Job 39:16

KJV

She is hardened against her young ones, as though [they were] not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

KJV (with Strong's)

She is hardened {H7188} against her young ones {H1121}, as though they were not {H3808} hers: her labour {H3018} is in vain {H7385} without fear {H6343};

Complete Jewish Bible

It treats its chicks heartlessly, as if they were not its own; even if her labor is in vain, it really doesn't care;

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, she is without fear;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse, part of God's majestic discourse to Job, vividly portrays the ostrich's seemingly unnatural lack of maternal instinct. It describes her as "hardened against her young ones" and her "labour... in vain without fear," highlighting a behavior that appears indifferent to the survival of her offspring. This peculiar characteristic of a creature designed by God serves as a profound illustration of divine wisdom and sovereignty, challenging human perceptions of what is logical or ideal, and underscoring the inscrutable nature of God's creative design.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** The verse is embedded within God's monumental discourse to Job from the whirlwind ([Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech to Job")-[Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - God's Description of Leviathan")), a divine interrogation designed to humble Job and expand his understanding of God's omnipotence and wisdom. Preceding this description, God details other magnificent wild creatures like the wild goat and wild ass, setting a pattern of showcasing untamed nature. [Job 39:13-18](/job/39-13 "Job 39:13-18 - The Ostrich") specifically focuses on the ostrich, presenting its unique characteristics, including its speed and, strikingly, its reproductive habits. This particular portrayal of the ostrich's seemingly detached parenting serves as a powerful rhetorical device, illustrating that God's design often transcends human comprehension and conventional wisdom, thereby reinforcing His absolute sovereignty over all creation, a truth Job later humbly acknowledges in [Job 40:4](/job/40-4 "Job 40:4 - Job's Humble Response").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the ostrich (*ya'anah*) was a known inhabitant of the desert and semi-arid regions, particularly in areas bordering the Levant. Ancient observers would have noted their unique reproductive strategy: laying eggs directly in the sand, often relying on the sun's heat for incubation, and sometimes appearing to leave the nest unattended. While modern zoology understands the complex nuances of ostrich parenting (e.g., communal nests, male incubation, vulnerability to predators), the biblical description reflects the *perception* of this behavior from a human vantage point in antiquity. The apparent lack of constant, vigilant care, especially compared to other birds, would have seemed counter-intuitive and even neglectful, thus providing a striking example for God's argument about His inscrutable wisdom in designing creatures whose ways defy human expectations.
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme underscored by this verse is the **Divine Wisdom and Sovereignty** of God. The ostrich's peculiar behavior, seemingly illogical from a human perspective, serves as a powerful testament to God's infinite wisdom and absolute control over His creation. It challenges Job's (and humanity's) presumption that all of creation should conform to human reason or ideal standards, echoing the sentiment found in [Proverbs 3:19](/proverbs/3-19 "Proverbs 3:19 - God's Wisdom in Creation"). Secondly, the passage highlights the **Paradoxical Nature of Creation**. The ostrich is presented as a creature of immense power and speed ([Job 39:18](/job/39-18 "Job 39:18 - The Ostrich's Speed")) yet simultaneously described as lacking a fundamental instinct like maternal care, showcasing the diverse and sometimes perplexing ways God orchestrates life. Finally, the description reinforces the theme of **Human Limited Understanding**. God's detailed, sometimes counter-intuitive, descriptions of His creatures are designed to humble Job, reminding him of the vast chasm between finite human knowledge and infinite divine omniscience, a central point of God's entire discourse.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hardened (Hebrew, _qashah'_):** This root (קָשָׁה) signifies to be hard, severe, or stubborn. In the context of Job 39:16, it denotes an emotional hardening, an unnatural lack of tenderness, empathy, or protective instinct towards her own offspring. It implies an unyielding indifference that goes against typical maternal care observed in many other species.
* **Fear (Hebrew, _pachad'_):** The Hebrew word (פַּחַד) commonly means dread or terror. However, in this specific context, it refers not to a feeling of fright but to the absence of a natural, instinctual protective caution or concern for the safety and well-being of her young. It implies a lack of the innate vigilance that would typically ensure the survival of offspring.
* **Labour is in vain (Hebrew, _larik'_):** The phrase "in vain" comes from the Hebrew (לָרִיק), meaning emptiness, worthlessness, or futility. It emphasizes that the significant effort of laying and incubating eggs, which is the "labour" of the ostrich, becomes unproductive and ultimately pointless because of the perceived neglect or lack of protective "fear" for the young, leading to their likely perishing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"She is hardened against her young ones":** This clause vividly portrays the ostrich's perceived lack of natural maternal affection. The term "hardened" suggests an emotional detachment or a severe indifference, implying a deliberate or instinctual disregard for the vulnerability and needs of her offspring, contrary to what might be expected of a parent.
* **"as though [they were] not hers":** This simile intensifies the previous statement, emphasizing the extreme nature of the ostrich's apparent neglect. It highlights a profound disconnect, as if the offspring bear no biological or emotional relation to her, underscoring the severity of her perceived abandonment or lack of protective care.
* **"her labour is in vain without fear;":** This final clause explains the consequence of the ostrich's "hardening" and lack of "fear." The "labour" refers to the significant effort of laying and potentially incubating eggs. This effort is deemed "in vain" because, without the necessary protective instinct or "fear" (i.e., vigilant care), the young are exposed to dangers and likely perish, rendering the reproductive effort fruitless.

