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Job 39
Job 39:1
General Information:
Yahweh uses four questions to emphasize that he is greater than Job because Yahweh takes care of the wild mountain goats and deer and Job does not. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
Do you know at what time ... bear their young?
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Surely you do not know when ... bear their young!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Can you watch when the deer are having their fawns?
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You are not able to watch to make sure everything goes well when the deer give birth to their fawns!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
are having their fawns
"give birth to their fawns"
Job 39:2
Can you count the months that they gestate?
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You cannot count the months that they are pregnant." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
that they gestate
"to complete their pregnancy"
they
The word "they" refers to the goats and the deer.
gestate
"are pregnant"
Do you know the time when they bear their young?
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Of course you do not know when they give birth to their young." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 39:3
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
They crouch down
The word "They" refers to the wild mountain goats and the deer.
birth their young
"give birth to their offspring"
then they finish their labor pains
Possible meanings are 1) their labor pains are over when the birth is finished or 2) "labor pains" is a metonym that refers to the offspring of the goats and deer because they are the result of the mother's labor and pain. Alternate translation: "send out their offspring from their womb" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Job 39:4
the open fields
"the countryside" or "the wild"
do not come back again
"do not come back to them" or "do not come back to their mothers"
Job 39:5
General Information:
Yahweh uses two questions to emphasize that he is greater than Job because Yahweh takes care of the wild donkeys and Job does not. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
Who let the wild donkey go free?
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I am the one who let the wild donkey go free." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
the wild donkey ... the swift donkey
These are different names for the same kind of donkey.
Who has untied the bonds of the swift donkey
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I am the one who untied the bonds of the swift donkey" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
bonds
ropes, chains, or straps that hold an animal and keep it from running away
Job 39:6
General Information:
The rhetorical question that begins with the words "Who has untied" in verse 5 ends here. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
whose home I have made ... in the salt land?
The rhetorical question that begins with the words "Who has untied" in verse 5 ends here. This can be translated as a statement. "I am the one who has untied ... whose home I have made in the Arabah, his house in the salt land." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
whose home I have made in the Arabah
Yahweh describes the donkey as though he were a person that had a house. "I gave him the Arabah as a place to live" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
the salt land
the land around the Salt Sea that has a lot of salt in it
Job 39:7
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
He
The word "He" refers to the wild donkey.
laughs in scorn
Yahweh describes the donkey as though he were a person. The donkey laughs because those in the city have to hear loud noise, but he lives in a quiet place. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
the driver's
someone who forces an animal to work
Job 39:8
pastures
places where animals can eat plants growing in the field
Job 39:9
General Information:
Here Yahweh uses four questions to emphasize that Job is not like Yahweh because Job cannot control the wild ox. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
Will the wild ox be happy to serve you?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "The wild ox will not be happy to serve you." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
the wild ox
Possible meanings are 1) a type of ox that used to live in the wild or 2) some kind of buffalo that looked like oxen.
be happy
"be willing"
Will he consent to stay by your manger?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "He will not consent to stay by your manger." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
consent to stay by your manger
"stay by your manger through the night"
manger
something that holds food so that animals can eat it
Job 39:10
Can you use ropes to hold the wild ox in the furrows?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You cannot control the wild ox with a rope in order to plow furrows in your fields." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
ropes
Farmers would tie ropes to animals' heads or necks in order to lead them.
furrows
These are long channels made in the dirt while plowing. See how you translated this in Job 31:38.
Will he harrow the valleys as he follows after you?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "He will never harrow the valleys as he follows after you." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
harrow
to smooth and break up the soil
Job 39:11
General Information:
Here Yahweh uses three questions to continue his argument that Job is not like Yahweh because Job cannot control the wild ox. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
Will you trust him because his strength is great?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You cannot trust him because his strength is great." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
trust him
The word "him" refers to the "wild ox."
Will you leave your work to him to do?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You will not be able to make him do your work for you." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
leave your work to him to do
"have him do your hard work for you"
Job 39:12
Will you depend on him ... grain for your threshing floor?
These two clauses basically mean the same thing. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You will not be able to depend on him ... grain for your threshing floor." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Job 39:13
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
The wings of the ostrich ... pinions and plumage of love?
Yahweh uses this question to emphasize that Job cannot explain why ostriches behave the way they do. Alternate translation: "You do not know whether the pinions and plumage of the ostrich represent love when they wave their wings proudly." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
ostrich
a very large bird that can run very fast but cannot fly
wave proudly
"move with joy"
pinions
the very long feathers on the wings of birds
plumage
the smaller feathers that cover the body of a bird
of love
The Hebrew word is uncertain. Possible meanings are 1) "of faithfulness" or 2) "of a stork." The name of the stork meant "the faithful one" or "the loving one" because people knew that storks take very good care of their chicks.
