Job 39:20

KJV

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils [is] terrible.

KJV (with Strong's)

Canst thou make him afraid {H7493} as a grasshopper {H697}? the glory {H1935} of his nostrils {H5170} is terrible {H367}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Did you make him able to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is frightening!

Berean Standard Bible

Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?

American Standard Version

Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 39:20 is a powerful rhetorical question posed by God to Job, continuing His majestic discourse from the whirlwind that highlights divine omnipotence and wisdom as displayed in creation. Specifically, this verse describes the awe-inspiring warhorse, emphasizing its inherent fearlessness and formidable presence, which God alone imbues and controls. It serves to humble Job by contrasting humanity's inability to instill fear in such a creature with God's absolute sovereignty over all things, prompting a deeper reverence for the Creator.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within God's profound and extended response to Job, beginning in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech to Job") and concluding in [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - God's Description of Leviathan"). After Job's persistent questioning of divine justice and his own suffering, God does not offer a direct explanation for his plight. Instead, He challenges Job's limited understanding of the cosmos, the natural world, and his own capacity to govern it, through a series of overwhelming rhetorical questions. [Job 39](/job/39 "God's Description of Wild Animals") specifically details various wild animals—the wild ass, the wild ox, the ostrich, and finally, the warhorse (verses 19-25). Verse 20 continues the vivid portrayal of the warhorse's power and terrifying majesty, serving as a climactic example of God's creative might and sovereign control over creatures that defy human domestication or comprehension. The immediate context of [Job 39:19-25](/job/39-19 "Job 39:19-25 - The Warhorse") focuses entirely on the horse's strength, speed, and battle-readiness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the warhorse was a symbol of immense power, military might, and regal authority. Horses were highly prized, expensive, and critical assets in warfare, often associated with kings and elite warriors. Unlike domesticated animals, the warhorse described here embodies a raw, untamed power, yet it is fully under God's design and control. The imagery of its "glory of his nostrils" would have resonated with those familiar with the sight and sound of horses in battle, snorting with exertion and excitement. This context amplifies the rhetorical force of God's question: if Job cannot even intimidate a creature that humans highly value and fear, how can he possibly challenge the wisdom or power of the One who created and sustains such a creature? The passage subtly critiques human reliance on military strength, redirecting awe and ultimate trust to God alone, as also seen in [Psalm 20:7](/psalm/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Lord, not chariots").
* **Key Themes:** [Job 39:20](/job/39-20 "Job 39:20 - God's Description of the Warhorse") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job and beyond. Primarily, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Power**, demonstrating God's absolute control over all creation, from the most magnificent and fearsome beasts to the smallest insects. The warhorse's untamed nature, yet its perfect design for its purpose, testifies to God's meticulous craftsmanship and unchallengeable authority. Secondly, the verse highlights **Human Limitation and Humility**. The rhetorical question directly challenges Job's (and humanity's) capacity, compelling him to recognize his finite understanding and power in contrast to the infinite wisdom and might of God. This theme of humility before God's majesty is central to Job's journey from complaint to submission. Finally, it evokes **Awe-Inspiring Creation**, inviting the reader to marvel at the raw beauty, power, and ferocity God has woven into the fabric of the natural world. The description of the horse's "terrible" glory is meant to inspire not dread in a negative sense, but profound reverence and wonder for the Creator, echoing the sentiment found in [Psalm 19:1](/psalm/19-1 "Psalm 19:1 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Grasshopper (Hebrew, _ḥāgāḇ'_):** This word refers to a locust or grasshopper, a small, easily startled, and seemingly insignificant insect. The comparison is a striking **simile**, highlighting the immense disparity between the horse's inherent power and the creature Job is challenged to make it resemble. It emphasizes the horse's divinely endowed boldness and the utter futility of human attempts to diminish its natural, fearsome spirit.
* **Glory (Hebrew, _hôd'_):** While often translated as "majesty" or "splendor," here _hôd_ refers to the imposing, awe-inspiring, and formidable presence of the horse. It's not merely beauty, but a terrifying grandeur. In the context of "nostrils," it points to the powerful snorting, steaming breath, and visible exhalation of the horse, which are signs of its immense energy, spirit, and readiness for battle. This "glory" is an intrinsic part of its terrifying power.
* **Terrible (Hebrew, _’êymah'_):** In KJV, "terrible" often carries the connotation of "awe-inspiring," "fearsome," or "dread-inspiring" in a majestic, powerful sense, rather than necessarily negative or evil. Here, it describes the horse's magnificent and formidable presence that evokes a sense of awe and even fear in those who witness its power. It is a creature designed by God to be awesome and fearsome in its strength, a testament to its Creator.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?":** This is a direct, rhetorical question from God to Job. It challenges Job's capacity to control or diminish the warhorse's inherent, divinely-given courage and power. The comparison to a grasshopper, a creature easily frightened and insignificant, underscores the vast difference between human ability and divine design. It implies that only God can instill fear or courage in such a magnificent beast, and Job certainly cannot reduce its formidable nature to that of a tiny, skittish insect.
* **"the glory of his nostrils [is] terrible.":** This clause describes the source and nature of the horse's formidable presence. "The glory of his nostrils" refers to the powerful snorting, steaming breath, and visible exhalation that accompanies the horse's intense exertion, excitement, and readiness for battle. This visual and auditory imagery conveys its untamed energy and intimidating spirit. The word "terrible" here signifies "awe-inspiring" or "fearsome" in a majestic sense, indicating that the horse's very breath and presence evoke a sense of profound awe and even dread in those who encounter its power. It is a testament to the horse's divinely imbued majesty and strength.

