Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 38:39
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
39, 40. The lion.
wilt thou hunt ] Rather, dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness? That the lioness is enabled to catch her prey is due to some power which brings it into her hand. Is it Job, perhaps, that finds it for her?
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ch. Job 38:39 Ch. Job 39:30. The manifoldness of the Divine Mind as displayed in the world of animal life
The instances chosen are the lion and the raven ( Job 38:39-41); the wild goats and the hinds (ch. Job 39:1-4); the wild ass ( Job 38:5-8; the wild ox ( Job 38:9-12); the ostrich ( Job 38:13-18); the war horse ( Job 38:19-25); the hawk and the eagle ( Job 38:26-30).
These brilliant pictures from the animal world have the same purpose as those given before ( Job 38:4-38) from inanimate nature; they make God to pass before the eye of Job. They exhibit the diversity of the animal creation, the strange dissimilarity of instinct and habit in creatures outwardly similar, the singular blending together of contradictory characteristics in the same creature, and the astonishing attributes and powers with which some of them are endowed; and all combines to illustrate the resources of mind and breadth of thought of Him who formed them and cares for them, the manifold play of an immeasurable intelligence and power in the world.
Yet though each of these pictures utters the name of God with an increasing emphasis, and though the Poet presents them in the first instance that we may hear this name from them, it is evident that his own eye follows each of the creatures which he describes with a delighted wonder and love. The Poet felt like a later poet,
He prayeth best who loveth best all things both great and small,
For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.
The words of Carlyle might be quoted, who says of the Book of Job and of these descriptions in particular, “so true every way; true eyesight and vision for all things; material things no less than spiritual” ( Heroes, Lect. ii), were it not that this writer’s raptures are so often founded on intellectual mistake and imperfect appreciation of facts, and are therefore, like all such ideal raptures, only nauseous.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? – The appeal here is to the instincts with which God has endowed animals, and to the fact that he had so made them that they would secure their own food. He asks Job whether he would undertake to do what the lion did by instinct in finding his food, and by his power and skill in seizing his prey. There was a wise adaptation of the lion for this purpose which man could neither originate nor explain.
Or fill the appetite of the young lions – Margin, as in Hebrew life. The word life is used here for hunger, as the appetite is necessarily connected with the preservation of life. The meaning here is, Wouldst thou undertake to supply his needs? It is done by laws, and in a manner which thou canst not explain. There are in the arrangement by which it is accomplished marks of wisdom which far surpass the skill of man to originate, and the instinct and power by which it is done are proof of the supremacy of the Most High. No one can study the subject of the instincts of animals, or become in the least acquainted with Natural History, without finding every where traces of the wisdom and goodness of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 39. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion?] Rather the lioness, or strong lion. Hast thou his instinct? Dost thou know the habits and haunts of such animals as he seeks for his food? Thou hast neither his strength, his instinct nor his cunning.
In the best Hebrew Bibles, the thirty-ninth chapter begins with this verse, and begins properly, as a new subject now commences, relating to the natural history of the earth, or the animal kingdom; as the preceding chapter does to astronomy and meteorology.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Is it by thy care and providence that the lions, who live in desert places, are furnished with necessary provisions? This is justly mentioned as another wonderful work of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
39. At Job38:39-39:30, the instincts of animals. Is it thou that givest itthe instinct to hunt its prey? (Ps104:21).
appetiteliterally,”life,” which depends on the appetite” (Job33:20).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion?…. From meteors the Lord passes to animals, beasts, and birds, wherefore some here begin the thirty ninth chapter, which only treats of such; and he begins with the lion, the strongest among beasts, and most fierce; cruel, and voracious; and asks, who hunts his prey for him? Not man, who cannot; and if he could, durst not: but the Lord does; and, according to some writers x, he has provided a small creature, between a fox and a wolf, called a jackal; which goes before the lion, and hunts the prey for him. And could this be understood particularly of the old lion, as Cocceius and others, naturalists y observe, that young lions hunt for the old ones, when they are not able to go in search of prey; and when they have got it, either bring it to them, or call them to partake of it with them;
or fill the appetite of the young lions, whose appetite is sharp and keen, and requires a great deal to fill it, and especially to satisfy a great many of them; herds of them, as Mr. Broughton renders the word, and which signifies a company; see Ps 68:30. Men cannot feed them, but God can and does; there being some ends in Providence to be answered thereby, see Ps 104:21; see also Ps 34:8.
x Thevenot’s Travels, part 2. c. 13. y Aelian. de Animal. l. 9. c. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
39 Dost thou hunt for the prey of the lioness
And still the desire of the young lions,
40 When they couch in the dens,
Sit in the thicket lying in wait for prey?
41 Who provideth for the raven its food,
When its young ones cry to God,
They wander about without food?