Job 39:14
on the earth
"on the ground"
Job 39:15
crush them
The word "them" refers to the eggs.
trample them
"step on them"
Job 39:16
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
She deals roughly
The word "She" refers to the female ostrich.
her labor
the work that she does when she lays the eggs
might have been in vain
If the chicks die, all of her work was useless. Alternate translation: "might have been useless if the chicks die" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 39:17
deprived her of wisdom
"made her forget wisdom" or "not given her wisdom"
understanding
See how you translated this in Job 11:6.
Job 39:18
When she runs
This verse is in contrast to her weakness in caring for her chicks. Alternate translation: "However, when she runs"
she laughs ... its rider
It is implied that she laughs because she is faster than the horse. Alternate translation: "she laughs ... its rider because she can run faster than the horse" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 39:19
General Information:
Yahweh uses three questions to emphasize that Job is not like Yahweh because Job cannot control the wild horse. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
Have you given the horse his strength?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You have never given the horse his strength." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Did you clothe his neck with his flowing mane?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You cannot clothe his neck with his flowing mane." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
clothe his neck with his flowing mane
The horse's "mane" is spoken of as if it was clothing for the neck of the horse. Alternate translation: "made his flowing main to cover his neck like clothes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
flowing mane
the long hair on the top of the neck of a horse
Job 39:20
Have you ever made him jump like a locust?
This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You are not able to make him jump like a locust." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
a locust
a large kind of grasshopper that can jump very far and very quickly
snorting
a very loud sound that horses make with their nose
Job 39:21
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
He paws
The word "He" refers to the horse. The horse paws the ground because he is very excited to begin the fight. Alternate translation: "He paws with excitement and" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
paws
"digs at the ground with his hooves"
to meet the weapons
Here "the weapons" represent the battle in which they are used. Alternate translation: "to join in the battle" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Job 39:22
He mocks fear
"He is not afraid at all"
mocks
"laughs at"
dismayed
discouraged
does not turn back
"does not run away"
Job 39:23
quiver
a container that holds arrows
rattles
shakes and makes noise
flank
the side of a horse
javelin
a long stick with a sharp end that people throw at their enemies
Job 39:24
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
He
The word "He" refers to the horse.
swallows up ground
The horse runs over the ground so quickly that the ground passes by like water that a person drinks. Alternate translation: "runs very fast over the ground" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
with fierceness and rage
The horse is very excited, so he moves quickly and strongly.
at the trumpet's sound
It can be stated that someone blows the trumpet. Alternate translation: "when someone blows a trumpet to announce that a battle has begun" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
he cannot stand in one place
"he is too excited to stand still"
Job 39:25
he says, 'Aha
The word "Aha" is a sound people make when they discover something. The horse makes a sound because he has discovered the battle. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
the thunderous shouts
It is implied that the horse hears these things. Alternate translation: "he hears the thunderous shouts" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
the outcries
"the battle cries." People have special shouts that they use in war to show their great strength and bravery and to scare the enemy.
Job 39:26
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
Is it by your wisdom ... for the south?
Yahweh uses this question to prove that Job is not as great as Yahweh. The implicit answer to this question is "no." Alternate translation: "It is not by your wisdom ... for the south." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
stretches out his wings for the south
Here the stretching out of his wings refers to flying. Alternate translation: "flies to the south" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
for the south
In the biblical geography, birds fly south during the winter in order to live in warmer climates.
Job 39:27
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
Is it at your orders ... nest in high places?
Yahweh uses this question to prove that Job is not powerful enough to command the eagles. The implicit answer to this question is "no." Alternate translation: "You are not able to command the eagle to mount up and build his nest in high places." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
at your orders
The abstract noun "orders" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "because you tell it to do so" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
mounts up
This means he flies upward. Alternate translation: "flies up into the sky" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Job 39:28
a stronghold
The high cliffs are strongholds for eagles because the animals that would want to eat them cannot reach them.
Job 39:29
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh continues to challenge Job.
he searches for victims
Here the word "he" refers to the eagle.
for victims
"for animals that he can kill and eat"
his eyes see them
Here "his eyes" refer to the eagle. Alternate translation: "he sees them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Job 39:30
His young
"The baby eagles." It may be helpful to state that this happens after the eagle kills and animal. Alternate translation: "After an eagle kills an animal, the baby eagles"
drink up blood
"drink the blood of the animal that he killed"
where killed people are
"where there are dead people." This phrase refers to dead bodies that are lying out in the open, not to bodies that are buried in the ground.
there he is
It can be made explicit that he comes to eat the dead bodies. Alternate translation: "he is there to eat them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)