Job 39:12

KJV

Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather [it into] thy barn?

KJV (with Strong's)

Wilt thou believe {H539} him, that he will bring home {H7725}{H7725} thy seed {H2233}, and gather {H622} it into thy barn {H1637}?

Complete Jewish Bible

or rely on it to bring home your seed and gather the grain from your threshing-floor?

Berean Standard Bible

Can you trust him to bring in your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?

American Standard Version

Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gatherthe grainof thy threshing-floor?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 39:12 culminates God's rhetorical interrogation of Job concerning the untamable nature of the wild ox, challenging Job's capacity to domesticate such a formidable creature for essential agricultural tasks. Through this vivid illustration, God profoundly underscores the vast chasm between human limitation and divine sovereignty, emphasizing that only the Creator possesses absolute control over the wildest and most powerful elements of His creation, thereby humbling Job and redirecting his focus to God's unparalleled wisdom and omnipotence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into God's majestic and extended discourse to Job, which begins from the whirlwind in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Speaks from the Whirlwind") and continues through [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - The Leviathan"). This divine speech serves as God's direct and awe-inspiring response to Job's earlier laments and challenges to divine justice and wisdom. Chapters 38 and 39 systematically parade before Job a series of creation's wonders—from celestial phenomena and meteorological processes to various wild animals—each presented with penetrating rhetorical questions designed to expose Job's profound ignorance and inherent lack of control over the natural world. Specifically, [Job 39:9-12](/job/39-9-12 "Job 39:9-12 - The Wild Ox (Re'em)") focuses intently on the *re'em*, the wild ox, highlighting its immense strength, untamable spirit, and complete independence from human dominion. Verse 12 acts as the powerful culmination of this particular illustration, posing the ultimate question about its utility for human farming, thereby reinforcing the creature's inherent wildness and God's exclusive mastery over it.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, agriculture formed the indispensable bedrock of society, and the successful domestication of animals, particularly oxen, was absolutely crucial for plowing fields, threshing grain, and transporting vital harvests. The vivid imagery of bringing "seed" (produce) into the "barn" would have resonated deeply with Job, a man described as a wealthy farmer with extensive livestock and fields in [Job 1:3](/job/1-3 "Job 1:3 - Job's Wealth"). The *re'em* (Hebrew: רְאֵם), often translated as "unicorn" in older English versions like the KJV, is widely identified by modern scholarship as the aurochs (*Bos primigenius*), a massive, powerful, and now-extinct wild ox native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Its immense size, formidable horns, and fierce, untamable nature made it a potent symbol of wild, uncontrollable power in ancient cultures. God's question in [Job 39:12](/job/39-12 "Job 39:12 - The Wild Ox's Untamable Nature") leverages this cultural understanding of the vital role of domesticated oxen and the known impossibility of taming the aurochs, making the rhetorical force of the question particularly potent and humbling for Job and his contemporaries.
* **Key Themes:** Job 39:12 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job and God's expansive discourse. Foremost is the theme of **God's Absolute Sovereignty Over Creation**. By presenting the untamable *re'em*, God demonstrates that His dominion extends not only to the orderly and predictable aspects of creation but also to its wildest, most formidable, and seemingly uncontrollable elements, asserting His ultimate and unchallenged authority over all life, as seen throughout [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job"). This directly contrasts with the theme of **Human Limitation and Ignorance**, highlighting Job's inherent inability to comprehend or control the vastness and intricate complexity of the natural world, let alone its most powerful wild beasts. The question about the *re'em*'s utility for farming implicitly raises the theme of **Divine Reliability vs. Creaturely Unreliability**; while humans depend on domesticated animals for livelihood, the wild ox is utterly useless for such purposes, pointing to God as the sole reliable and ultimate source of provision and cosmic order. Ultimately, these themes converge to foster **Humility in the Face of Divine Wisdom and Power**, as God's questions are meticulously designed to humble Job, revealing the immense and unbridgeable gap between human understanding and the boundless wisdom and power of the Creator, echoing the profound sentiment found in [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5-6 "Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **believe (Hebrew, _ʼâman'_):** From H539, this word signifies to build up or support, to be firm or faithful, to trust or be certain. In the context of "Wilt thou believe him," it challenges Job's capacity to place any trust or confidence in the wild ox for domestic labor. The implication is that it would be utterly irrational and foolish to believe such a creature could be relied upon for the crucial tasks of farming, underscoring its inherent unreliability and untamable nature.
* **seed (Hebrew, _zeraʻ'_):** From H2233, in this agricultural context, "seed" refers not to planting material but to the harvested produce or grain from the fields. The phrase "bring home thy seed" implies the culmination of the agricultural cycle—the gathering of the ripened crops from the fields to the storage place. This word highlights the essential nature of the task God is questioning, underscoring the vital role of dependable labor in ensuring survival and prosperity for an agrarian society.
* **barn (Hebrew, _gôren'_):** From H1637, this word refers to a threshing-floor, or by analogy, any open area for storing grain. In this verse, it specifically denotes the place where the harvested produce is collected and stored. The question "gather [it into] thy barn" emphasizes the final, critical step of the agricultural process, which requires orderly, cooperative, and consistent effort. The wild ox's unsuitability for such a task further accentuates its independence and resistance to human control.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wilt thou believe him":** This is a direct, rhetorical question posed by God to Job. The "him" refers to the wild ox (*re'em*) whose immense strength, untamable spirit, and independence from human dominion have just been vividly described in [Job 39:9-11](/job/39-9-11 "Job 39:9-11 - Characteristics of the Wild Ox"). The question challenges Job's common sense and practical knowledge of the natural world, implying that it would be utterly illogical and foolish to place any trust in such a creature for domestic agricultural work. It sets the stage for the profound absurdity of the proposition that follows.
* **"that he will bring home thy seed":** This clause specifies the first part of the impossible agricultural task. "Bringing home thy seed" refers to the crucial act of gathering the harvested grain from the fields and transporting it back to the farmstead. This labor-intensive task typically required docile, strong, and dependable draft animals, like domesticated oxen. The rhetorical question highlights the wild ox's profound unsuitability for such a precise, cooperative, and essential task, emphasizing its independent and uncontrollable nature.
* **"and gather [it into] thy barn?":** This clause completes the agricultural task, referring to the final and equally vital stage of storing the harvested produce securely in the barn. This requires not only bringing the harvest home but also the orderly, reliable, and cooperative process of collecting and storing it. The question underscores that the wild ox, by its very nature, is utterly incapable of the consistent, obedient, and cooperative behavior necessary for such a fundamental and organized human endeavor, further cementing the creature's wildness and God's exclusive mastery over it.

