Job 39:5

5 Zult gij de maanden tellen, die zij vervullen, en weet gij den tijd van haar baren?

Job 39:5 Meaning and Commentary

Job 39:5

Who hath sent out the wild ass free?
&c.] Into the wide waste, where it is, ranges at pleasure, and is not under the restraint of any; a creature which, as it is naturally wild, is naturally averse to servitude, is desirous of liberty and maintains it: not but that it may be tamed, as Pliny ^F13 speaks of such as are; but it chooses to be free, and, agreeably to its nature, it is sent out into the wilderness as such: not that it is set free from bondage, for in that it never was until it is tamed; but its nature and inclination, and course it pursues, is to be free. And now the question is, who gave this creature such a nature, and desire after liberty? and such power to maintain it? and directs it to take such methods to secure it, and keep clear of bondage? It is of God;

or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
not that it has any naturally upon it, and is loosed from them; but because it is as clear of them as such creatures are, which have been in bands and are freed from them: therefore this mode of expression is used, and which signifies the same as before.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 44.

Job 39:5 In-Context

3 Wie bereidt de raaf haar kost, als haar jongen tot God schreeuwen, als zij dwalen, omdat er geen eten is?

4 Weet gij den tijd van het baren der steengeiten? Hebt gij waargenomen den arbeid der hinden?

5 Zult gij de maanden tellen, die zij vervullen, en weet gij den tijd van haar baren?

6 Als zij zich krommen, haar jongen met versplijting voortbrengen, haar smarten uitwerpen?

7 Haar jongen worden kloek, worden groot door het koren; zij gaan uit, en keren niet weder tot dezelve.