#### Literary Devices
Job 39:16 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Personification** is evident in the description of the ostrich as "hardened against her young ones" and her "labour is in vain without fear." While these are observations of animal behavior, the language attributes human-like emotional states (or their absence) and moral implications (lack of "fear" as protective instinct) to the creature. The **Simile** "as though [they were] not hers" vividly amplifies the perceived detachment, making the ostrich's behavior more striking and counter-intuitive to the human observer. Furthermore, the entire description of the ostrich contributes to a broader **Paradox** within God's discourse: a creature endowed with immense strength and speed ([Job 39:18](/job/39-18 "Job 39:18 - The Ostrich's Speed")) is simultaneously presented as lacking a fundamental, seemingly essential, parental instinct. This paradox serves God's larger **Rhetorical Argument by Design**, using the seemingly inexplicable aspects of His creation to humble Job and demonstrate the unfathomable depth of divine wisdom that transcends human understanding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly underscores the theological truth of God's transcendent wisdom and sovereignty. It challenges the human tendency to impose our understanding of "good" or "logical" design upon God's creation. The ostrich's peculiar behavior, as observed and described, forces Job—and us—to confront the limits of human knowledge and to acknowledge that God's ways are often beyond our full comprehension. It is a powerful reminder that God's design, even in its seemingly paradoxical elements, is perfect in His eyes, serving His purposes, and ultimately revealing His glory, not conforming to our expectations. This passage thus cultivates a posture of humility and awe before the Creator.

* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways")
* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Attributes in Creation")
* [Psalm 145:9](/psalms/145-9 "Psalm 145:9 - The Lord is Good to All")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 39:16 invites us to a profound reflection on the nature of divine wisdom and our place within God's vast, often mysterious, creation. While the ostrich's behavior might appear counter-intuitive or even flawed from a human perspective, the passage compels us to trust in God's perfect design, even when His reasons are beyond our grasp. It serves as a powerful antidote to human intellectual pride, fostering a posture of humility and awe before the Creator. For believers, this verse encourages a deeper faith that God's plan is always good, even when circumstances or natural phenomena seem inexplicable. Furthermore, by presenting a stark contrast to ideal parental care, it subtly underscores the profound importance of diligence, protection, and unconditional love in human familial relationships, reminding us of the sacred responsibility entrusted to parents.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the description of the ostrich's behavior challenge my assumptions about what constitutes "good" or "logical" design in creation?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the limits of human understanding when contemplating God's works and ways?**
* **In what areas of my life do I struggle to trust God's wisdom when His path or design seems counter-intuitive or difficult to comprehend?**
* **Considering the contrast, what principles of diligent care and responsibility, particularly in parenting or stewardship, can I glean from this seemingly negative example?**

### FAQ
**Is the Bible's description of the ostrich in Job 39:16 scientifically accurate about its parenting?**

Answer: The Bible's description reflects the ancient observer's *perception* of ostrich behavior, not a modern scientific treatise. Ostriches do lay eggs in the sand, and while both parents participate in incubation (the male often at night, female during the day), the nests can appear unattended and are vulnerable. To ancient observers, accustomed to other birds' constant vigilance, this behavior might have seemed neglectful or "hardened." God uses this *apparent* lack of care as a rhetorical device to highlight His own inscrutable wisdom and sovereignty in creation, not to provide a comprehensive zoological report. The point is not the ostrich's actual parenting ability, but God's ability to design creatures whose ways defy human expectations and logic, ultimately humbling Job and demonstrating divine authority over all creation, as seen throughout [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job").

**What is the meaning of "her labour is in vain without fear" in this context?**

Answer: The "fear" (Hebrew: *pachad*) here does not primarily mean terror or fright. Instead, it refers to a lack of natural, instinctual protective caution or vigilance for her offspring's safety. The ostrich's "labour" (laying and incubating eggs) is considered "in vain" because, without this crucial protective instinct, her young are highly vulnerable to predators or environmental hazards and are likely to perish. This absence of innate care renders her reproductive efforts fruitless from a human perspective, again serving as an illustration of God's mysterious design that doesn't always conform to human ideals of efficiency or parental care. It underscores God's ability to create creatures with diverse and sometimes seemingly paradoxical attributes, all within His sovereign plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 39:16 primarily serves to humble Job by showcasing God's incomprehensible wisdom in creation, it also subtly points forward to the ultimate demonstration of divine wisdom in Christ. The ostrich's "hardened" nature and "labour in vain" stand in stark contrast to the perfect, self-sacrificial love of God revealed in Jesus. Christ, the very wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Wisdom of God")), did not harden Himself against His "young ones"—humanity—but rather, out of immense love, "hardened" His resolve to endure the cross for our salvation ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus Enduring the Cross")). His "labour" on the cross was emphatically *not* in vain; it was the ultimate act of protective "fear" or care, securing eternal life for all who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Unlike the ostrich, Jesus is the [Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd"), demonstrating perfect, vigilant, and unfailing love, ensuring that His "labour" results in the flourishing and eternal security of His children, ultimately fulfilling God's wise and redemptive plan for humanity.

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.