On the wealth of the Old Testament language in names for the lion, vid., on Job 4:10. can be used of the lioness; the more exact name of the lioness is , for is = , whence , lions, and , lionesses. The lioness is mentioned first, because she has to provide for her young ones ( ); then the lions that are still young, but yet are left to themselves, . The phrase (comp. of life that needs nourishment, Job 33:20) is equivalent to , Pro 6:30 ( Psychol. S. 204 ad fin.). The book of Psalms here furnishes parallels to every word: comp. on Job 38:39, Psa 104:21; on , Psa 10:10;
(Note: The Semitic is rich in such words as describe the couching posture of beasts of prey lying in wait for their prey, which then in general signify to lie in wait, lurk, wait ( , , Arab. rbs , lbd , wkkd ); Arab. qd lh , subsedit ei, i.e., insidiatus est ei , which corresponds to , Job 38:40, also belongs here, comp. Psalter, i. 500 note.)
on , lustra , Psa 104:22 (compared on Job 37:8 already); on , , which is used just in the same way, Psa 10:9; Jer 25:38. The picture of the crying ravens has its parallel in Psa 147:9. , quum , is followed by the fut. in the signif. of the praes., as Psa 11:3. As here, in the Sermon on the Mount in Luk 12:24 the ravens, which by their hoarse croaking make themselves most observed everywhere among birds that seek their food, are mentioned instead of the fowls of heaven.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(39) Wilt thou hunt the prey?The new chapter ought to begin here with this verse, inasmuch as the animal creation now passes under review.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Second division JOB IS CONFRONTED WITH THE ANIMAL WORLD, OF WHICH MAN IS THE HEAD AND MONARCH; WITH THE MYSTERY OF LIFE, ITS PROPAGATION AND PRESERVATION; AND WITH THE UNERRING AND INFINITELY VARIED LAWS OF THE WORLD OF INSTINCT, Job 38:39 to Job 39:30.
First long strophe BEASTS OF THE FIELD AND BIRDS OF THE AIR ARE ALIKE OBJECTS OF GOD’S FATHERLY CARE A CARE WHICH NOT ONLY PROVIDES THEM WITH FOOD, BUT WATCHES OVER THEM DURING THE WHOLE PERIOD OF GESTATION, Job 38:39 to Job 39:8.
In the following three long strophes the discussion is directed to the goodness of God.
. Job is asked whether such as he would ever have provided meat for beasts and birds, for instance, such representatives of the brute world as the greedy lion and the carrion raven, Job 38:39-41.
39, 40. As Jehovah now proceeds to speak of the mysteries of the animal kingdom, some (Luther) would make the 39th verse the beginning of a new chapter. The king of beasts is mentioned first. Canst thou comprehend the instinct of the lioness, that guides her in taking prey for her whelps? or instruct the young lions how to provide food for themselves? They are taught like soldiers to “lurk” in ambush. See note Job 4:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
God As Sustainer of Life on the Earth – In Job 38:39 to Job 39:30 God reveals Himself as the sustainer of all life on earth. Here is a proposed outline of this passage:
God Sustains the Lion Job 38:39-40
God Sustains the Raven Job 38:41
God Sustains the Wild Goats & Deer Job 39:1-4
God Sustains the Wild Donkey Job 39:5-8
God Sustains the Wild Ox Job 39:9-12
God Sustains the Ostrich Job 39:13-18
God Sustains the Horse Job 39:19-25
God Sustains the Hawk & Eagle Job 39:26-30
In this passage of Scripture God will describe the mysteries of nature. Modern science explains animal behaviour as an instinct with which all animals have at birth. Others call these mysteries “Mother Nature.” Actually, God is directing each animal’s behaviour upon earth.
Illustration – As young boys roaming the woods in Florida, we found a bird’s nest with three small birds in it. It seems that they were either young mocking birds or blue jays. In our excitement we snatched them out of their nest and took them home to feed and raise them ourselves. Kids love pets. All three of us worked to feed them. Ants crawled on them. Then, Mom came and tried to help us out. Yet the four of us were not able to raise those three small birds. Unfortunately, these small birds died. God had equipped one little mother bird to do what three boys and a mom could not do.
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
God’s Power in the Animal Kingdom
v. 39. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion, v. 40. when they crouch in their dens, v. 41. Who provideth for the raven his food when his young ones cry unto God? They wander for lack of meat,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Job 38:39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Ver. 39. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? ] Heb. For the old lion, as Neh 2:9 , that cannot hunt for himself. Prey he must have, as being a very ravenous creature; but wilt thou provide it for him? With what great charge do princes maintain a few lions! But God maintaineth all, and all other creatures, Psa 104:27-28 ; Psa 145:15 , putting it into the young lions to provide prey for the old; and causing these creatures to keep for most parts in the deserts, where they feed upon camels, and such as they can light upon. Plin. et Aristot. scribunt, Leones multa solida sine dissectu devorare. Ammianus Marcellinus writeth, that in Chaldea there are a huge number of lions, which were like enough to devour up both men and beasts throughout the country. But in addition he saith, that by reason of the store of water and mud thereof there breed yearly an innumerable company of gnats, whose property is to fly into the eye of the lion, as being a bright and orient thing, where, biting and stinging the lion, he teareth so fiercely with his claws, that he puts out his own eyes; and by that means many are drowned in the rivers, others starve for want of prey, and many the more easily killed by the inhabitants.
