Job 39:9

KJV

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

KJV (with Strong's)

Will the unicorn {H7214} be willing {H14} to serve {H5647} thee, or abide {H3885} by thy crib {H18}?

Complete Jewish Bible

"Would a wild ox be willing to serve you? Would it stay by your stall?

Berean Standard Bible

Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?

American Standard Version

Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 39:9, a pivotal verse within God's profound discourse to Job, challenges human understanding and control over the natural world by posing a rhetorical question about the untamable "unicorn" (likely the wild aurochs). This verse masterfully highlights the creature's immense strength and unwillingness to serve human purposes, serving as a stark illustration of humanity's inherent limitations when contrasted with God's boundless dominion, infinite wisdom, and absolute sovereignty over all creation, especially its wild and powerful elements.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the climactic section of the Book of Job, specifically within God's first direct speech to Job, which spans from [Job 38:1](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech to Job") through [Job 40:2](/job/40 "Job 40 - God Continues His Challenge"). Following an extensive and often circular debate among Job and his three friends regarding the nature of suffering and divine justice, God intervenes, not to explain the "why" of Job's affliction, but to reveal His unassailable majesty, wisdom, and absolute control over the cosmos. God systematically poses a series of rhetorical questions, drawing Job's attention to the intricate design and untamed power of creation—from the celestial bodies and meteorological phenomena in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's Questions About Creation") to the diverse and powerful animal kingdom in [Job 39](/job/39 "Job 39 - God's Questions About Wild Animals"). The "unicorn," or wild ox, is presented alongside other formidable creatures like the lion, raven, wild goat, and wild ass, each serving as undeniable evidence of God's creative power and sovereignty, which no human can replicate, comprehend, or control. This divine interrogation aims to humble Job, leading him to a profound realization of his finite knowledge and power in comparison to the boundless wisdom of the Creator, ultimately culminating in Job's repentance and renewed understanding of God's character in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and Confession").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the ability to tame and domesticate animals was a hallmark of human civilization and control over nature. Animals like oxen, donkeys, and sheep were vital for agriculture, transport, and sustenance, symbolizing humanity's dominion as granted in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - The Cultural Mandate"). However, certain wild animals, particularly large and powerful bovines like the aurochs (the likely identity of the *re'em*), represented the untamed, dangerous, and unconquerable aspects of the natural world. These creatures were known for their immense strength, ferocity, and resistance to human subjugation. The imagery of the *re'em* being unwilling to "serve" or "abide by thy crib" would have resonated deeply with an agrarian society that understood the immense effort and often futility involved in attempting to domesticate such a beast. God's challenge to Job regarding the *re'em* thus taps into a universal human experience of encountering forces beyond one's control, emphasizing that even the most formidable and unmanageable elements of creation are effortlessly under divine command, contrasting sharply with humanity's limited capacity.

* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and biblical theology. Foremost is **God's Unquestionable Sovereignty**, asserting His absolute authority and power over all creation, including the wild and untamable aspects that defy human management. The *re'em* serves as a powerful symbol of God's creative freedom and His delight in a world not entirely subjected to human utility or control, challenging an anthropocentric worldview. This leads directly to the theme of **Human Limitation and Humility**. By posing a question about Job's inability to control such a creature, God underscores humanity's inherent weakness, finite knowledge, and limited capacity, contrasting it with His own omnipotence. This divine demonstration aims to humble Job, preparing him to acknowledge his proper place before the Creator, as seen in his later response in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Confession of God's Power"). Finally, the verse highlights **The Untamed Nature of Creation**, emphasizing that not all of God's creation exists for human benefit or domestication. God delights in the wildness and power of creatures that remain outside human control, demonstrating that His purposes extend beyond human utility and that His wisdom encompasses a vast, intricate, and often mysterious design for the natural world.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Unicorn (Hebrew, _re'em'_):** The King James Version's translation "unicorn" (following the Septuagint's *monokeros*, "one-horned") has led to popular misconceptions of a mythical creature. However, modern scholarship overwhelmingly identifies the Hebrew word *re'em* (רְאֵם) as referring to a powerful, wild bovine, most likely the now-extinct aurochs (*Bos primigenius*). This majestic wild ox was renowned throughout the ancient Near East for its immense strength, ferocity, and untamable nature. Its single-minded charge and powerful horns (often depicted in profile, giving the appearance of a single horn) made it impossible to harness for agricultural purposes or to domesticate for human use. The choice of *re'em* by God in His discourse is deliberate, emphasizing a creature that embodies untamed power and resistance to human control, thereby magnifying God's own effortless dominion over such formidable strength.
* **Crib (Hebrew, _'ebus'_):** This word refers to a manger or feeding trough, a place where domesticated animals are fed and kept. The question "or abide by thy crib?" directly contrasts the wild, free nature of the *re'em* with the domesticated existence of farm animals. It highlights the creature's inherent unwillingness to be confined, controlled, or made subservient to human needs, underscoring its wildness and independence from human utility. The imagery evokes a scene of domestication that is utterly alien to the *re'em*'s nature, further emphasizing the creature's untamable character.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee,"**: This opening clause, framed as a rhetorical question, immediately challenges Job's (and by extension, humanity's) capacity to exert control over the most powerful and untamed elements of creation. The "unicorn," understood as the wild aurochs, represents raw, unconquerable strength and independence. The question of its "willingness to serve" directly addresses the concept of domestication and submission to human will. The implied answer is a resounding "no," highlighting the creature's inherent wildness and its resistance to being harnessed for human labor, such as plowing or pulling. This directly contrasts with the domesticated oxen that were essential for ancient agriculture, positioning the *re'em* as a symbol of nature's formidable aspects that remain beyond human subjugation.
* **"or abide by thy crib?"**: This second clause continues the rhetorical challenge, further emphasizing the *re'em*'s untamable nature by asking if it would willingly stay in a manger or feeding trough—a symbol of domestication and dependence on human provision. The "crib" represents the confined, controlled environment of a farm animal, a stark opposite to the wild plains and forests where the aurochs roamed freely. The question underscores that this creature, unlike a domesticated ox, cannot be penned, fed, or managed by human hands. It reinforces the idea that some of God's creation exists outside the realm of human utility and control, serving His purposes alone. Together, these clauses powerfully illustrate the vast chasm between human limitation and divine omnipotence.

#### Literary Devices
Job 39:9 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question**, where God poses a question not to elicit an answer from Job, but to make a forceful statement about Job's (and humanity's) inherent limitations and God's boundless power. The implied negative answer ("No, you cannot tame the *re'em*") serves to humble Job and underscore the vast difference between human capacity and divine omnipotence. **Personification** is also evident in the question "Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee," attributing a will or choice to the animal, emphasizing its inherent nature and resistance to human subjugation. This highlights the creature's wild spirit as an autonomous entity under God's design. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Contrast**, setting the untamed, powerful *re'em* against the domesticated animals that serve human purposes (implied by "serve thee" and "abide by thy crib"). This stark contrast effectively illustrates the two realms of creation: that which is subject to human dominion and that which remains solely under God's direct, unmediated control, thereby magnifying God's unique sovereignty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 39:9, through its depiction of the untamable *re'em*, powerfully articulates God's absolute and unchallengeable sovereignty over all creation, especially its most formidable and wild elements. It serves as a stark reminder that while humanity has been given dominion over certain aspects of the earth, there are realms of nature that remain beyond human control, existing solely for God's purposes and reflecting His untamed power and wisdom. This challenges any anthropocentric worldview that assumes all creation exists for human utility, instead pointing to a God who delights in the wildness and mystery of His design. The verse cultivates humility in the face of divine majesty, prompting reflection on our finite understanding and limited power in a world ultimately governed by an omnipotent Creator. It encourages a posture of trust and awe, acknowledging that the God who effortlessly controls the wildest beasts also holds all of life's complexities, including suffering, firmly within His sovereign hand.