#### Literary Devices
Job 39:20 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its message. The most prominent is the **rhetorical question**, "Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?", which God uses not to elicit an answer from Job, but to underscore Job's (and humanity's) inherent limitations and lack of control over creation. This question is amplified by a striking **simile**, comparing the mighty warhorse to a "grasshopper," an image designed to highlight the absurdity of Job's assumed power and the vast chasm between human and divine might. Furthermore, the phrase "the glory of his nostrils is terrible" uses vivid **imagery** and a form of **metonymy** or **synecdoche**, where the "nostrils" represent the horse's powerful snorting and breathing, which in turn signify its entire fearsome presence and untamed spirit. The term "glory" (Hebrew _hôd_) in this context also functions as a form of **hyperbole**, emphasizing the overwhelming and awe-inspiring nature of the horse's power, which is so great it evokes a sense of "terrible" (awe-inspiring) dread.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 39:20 serves as a profound theological statement on God's unchallengeable sovereignty and humanity's inherent limitations. By showcasing the warhorse's divinely endowed power and fearlessness, God demonstrates that His wisdom and might extend even to the wild and seemingly uncontrollable aspects of creation. This passage challenges any human presumption of self-sufficiency or ability to comprehend, let alone control, the vastness of God's design. It calls humanity to a posture of deep humility and awe before a Creator whose power is so immense that even His creatures possess a "terrible" glory that humans cannot diminish. The ultimate message is one of trust: if God perfectly orchestrates the power of a warhorse, He certainly governs all things, including the complexities of human suffering and justice, in ways beyond our full comprehension.

* [Psalm 147:10-11](/psalm/147-10 "Psalm 147:10-11 - God's delight is not in the strength of the horse")
* [Isaiah 40:26](/isaiah/40-26 "Isaiah 40:26 - Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these")
* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in creation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 39:20 invites us to step back from our often human-centric view of the world and gaze upon the raw, untamed power that God has woven into His creation. If a mere creature like the warhorse possesses such inherent strength and majesty that humans cannot control or diminish, how much more should we stand in reverence and humility before its Creator? This verse challenges us to acknowledge our finite nature and the vastness of God's power. It encourages a shift from questioning God's ways to marveling at His wisdom and might, fostering a spirit of worship and trust. When we encounter the inexplicable or the overwhelming in our lives, this passage reminds us that the God who controls the "terrible glory" of the warhorse also holds our lives in His sovereign hands, and His purposes are always beyond our full grasp.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does reflecting on the untamed power of creation, as described in Job 39:20, challenge your own assumptions about human control and capability?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own strength or understanding rather than humbly trusting in God's sovereign power?**
* **How can cultivating a deeper sense of awe for God's creation lead to greater worship and humility in your daily life?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of the "grasshopper" comparison in Job 39:20?**

Answer: The comparison to a grasshopper is highly significant because it highlights the extreme contrast between the warhorse's immense power and fearlessness, and the small, easily frightened, and insignificant nature of a grasshopper. God's rhetorical question, "Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?", challenges Job's ability to diminish the horse's inherent, divinely-given boldness and strength. It emphasizes that humans are utterly incapable of controlling or intimidating such a creature, underscoring God's exclusive sovereignty over His creation and humbling Job by revealing the vast difference between human limitation and divine omnipotence.

**What does "the glory of his nostrils is terrible" mean in this context?**

Answer: This poetic phrase vividly describes the awe-inspiring and formidable presence of the warhorse. "The glory of his nostrils" refers to the powerful snorting, steaming breath, and visible exhalation that accompanies the horse's intense exertion, excitement, and readiness for battle. It's an image of raw, untamed energy and spirit. The word "terrible" (Hebrew _’êymah'_) in the King James Version, and in this context, does not mean "bad" or "evil," but rather "awe-inspiring," "fearsome," "majestic," or "dread-inspiring." It signifies that the horse's very presence, particularly its powerful breathing, evokes a sense of profound awe and even fear in those who witness its magnificent power. It is a testament to the horse's divinely imbued majesty and strength, designed to inspire reverence for its Creator.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 39:20 speaks of God's power in creation, its ultimate fulfillment points to the One through whom all things were created and sustained: Jesus Christ. The "terrible glory" of the warhorse, a creature beyond human control, foreshadows the uncontainable power and majesty of God incarnate. Just as God challenges Job with His mastery over creation, the New Testament reveals Jesus as the Word through whom "all things were made" ([John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All things were made through Him")) and "in whom all things hold together" ([Colossians 1:17](/colossians/1-17 "Colossians 1:17 - In Him all things hold together")). The untamed power of the warhorse, designed for battle, finds its ultimate purpose in the Lamb of God who is also the Lion of Judah, the King who rides forth "on a white horse" to conquer ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11-16 - The Rider on the White Horse")). The humble submission Job eventually offers to God's incomprehensible wisdom is a call to all humanity to bow before Christ, the very wisdom and power of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the power and wisdom of God")), who truly holds all creation in His hands and whose glory is not merely "terrible" but redemptive and eternally awe-inspiring.

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

Jeremiah 8:16

The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.

Job 41:20

Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as [out] of a seething pot or caldron.

Job 41:21

His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

Joel 2:5

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.