Keraia
Job 39

Job 39:16

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

Translations

Modern
She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.
Traditional
She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
Literal
Her young she treats harshly as though not unto her; her labor is in vain, without dread;
Latin
Duratur ad filios suos, quasi non sint sui: frustra laboravit, nullo timore cogente.

Original

Hebrew
English
She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.

Notes

Job 39:14–16

The ostrich symbolizes neglect for her young because she (Lamentations 4:3):

  1. Leaves her eggs on the ground.

  2. Seems to abandon her eggs when a predator comes near. She is probably trying to distract the predator from the nest.

  3. Lays her eggs with other female ostrich in a shared nest, so many eggs are not her own.

Job 39:13–18

In the ancient Near East, people believed the ostrich was a bird that God had not given wisdom.

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 Ostrich Power Proverbs, Book of Wisdom Literature

Topics

Birds: Habits of God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Ostriches: General Scriptures Concerning The Ostrich: Cruel to Her Young