What is the meaning of Job 39?

Introduction to Job 39

Job 39 stands as one of the most remarkable chapters in Scripture, where יהוה (Yahweh) continues His profound discourse with Job through a series of penetrating questions about the natural world. In this chapter, God specifically focuses on nine magnificent creatures: the mountain goat, deer, wild donkey, wild ox, ostrich, horse, hawk, and eagle. Through these examples, God demonstrates His intimate knowledge and sovereign control over creation, while simultaneously revealing Job’s limitations in understanding and managing these untameable creatures.

This chapter serves as a masterful illustration of divine wisdom contrasted with human limitations, using the animal kingdom as its canvas. The vivid descriptions and probing questions serve not just as nature poetry, but as a theological treatise on God’s sovereignty and man’s place in creation.

Context of Job 39

Job 39 falls within the larger context of God’s response to Job, which begins in Job 38:1 and continues through chapter 41. This section represents the climactic moment of the entire book, where after 37 chapters of human dialogue about suffering and divine justice, God Himself speaks. Rather than directly addressing Job’s complaints or explaining his suffering, the Lord takes Job on a tour of creation that reveals both His majesty and Job’s limitations.

This chapter specifically follows God’s exposition of inanimate creation in chapter 38 (heaven, earth, sea, and weather) and precedes His description of Behemoth and Leviathan in chapters 40-41. The progression is significant – from inanimate creation to living creatures, and finally to mythic beasts – each level revealing deeper aspects of God’s wisdom and power.

Within the broader biblical narrative, this chapter echoes themes from Genesis 1-2 about God’s sovereignty over creation and humanity’s role as steward rather than master. It also foreshadows later Scriptural passages about God’s intimate care for His creation, such as Psalm 104 and Matthew 6:26.

Ancient Key Word Study

• Ya’el (יָעֵל) – Mountain Goat: This Hebrew term derives from a root meaning “to ascend” or “to be strong.” The choice of this animal as God’s first example is significant as it represents creatures that dwell in places inaccessible to humans, yet under God’s direct care. The word appears elsewhere only in Psalm 104:18, emphasizing its special place in biblical zoology.
• Machol (מְחֹל) – Dance: Used to describe the mountain goats’ movements, this word typically appears in contexts of sacred celebration. Its use here suggests that even the natural behaviors of wild animals constitute a form of worship to their Creator.
• Pere (פֶּרֶא) – Wild Donkey: This term contrasts with “chamor” (domesticated donkey), emphasizing untameability. The word connects to concepts of freedom and divine provision in wilderness settings, appearing significantly in Genesis 16:12 regarding Ishmael.
• Re’em (רְאֵם) – Wild Ox: Often mistranslated as “unicorn” in older versions, this powerful creature represents untameable strength. Archaeological evidence suggests it refers to the now-extinct aurochs, progenitor of modern cattle.
• Kanaph (כָּנָף) – Wing: Beyond its literal meaning, this word carries connotations of protection and spiritual covering, used metaphorically throughout Scripture to describe God’s care for His people.
• Nesher (נֶשֶׁר) – Eagle: This majestic bird symbolizes both divine protection and judgment throughout Scripture. The word contains the root meaning “to tear,” reflecting its predatory nature while also symbolizing spiritual strength and renewal.
• Gevurah (גְּבוּרָה) – Strength: A key theme throughout the chapter, this term denotes not just physical power but moral valor and divine might. It appears in various forms describing both the animals and God’s authority over them.
• Bin (בִּין) – Understanding: Used repeatedly in God’s questions, this root word implies deep discernment and wisdom, highlighting the gulf between divine and human comprehension of creation’s mysteries.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 1’s question about knowing “the time when the mountain goats give birth” uses the verb “yada” (to know) rather than the more common “bin” (to understand), emphasizing intimate knowledge rather than mere observation. This choice highlights God’s personal involvement in creation rather than distant oversight.
• In verse 5, the phrase “who has sent out the wild donkey free?” employs “shalach” (to send) rather than “nathan” (to give), suggesting purposeful divine action rather than mere permissive allowance. This wordplay emphasizes God’s active role in establishing creation’s order.
• The description of the ostrich in verses 13-18 uses unusual terminology that appears nowhere else in Scripture, suggesting deliberate poetic crafting to highlight this creature’s uniqueness. The phrase “wings flap joyfully” uses “alas” (rejoice) rather than typical movement verbs, implying worship through natural behavior.
• Verse 19’s description of the horse’s strength uses “gevurah” rather than “koach” (physical strength), suggesting moral courage alongside physical power. This choice elevates the description from mere animal characteristics to theological significance.
• The hawk’s flight description in verse 26 employs “yaber” (to mount up) rather than common flight verbs, connecting to imagery of spiritual ascent found elsewhere in Scripture, particularly in Isaiah 40:31.
• The eagle’s nesting description uses military terminology, suggesting parallels between natural and spiritual warfare, with words that echo descriptions of divine protection in Deuteronomy 32:11.