#### Literary Devices
Job 39:12 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its profound message. The primary device is a **Rhetorical Question**, which is not intended to elicit a direct answer from Job but rather to make a point with overwhelming force and clarity. God's question to Job about the wild ox's suitability for farming is meticulously designed to highlight the creature's untamable nature and, by extension, God's exclusive and absolute control over it, thereby exposing Job's limited power, understanding, and control over creation. There is also an element of subtle **Personification** in the KJV's "Wilt thou believe *him*," attributing a will or agency to the wild ox, which further emphasizes its independent and uncooperative nature, making its wildness more vivid. The verse also utilizes powerful **Contrast** by juxtaposing the known necessity of domesticated oxen for crucial agricultural tasks with the utter impossibility of using the wild ox for the same purpose. This stark contrast vividly underscores the wild ox's inherent defiance of human control and highlights God's unique dominion. Finally, the idea of taming an aurochs for farming is presented as an exaggerated absurdity, serving as a form of **Hyperbole** to drive home the point of its insurmountable wildness and God's unparalleled power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, a pivotal part of God's majestic discourse, profoundly illustrates the Creator's absolute sovereignty over all creation, especially its most untamed, formidable, and independent elements. It serves as a powerful and humbling reminder to Job, and to us, that human wisdom, strength, and control are inherently limited when confronted with the vastness, complexity, and inherent wildness of God's design. The inability of humans to domesticate the wild ox for their purposes underscores a fundamental theological truth: not everything in creation is subject to human will, manipulation, or control; rather, all things ultimately operate under divine prerogative and for divine purposes. This revelation is intended to humble humanity, fostering a posture of profound awe, reverence, and submission before the One who alone orchestrates the universe, from the smallest creature to the mightiest beast, and controls the very forces of nature. Our ultimate trust and reliance must reside in God's unfathomable wisdom and boundless power, not in our own finite capacity to manage or manipulate our circumstances.

