 They paw in the valley, and it exults with strength; it goes out to meet [the] battle.

22 It laughs at danger and is not dismayed, and it does not turn back from {before} [the] sword.

23 Upon it [the] quiver rattles [along with] [the] flash of [the] spear and [the] short sword.

24 With roar and rage {it races over the ground}, and it cannot stand still at [the] sound of [the] horn.

25 {Whenever} a horn [sounds], it says, 'Aha!' And it smells [the] battle from a distance-- [the] thunder of [the] commanders and [the] war cry.

26 "Does [the] hawk soar by your wisdom? Does it spread its wings to [the] south?

27 Or does [the] eagle fly high at your command and construct its nest high?

28 It lives [on the] rock and spends the night {on the rock point and the mountain stronghold}.

Job 39:18-28 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]. Literally "in the height"
• [b]. Literally "from faces of"
• [c]. Or "it paws [the] ground"; literally "it swallows [the] earth/ground"
• [d]. Literally "At enough"
• [e]. Literally "on [the] tooth of [the] rock and [the] stronghold"