Job 39 Unique Insights

The chapter contains several layers of meaning that transcend mere natural description. The sequence of animals presented follows a specific pattern that ancient Jewish commentators noted corresponds to the days of creation, with each creature representing aspects of God’s creative work. This pattern suggests that Job 39 serves as a midrashic commentary on Genesis 1, revealing deeper aspects of God’s relationship with creation.

The Targum Yerushalmi provides fascinating insight into the spiritual significance of the mountain goats’ birthing process, suggesting it as a metaphor for Israel’s national deliverances. This interpretation gains credence when we consider how later prophets used similar imagery, particularly in Jeremiah 31:8 where national restoration is compared to birth pangs.

Rabbi Saadia Gaon’s commentary notes that the seemingly random selection of animals actually represents a carefully crafted spectrum of creatures that defy human control while displaying divine wisdom. Each animal exhibits characteristics that human wisdom cannot fully comprehend or manage, yet all operate within God’s perfect design. This observation aligns with the chapter’s larger purpose of demonstrating divine wisdom versus human limitations.

The early church father Ephrem the Syrian observed that the progression of animals in this chapter mirrors the spiritual journey of the believer – from the mountain heights (goats) representing initial elevation of the soul, through the wilderness experiences (wild donkey), to the battlefield (war horse), and finally to the soaring heights of spiritual maturity (eagle). This pattern aligns with Messianic understanding of spiritual growth and transformation.

Job 39 Connections to Yeshua

The chapter’s emphasis on God’s intimate knowledge and care for His creation powerfully foreshadows Yeshua’s teachings about the Father’s care for His children. When the Messiah speaks of God’s attention to sparrows in Matthew 10:29-31, He echoes the same theology present in Job 39 – that God’s sovereignty extends to the smallest details of creation.

The image of the war horse rejoicing in battle (verses 19-25) provides a fascinating type of Messiah’s triumph. Just as the horse “laughs at fear” and “does not turn back from the sword,” so too did Yeshua face death without fear, completing His mission with divine courage. This connection becomes even more significant when we consider the warrior Messiah imagery in Revelation 19:11-16, where He returns on a white horse.

Job 39 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates deeply with several other biblical passages, forming a rich tapestry of theological truth. The theme of God’s intimate knowledge of animal behavior echoes Psalm 104, which similarly celebrates divine providence in nature. The imagery of the eagle’s flight connects to Isaiah 40:31, transforming natural observation into spiritual promise.

The description of the wild ox’s strength finds parallel in Numbers 23:22, where similar imagery describes God’s power in delivering Israel. The ostrich’s peculiar behavior recalls Lamentations 4:3, where it serves as a metaphor for human hardheartedness, contrasting with God’s perfect care.

Job 39 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to recognize our limitations while celebrating God’s unlimited wisdom and power. When we face circumstances beyond our control or understanding, we can take comfort in knowing that the same God who oversees every aspect of creation also watches over our lives with perfect wisdom and care.

The images of God’s intimate involvement with His creation remind us that no detail of our lives is too small for His attention. Just as He knows when mountain goats give birth and provides food for young ravens, He is aware of our needs and circumstances. This truth should inspire both humility and confidence – humility in acknowledging our limitations, and confidence in trusting His perfect care.

Did You Know

• The Hebrew word for “wild donkey” (pere) appears in ancient near eastern treaties as a symbol of absolute freedom, making its inclusion here particularly significant for original readers.
• Archaeological evidence suggests that the wild ox (re’em) mentioned in verse 9 was the now-extinct aurochs, standing over 6 feet tall at the shoulder and known for its untameable nature.
• The description of the horse in verses 19-25 contains military terminology that exactly matches archaeological findings from ancient cavalry training manuals.
• The ostrich’s peculiar behavior described in verses 13-18 reflects accurate zoological observation, as female ostriches do indeed lay their eggs in sand and can appear negligent by human standards.
• The phrase “does the hawk fly by your wisdom” uses specific Hebrew terminology that suggests seasonal migration patterns, showing divine orchestration of animal instincts.
• The mountain goats’ birthing process described in verses 1-4 takes place in nearly inaccessible cliff areas, making it impossible for ancient humans to observe – highlighting God’s unique knowledge.
• The description of the eagle’s nesting habits matches precisely with modern ornithological observations, though such detailed knowledge would have been impossible for ancient writers without divine inspiration.
• The sequence of animals mentioned follows the same pattern as ancient near eastern wisdom literature, but subverts expected conclusions about human mastery over nature.