Job 39:1

ยถ Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? [or] canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

Knowest {H3045} thou the time {H6256} when the wild goats {H3277} of the rock {H5553} bring forth {H3205}? or canst thou mark {H8104} when the hinds {H355} do calve {H2342}?

"Do you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you seen deer in labor?

โ€œDo you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

Commentary

Job 39:1 is part of God's majestic discourse to Job, where the Almighty challenges Job's limited human understanding by presenting the mysteries and wonders of the natural world. This verse specifically highlights the wild, untamed aspects of creation.

Context

Following Job's persistent questioning of divine justice and his own suffering, God finally speaks from a whirlwind in Job 38:1. The divine interrogation aims to humble Job and reveal the vast chasm between human knowledge and God's infinite wisdom and sovereignty over creation. This particular verse focuses on the instinctual and hidden birthing processes of wild animals, a realm entirely beyond human oversight or comprehension. It serves as a rhetorical question, emphasizing Job's lack of control or awareness over these natural phenomena.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Omniscience: The verse underscores God's intimate knowledge and control over every detail of creation, even the most remote and wild. He knows the exact moment and circumstances of every birth in the wilderness, a testament to His meticulous oversight.
  • Human Limitation and Humility: By asking rhetorical questions like "Knowest thou...?" God exposes Job's (and humanity's) inherent limitations. Humans cannot predict, control, or even fully comprehend these natural cycles, emphasizing the need for humility before the Creator. This echoes the broader theme of Job's inability to contend with God.
  • The Wonders of Creation: The precise timing and instinctual behaviors of wild animals in birthing are presented as evidence of God's intricate design and wisdom. The natural world declares God's glory, even in its most inaccessible corners.

Linguistic Insights

The "wild goats of the rock" refers to the ya'ale-sela (ื™ึทืขึฒืœึตื™ ืกึถืœึทืข), commonly identified as the ibex, an agile wild goat known for inhabiting rugged, mountainous terrain. Their birthing in such inaccessible places further emphasizes the hidden nature of these events from human eyes. The "hinds" (Hebrew: ayyalot) are female deer, known for their timidity and the instinctive, solitary nature of their calving. The rhetorical structure of the question highlights the stark contrast between God's perfect knowledge and human ignorance.

Practical Application

This verse invites us to cultivate a deeper sense of awe and reverence for God. It reminds us that His wisdom and power extend to every corner of existence, far beyond our grasp. When faced with life's uncertainties or unanswered questions, Job 39:1 encourages us to trust in a God who intricately manages even the birthing of wild animals in the wilderness. It fosters humility, recognizing that our understanding is finite compared to the Creator's infinite knowledge and perfect plan, echoing the sentiment of trusting in the Lord with all your heart.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 24:2

    Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

  • Psalms 104:18

    The high hills [are] a refuge for the wild goats; [and] the rocks for the conies.

  • Psalms 29:9

    The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of [his] glory.

  • Deuteronomy 14:5

    The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.

  • Jeremiah 14:5

    Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook [it], because there was no grass.