Keraia
Job 39

Job 39:10

The LORD Speaks of His Creation · Job 39:1–30
Read Job 39

Translations

Modern
Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?
Traditional
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Literal
Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with a cord, or will he harrow the valleys after you?
Latin
Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo, aut confringet glebas vallium post te?

Original

Hebrew
English
Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?

Notes

Job 39:9–12

The wild ox now no longer exists and was already rare by the time of Moses. It was the strongest land animal in early Canaan. They never tamed this Old Testament symbol of strength (Numbers 23:22; 24:8; Deuteronomy 33:17; Psalms 29:6; 92:10; compare Genesis 1:28; 9:2; Psalm 8:5–6).

Job 38:1–40:5

God challenges Job. Job admits he cannot judge the moral world. God shows Job's ignorance of the natural world's elements related to the realm of heaven, weather, animals, and birds (38:4–21; 22–38; 39–39:30).

Theme notes and profiles

Complaints God’s Uniqueness

Events

Glossary

Book of Job Harrow Proverbs, Book of Wild Ox Wisdom Literature

Topics

Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Harrowing Cord: Ancient Uses of Hitching to Cart or Plough God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Wild Ox: Great Strength of Wild Ox: Intractable Wild Ox: Intractable in Disposition