* [Psalm 104:24](/psalm/104-24 "Psalm 104:24 - God's Wisdom in Creation")
* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God's Everlasting Power and Understanding")
* [Romans 11:33-36](/romans/11-33-36 "Romans 11:33-36 - God's Unsearchable Wisdom and Knowledge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 39:12 challenges us to deeply confront the limits of our own control, understanding, and strength. In a world that often encourages self-reliance, mastery over our environment, and the pursuit of complete control, this verse serves as a crucial spiritual corrective. It reminds us that there are forces, circumstances, and even aspects of our own lives and hearts that are inherently beyond our ability to tame, manipulate, or fully comprehend. Just as Job could not harness the wild ox for his harvest, we too encounter "wild oxen" in our lives—unforeseen challenges, uncontrollable events, untamed aspects of our own desires, or even the unpredictable nature of others. This realization should not lead to despair or resignation, but to a profound humility that redirects our gaze from our own limited capabilities to the boundless power, wisdom, and sovereign care of God. It calls us to surrender our illusion of control, to acknowledge that true reliability and ultimate provision come not from our efforts to domesticate every wildness, but from trusting in the sovereign Creator who orchestrates all things, both wild and tame, for His perfect purposes. This verse encourages us to release our grip on what we cannot control and to place our unwavering confidence and hope in the One who can, and does, control all things.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "wild oxen" in your life—whether external circumstances, challenging relationships, or internal struggles—do you persistently try to control, yet find are ultimately beyond your grasp?**
* **How does acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty over the "untamable" aspects of creation impact your personal sense of control and your willingness to trust Him with the unknown?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you most tempted to rely solely on your own strength, wisdom, or planning, rather than surrendering to God's greater power and perfect plan?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of God's focus on wild animals in His speech to Job?**

Answer: God's focus on wild animals, particularly powerful and untamed creatures like the wild ox (*re'em*), the ostrich, and the warhorse in [Job 39](/job/39 "Job 39 - God's Questions about Wild Animals"), is profoundly significant. It serves as a powerful rhetorical strategy to underscore His absolute sovereignty, infinite wisdom, and unparalleled power over all creation, especially those aspects that are wild, formidable, and entirely beyond human control or comprehension. Unlike domesticated animals that serve human purposes and are subject to human will, these wild creatures exist independently, fulfilling God's purposes in their natural habitats, demonstrating His unbridled power and freedom. By questioning Job about his ability to manage, control, or even fully understand these magnificent creatures, God highlights the vast and unbridgeable chasm between human limitation and divine omnipotence. It is a powerful and humbling demonstration, showing Job that if he cannot even comprehend or control the wild beasts of the earth, how much less can he grasp or challenge the intricate workings of divine justice, cosmic order, and God's sovereign plan. This theme is consistent with God's broader challenge to Job's understanding of creation, which begins in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech to Job from the Whirlwind").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 39:12, with its stark portrayal of human limitation in the face of untamed creation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Job could not tame the wild ox, Jesus demonstrates ultimate dominion over all creation, perfectly embodying the divine prerogative to bring order out of chaos and to exercise authority over every wild and unruly element. He is the one who calms the raging storm with a mere word, commanding even the winds and the waves to obey Him, as powerfully depicted in [Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm"). The untamable forces of nature, which humble Job and expose human weakness, are utterly subject to Christ's divine power. Furthermore, the agricultural imagery of "bringing home thy seed" and "gathering [it into] thy barn" foreshadows Christ's ultimate work of gathering His people, the harvest of humanity, into His eternal kingdom. He is the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), who, unlike the untamable ox, willingly submitted Himself to the Father's will, even to death on a cross, to accomplish the ultimate harvest of salvation ([John 12:24](/john/12-24 "John 12:24 - The Grain of Wheat Must Die")). Through Christ, the wildness of human sin is tamed, and those who were once alienated are brought into the Father's barn, the eternal dwelling place, by His grace and transforming power ([Ephesians 2:13](/ephesians/2-13 "Ephesians 2:13 - Brought Near by the Blood of Christ")). Thus, the human inability highlighted in Job points profoundly to the divine ability perfectly embodied in Christ, who alone brings all things into subjection and gathers His people into His glorious and eternal presence.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Amos 2:13

Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed [that is] full of sheaves.

Matthew 3:2

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Nehemiah 13:15

¶ In those days saw I in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals.

Haggai 2:19

Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless [you].

Proverbs 3:16

Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour.

Matthew 13:30

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.