📖 Job — Chapter 39 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Job 39:1 Knowest thou the time when Rthe wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
Job 39:2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
Job 39:3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
Job 39:4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
Job 39:5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or Rwho hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
Job 39:6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the RTbarren land his dwellings.
Job 39:7 He Rscorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying Tof the driver.
Job 39:8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
Job 39:9 Will Rthe unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
Job 39:10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Job 39:11 Wilt thou Rtrust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
Job 39:12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and Rgather it into thy barn?
Job 39:13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the Rpeacocks? or Twings and feathers unto the ostrich?
Job 39:14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
Job 39:15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
Job 39:16 She is Rhardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
Job 39:17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
Job 39:18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
Job 39:19 Hast thou given Rthe horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
Job 39:20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? Rthe glory of his nostrils is Tterrible.
Job 39:21 RTHe paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet Tthe armed men.
Job 39:22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
Job 39:23 RThe quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
Job 39:24 RHe swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
Job 39:25 He saith among the trumpets, RHa, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
Job 39:26 Doth Rthe hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
Job 39:27 Doth Rthe eagle mount up Tat thy command, and make her nest on high?
Job 39:28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, Rupon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
Job 39:29 From thence Rshe seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
Job 39:30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and Rwhere the slain are, there is she.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Job 39:1–12 — Wild creatures beyond human service
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
God asks about the births of wild animals and the freedom of the wild ass. The creature called the unicorn in the KJV will not simply become Job's farm servant. These questions emphasize the Creator's care for life that people neither control nor put to work.
Key Truth: Creation belongs to God beyond its usefulness to us.
Check What You Remember
1. Which animals' birth time is questioned first? (Job 39:1)
Find it in Job 39:1 (KJV).
2. What animal is sent out free? (Job 39:5)
Find it in Job 39:5 (KJV).
3. What work is the unicorn asked about? (Job 39:10)
Find it in Job 39:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Job 39:13–25 — The ostrich and the battle horse
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The speech describes the ostrich's surprising habits and speed, then the horse's strength and courage. These vivid portraits display varied creatures rather than explaining Job's losses. Job cannot claim to have supplied their qualities or to fully understand God's ordering of them.
Key Truth: The Creator gives creatures their varied abilities.
Check What You Remember
1. Where does the ostrich leave her eggs? (Job 39:14)
Find it in Job 39:14 (KJV).
2. What has God deprived her of? (Job 39:17)
Find it in Job 39:17 (KJV).
3. What sound excites the horse for battle? (Job 39:25)
Find it in Job 39:25 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Job 39:26–30 — The hawk and the eagle
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The hawk's flight and the eagle's high nest close the chapter. God asks whether these come from Job's wisdom or command. Even creatures that live beyond daily human attention belong to the larger world over which the Lord exercises creative authority.
Key Truth: Human commands do not govern the whole living world.
Check What You Remember
1. Which bird stretches her wings toward the south? (Job 39:26)
Find it in Job 39:26 (KJV).
2. Which bird makes her nest on high? (Job 39:27)
Find it in Job 39:27 (KJV).
3. Where does she dwell? (Job 39:28)
Find it in Job 39:28 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 104:24 — The variety of God's works displays his wisdom.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Notice a creature you cannot control. How can observing its life deepen your humility and gratitude?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What do questions about wild goats and hinds highlight?
2. How does the wild ass contrast with a driven domestic animal?
3. What distinction is explored through the unicorn’s strength?
4. How do the ostrich and horse examples present different capacities?
5. What shared challenge appears in the hawk and eagle questions?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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