Job 39:7

He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.

He scorneth {H7832} the multitude {H1995} of the city {H7151}, neither regardeth {H8085} he the crying {H8663} of the driver {H5065}.

It scorns the noise of the city and hears no driver's shouts.

He scorns the tumult of the city and never hears the shouts of a driver.

He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.

Job 39:7 KJV describes the wild ass (onager) as an untamed creature, highlighting its complete independence from human control and civilization. This verse is part of God's extensive discourse to Job from the whirlwind, where the Creator uses examples from the natural world to demonstrate His unparalleled wisdom, power, and sovereignty.

Context

In Job chapters 38-41, God addresses Job directly, challenging his limited human understanding by presenting a series of rhetorical questions about the creation and sustenance of the universe and its creatures. The wild ass is one such example, described in Job 39:5-8. The point is to illustrate that God's dominion extends even to the most untamable and independent creatures, which operate by His design, not by human will or constraint. This serves to humble Job and remind him of the vast gulf between human wisdom and divine wisdom.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Wisdom: The verse powerfully showcases God's absolute control and wisdom in creating animals that are beyond human taming. Even the wild ass, free from human influence, exists and thrives under God's watchful eye. This theme resonates with Psalm 104:24, "O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all."
  • Untamed Freedom: The wild ass's "scorn" for the city and disregard for a "driver's crying" emphasize its inherent wildness and freedom. It chooses the desolate wilderness over human society, symbolizing a creature existing entirely outside human domestication and command. This freedom, however, is not chaotic but divinely ordained.
  • Human Limitations: By contrasting human attempts to control or understand with the untamed nature of God's creation, the passage underscores the limits of human power and knowledge. It's a reminder that not everything can be manipulated or comprehended by mankind, directing focus back to the omnipotent Creator.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "scorneth" is yisḥaq (יִשְׂחַק), which can mean to laugh, mock, or disdain. In this context, it vividly portrays the wild ass's disdain for human civilization and its inability to be controlled. The "multitude of the city" (hamon qiryâ) refers to the noise and activity of populated areas, which the wild ass actively avoids. The "crying of the driver" (tse'aqoth nogesh) speaks to the shouts or commands of one attempting to herd or domesticate an animal, which the wild ass completely ignores, affirming its wild and free spirit.

Practical Application

Job 39:7, within its broader context, encourages a profound sense of humility and awe before God. It reminds us that God's ways and His creation are far grander and more intricate than we can fully grasp. When we face circumstances beyond our control or understanding, this verse, along with the entire discourse in Job, urges us to trust in God's sovereign wisdom and power, acknowledging that He has a purpose even in what seems untamed or inexplicable to us. It invites us to appreciate the vastness of God's creation and His meticulous care over all things, even those that seem wild and independent. Just as God cares for the wild ass, He cares for His people, demonstrating His boundless provision and oversight, echoing themes found in Matthew 6:26 about God's care for the birds of the air.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 3:18

    [There] the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

  • Exodus 5:18

    Go therefore now, [and] work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

  • Isaiah 58:3

    ¶ Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

  • Job 39:18

    What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

  • Isaiah 31:4

    For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, [he] will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

  • Exodus 5:13

    And the taskmasters hasted [them], saying, Fulfil your works, [your] daily tasks, as when there was straw.

  • Exodus 5:16

    There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants [are] beaten; but the fault [is] in thine own people.

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