Job 39:13

¶ [Gavest thou] the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

Gavest thou the goodly {H7443} wings {H3671} unto the peacocks {H5965}? or wings {H84} and feathers {H2624} unto the ostrich {H5133}?

"An ostrich's wings beat wildly, although its pinions lack plumage.

The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but cannot match the pinions and feathers of the stork.

The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; But are they the pinions and plumage of love?

Commentary

Job 39:13 KJV is part of a profound discourse where God challenges Job from a whirlwind, revealing His own unparalleled wisdom and power through the intricate design of the natural world.

Context of Job 39:13

This verse is situated within a larger section of the Book of Job (chapters 38-41) where God directly addresses Job, not to explain suffering, but to demonstrate His infinite knowledge and sovereignty over creation. God presents a series of rhetorical questions, highlighting various creatures and their unique characteristics, which are beyond human comprehension or control. The purpose is to humble Job and underscore the vast difference between finite human understanding and the boundless wisdom of the Creator. This particular verse contrasts the striking beauty of the peacock with the seemingly paradoxical design of the ostrich, following God's initial address in Job 38:1.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty in Creation: The verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute authority and meticulous design in the natural world. He is the one who bestows unique attributes upon each creature, from the magnificent to the seemingly mundane. This echoes the broader theme of God's wisdom evident in all creation.
  • Paradoxical Design: God draws attention to the peacock’s "goodly wings," celebrated for their splendor and display, contrasting them with the ostrich’s wings, which, despite their size, do not enable flight. This highlights God's diverse and often surprising purposes in creation, where beauty and utility are uniquely balanced, sometimes in ways that defy human expectation.
  • Human Limitation and Humility: By asking "Gavest thou...", God reminds Job that he, like all humanity, lacks the power and wisdom to create or even fully comprehend the complexities of the natural world. This encourages humility and a deeper reverence for the Creator, as seen in God's challenge to Job's wisdom.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "goodly wings" for the peacock comes from the Hebrew word renanim (רְנָנִים), which conveys a sense of "shining," "exulting," or "joyous" wings, emphasizing their vibrant beauty and display. The ostrich, ya'anah (יַעֲנָה) in Hebrew, is known for its powerful legs and remarkable speed, with wings primarily used for balance during running or for display, rather than for sustained flight. The rhetorical question underlines that these distinct characteristics, both beautiful and seemingly contradictory, are divinely appointed.

Practical Application

Job 39:13 invites us to cultivate a sense of awe and wonder at the intricate diversity of God's creation. It encourages us to:

  • Embrace Humility: Recognize the vastness of God's wisdom compared to our own limited understanding. Just as we cannot design a peacock's plumage or an ostrich's unique gait, we often cannot fully grasp God's purposes in our lives or the world.
  • Appreciate Diversity: See God's hand in all things, even those that seem odd or counter-intuitive. Every part of creation, from the magnificent to the humble, serves a divine purpose.
  • Trust God's Design: Understand that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). Even when His plans or designs don't immediately make sense to us, they are perfect in His sight.
This verse ultimately calls us to worship the Creator who orchestrates every detail of life with unparalleled wisdom and power.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Zechariah 5:9

    Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.

  • Jeremiah 8:7

    Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.

  • 1 Kings 10:22

    For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

  • Leviticus 11:19

    And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

  • Job 30:29

    I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

  • 2 Chronicles 9:21

    For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

  • Psalms 104:17

    Where the birds make their nests: [as for] the stork, the fir trees [are] her house.
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