Or fill the appetite of the young lions
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Job 38:39-41
Job 38:39-41
THE REMARKABLE ENDOWMENT OF LOWER LIFE-FORMS
“Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
When they couch in their dens,
And abide in the covert to lie in wait?
Who provideth for the raven his prey,
When his young ones cry unto God,
And wander for lack of food?”
The words of Jehovah are continued in the following chapters, where we shall find many other unanswerable questions regarding God’s care and preservation of the lower forms of life upon the planet earth. There is no species in the whole creation that does not exhibit and illustrate the fantastic intelligence of God in their creation and maintenance upon the earth. Every example of wild life around us is an example of God’s incredibly wise creation which sufficiently endowed them to survive, even in spite of human hostility. This writer once saw a cow and her new-born calf, less than an hour old, swim a swollen river in flood; and no one who ever saw a thing like that could ever doubt the Providence of God. Instinctively, that animal mother maintained the position of the calf on her side, up-stream of course; and both of them made it safely across.
E.M. Zerr:
Job 38:39-41. These dumb creatures could not care for themselves purely through their own intelligence; yet they exist independent of man, proving existence of some higher power.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
CHAPTERS 38:39–39:30
1. The beasts of prey (Job 38:39-41)
2. The wild goats, the ass, the unicorn and the ostrich (Job 39:1-18)
3. The horse, the hawk and the eagle (Job 39:19-30)
Job 38:39-41. Gods own wisdom and power in nature, as witnessed to by Himself, is followed by His witness as to the sustenance of His creatures, how mercifully He provides for their need. This section begins with the query, Knowest thou? Could he hunt the prey of the lion, or fill the ravenous appetite of their young? God considers the young, even so unclean a bird as the raven has its food provided by God. Wonderful it is to read that the young ravens in their helplessness cry to God. The beasts acknowledge the Creator by their instincts and look to Him for food, though it be not the sweet song of a lark, but only the croak of a raven. How it reminds us of the witness of the same Creator who speaks here, when He was clothed in creatures form. Consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them. How much more are ye better than the fowls (Luk 12:24). And striking it is that He begins by calling Jobs attention to the wild beasts first, though they are now mans enemy through mans sin. God in His infinite wisdom and benevolence cares for them.
Job 39:1-18. Then what about the goats of the rock and their young? His omniscient eye beheld them out in the desert rocks and He watched over their young. Could He then not watch the footsteps of His higher creature, even His offspring, man? Then the wild ass, also a desert animal. He cannot be tamed. God made him so. The unicorn (the aurochs) with his strength is known to God also. He has the power to make him the willing slave; man cannot do it. And the peacock with its goodly wings and the ostrich, which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust. Who takes care of these hidden eggs, which the foot might crush and wild beasts break? It would be amusing, if it were not so sad, when critics declare that the author of the poem made a mistake when he speaks of the eggs of the ostrich. But it is not an author who speaks, but the Creator Himself and He knows more about His creatures than all the scientists in the world.
Job 39:19-30. Next the description of the noble horse. Did Job give the war horse his strength or clothe the neck with the rustling mane, or make him leap like the locust? The picture of the war horse in battle is sublime also. God shows to Job a glimpse of His works, and the wisdom which has created them, as well as His care in keeping them. Such a God is He whom Job has maligned.
The hawk too may teach him a lesson. Is it by Jobs instructions that the hawk soars high into the air, and is it by his command that the eagle mounts and builds his nest in the dizzy heights, from where he spys his prey? No answer could Job give. His silence is assent. God is great and unsearchable and Job but the rebellious worm of the dust.
Fuente: Gaebelein’s Annotated Bible (Commentary)
Wilt: Job 4:10, Job 4:11, Psa 34:10, Psa 104:21, Psa 145:15, Psa 145:16
appetite: Heb. life
Reciprocal: Gen 1:24 – Let Gen 1:30 – General Num 24:9 – couched Psa 8:8 – The fowl Pro 6:7 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 38:39-40. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? Is it by thy care and providence that the lions, who live in desert places, are furnished with necessary provisions? This is justly mentioned as another wonderful work of God. When they couch in their dens When, through age and infirmity, they cannot range abroad for prey as the young lions do, but lie still in their dens, as it were, expecting their food from God, from whom also they receive it. And abide in the covert, to lie in wait Watching till some beast comes that way, which they may make their prey.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 38:39 to Job 39:30. The Wonders of the Animate Creation.In Job 38:39 f. God first names the lion. Man would rather hunt and destroy the lion than feed him. But God cares for the lion as well as for man. So also for the raven (Job 38:41); but perhaps as the raven seems out of place here among the beasts, we should read, Who provideth at evening its food? In this case Job 38:41 continues the description of Gods care of the lion.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
38:39 Wilt {a} thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
(a) After he had declared God’s works in the heavens, he shows his marvellous providence in earth, even toward the brute beasts.