* [Numbers 23:22](/numbers/23-22 "Numbers 23:22 - God's Strength Like a Wild Ox")
* [Psalm 29:6](/psalms/29-6 "Psalm 29:6 - The Voice of the Lord and the Wild Ox")
* [Isaiah 40:12-15](/isaiah/40-12 "Isaiah 40:12-15 - God's Incomparable Power")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 39:9 invites us to a profound reflection on our place within God's vast and mysterious creation. In a world that often prizes control, predictability, and human mastery, this verse serves as a powerful antidote, reminding us that there are forces and aspects of life—both natural and circumstantial—that remain utterly beyond our grasp, much like the untamable *re'em*. This realization is not meant to induce despair but to cultivate a deep and liberating humility. When we encounter the wild, unpredictable, or overwhelming aspects of our own lives—whether it be suffering, global events, or personal challenges—this passage encourages us to release our futile attempts at control and instead place our trust in the One who effortlessly commands even the most formidable creatures and forces of nature. His power is limitless, and His wisdom is perfect, even when His ways are beyond our immediate understanding. Embracing this truth fosters a posture of surrender, leading us to acknowledge our creaturely dependence and to find peace in the sovereign care of the Creator, whose plans are always higher and more encompassing than our own.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What aspects of your life or the world around you feel "untamable" or beyond your control?**
* **How does reflecting on God's effortless control over wild creation impact your perspective on your own limitations and areas of struggle?**
* **In what ways can cultivating humility before God's majesty lead to greater peace and trust in your daily life?**

### FAQ
**What is the "unicorn" in Job 39:9, and why is it significant?**

Answer: The "unicorn" in the King James Version of Job 39:9 is a translation of the Hebrew word *re'em* (רְאֵם). While the KJV translators, following the Greek Septuagint, rendered it as "one-horned," modern biblical scholarship widely agrees that the *re'em* refers not to a mythical creature but to a powerful, wild bovine, most likely the now-extinct aurochs (*Bos primigenius*). This majestic wild ox was known for its immense strength, ferocity, and untamable nature, making it impossible to harness for plowing or keep by a feeding trough ("crib"). Its significance in [Job 39:9](/job/39-9 "Job 39:9 - The Untamable Wild Ox") lies in its representation of creation's formidable aspects that defy human control. God uses the *re'em* as a rhetorical example to demonstrate His own boundless power and sovereignty, contrasting it sharply with Job's (and humanity's) inherent limitations and inability to command such wild strength. It underscores that some parts of creation exist solely under God's direct dominion, not for human utility.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 39:9 directly speaks of God's sovereign power over creation, its themes find profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The untamable *re'em* highlights God's authority over the wild and uncontrollable, a power perfectly embodied in Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God and through whom all things were created and hold together ([Colossians 1:15-17](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer")). Just as God asks Job if he can control the wild ox, the New Testament reveals Jesus's effortless dominion over the wildest forces of nature, as seen when He calms a raging storm with a mere word, causing the winds and waves to obey Him ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")). His authority extends beyond the physical realm to the spiritual, demonstrating power over demons and disease, forces far more destructive than any wild beast ([Luke 4:36](/luke/4-36 "Luke 4:36 - Jesus' Authority Over Demons")). Furthermore, the *re'em*'s unwillingness to "serve" human purposes contrasts with Christ's ultimate willingness to humble Himself and "serve" humanity, taking on the form of a servant and offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin ([Philippians 2:7-8](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Thus, Job 39:9 foreshadows the divine power and sovereign control that would be fully displayed in Jesus, who not only commands creation but also tames the wildness of human sin and offers redemption, bringing humanity into a new relationship with the Creator God.

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

Numbers 23:22

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Deuteronomy 33:17

His glory [is like] the firstling of his bullock, and his horns [are like] the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they [are] the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they [are] the thousands of Manasseh.

Psalms 92:10

But my horn shalt thou exalt like [the horn of] an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Isaiah 1:3

The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Psalms 22:21

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.