Movatterモバイル変換

God Speaks of His Creation
…8He roams the mountains for pasture, searching for any green thing.9Will the wild oxconsentto serve you?Will he staybyyour manger at night?10Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?…

Treasury of Scripture

Will the unicorn be willing to serve you, or abide by your crib?

the

Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Deuteronomy 33:17
His gloryis like the firstling of his bullock, and his hornsare like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and theyare the ten thousands of Ephraim, and theyare the thousands of Manasseh.

Psalm 22:21
Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

or

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.

AbideBuffaloConsentContentCribFeedingLodgeMangerMountainsNightNight'sOxReemResting-PlaceServantServeSpendTroughUnicornWildWild-OxWillingAbideBuffaloConsentContentCribFeedingLodgeMangerMountainsNightNight'sOxReemResting-PlaceServantServeSpendTroughUnicornWildWild-OxWilling1.Of the wild goats and hinds
5.Of the wild donkey
9.The unicorn
13.The peacock, stork, and ostrich
19.The horse
26.The hawk
27.The eagle

Will the wild ox consent to serve you?
The "wild ox" mentioned here is often identified with the aurochs, a large, now-extinct wild cattle species that once roamed the ancient Near East. This creature symbolizes untamed strength and independence, highlighting the power and majesty of God's creation. In biblical context, the wild ox represents something beyond human control, emphasizing God's sovereignty over all creatures. This rhetorical question underscores the limitations of human power compared to God's omnipotence. The wild ox's refusal to serve man can be seen as a metaphor for the futility of human attempts to control or domesticate what God has made inherently wild. This theme is echoed in other scriptures, such asPsalm 50:10-11, where God claims ownership of all creatures.

Will he stay by your manger at night?
The imagery of a manger suggests a place of feeding and rest, typically associated with domesticated animals. The question implies that the wild ox, with its untamed nature, would not submit to such a setting. This highlights the distinction between domesticated animals, which serve human needs, and wild creatures, which remain under God's direct care and authority. The mention of "night" can symbolize vulnerability and the need for protection, further illustrating the wild ox's independence from human provision. This phrase can also be seen as a type of Christ, who, though sovereign and powerful, chose to humble Himself and be born in a manger (Luke 2:7), contrasting the wild ox's refusal to submit with Christ's willing submission to God's plan.

1.Job
A man of great faith and patience, who undergoes severe trials and questions God's justice.

2.God
The Creator, who speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, challenging Job's understanding of divine wisdom and power.

3.Wild Ox
A symbol of untamed strength and independence, representing creatures beyond human control.

4.Manger
A feeding trough, symbolizing domestication and servitude.

5.Whirlwind
The medium through which God speaks to Job, signifying divine power and majesty.God's Sovereignty Over Creation
The wild ox, a creature of immense strength, cannot be tamed by human hands, illustrating God's ultimate control over all creation.

Human Limitations
The rhetorical questions posed to Job remind us of our limitations and the futility of trying to control or fully understand God's creation.

Trust in Divine Wisdom
Just as Job is challenged to trust in God's wisdom, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when it is beyond our understanding.

Humility Before God
Recognizing our inability to control the wild ox should lead us to humility before God, acknowledging His greater wisdom and power.

Dependence on God
The imagery of the manger suggests a place of provision and care, reminding us to depend on God for our needs rather than relying on our own strength.1.What is the meaning of Job 39:9?

2.How does Job 39:9 illustrate God's sovereignty over creation and animals?

3.What lessons can we learn about humility from Job 39:9?

4.How does Job 39:9 connect with Genesis 1:24-25 on creation?

5.In what ways can Job 39:9 inspire trust in God's wisdom?

6.How can understanding Job 39:9 deepen our faith in God's control?

7.What is the significance of the wild ox in Job 39:9?

8.How does Job 39:9 challenge human understanding of God's creation?

9.Why does God use the wild ox as an example in Job 39:9?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 39?

11.In Job 39:9, the text mentions a “wild ox” (sometimes “unicorn”); how can this be reconciled with any known species or historical evidence?

12.What does the Bible mention about unicorns?

13.Why does the Bible include mythical creatures like unicorns (King James Version)?

14.Does the representation of these animals in Job 39 conflict with other biblical accounts of creation or does it harmonize with the broader biblical narrative?Will the wild ox consent to serve you?

“Will the wild ox consent to serve you?” (Job 39:9a)

• Picture the untamable power of a massive beast that roams free. God asks Job if he can summon that strength to plow his fields.

• The question exposes human limitation and highlights God’s unrivaled authority.Psalm 50:10–11 echoes this truth: “For every beast of the forest is Mine….”

•Numbers 23:22 calls the wild ox a symbol of overwhelming might—“He has the strength of a wild ox.” God wields that power effortlessly; Job cannot.

•Job 38:4–5 already confronted Job with, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” This next challenge drills deeper: even a single animal is beyond Job’s command.

• By affirming that Scripture records an actual dialogue, we see a literal Creator directing an actual man, proving that the created order answers to God alone (Isaiah 40:26).

---

Will he stay by your manger at night?

“Will he stay by your manger at night?” (Job 39:9b)

• A manger is a place of feeding and rest, yet the wild ox will not linger there under human watch.

•Proverbs 14:4 notes the benefit of tame oxen for abundant harvests, but the wild ox refuses domestication. Job cannot offer shelter or incentive strong enough.

•Psalm 104:14 – 21 pictures God providing food for every creature, underscoring that only the Creator can guide an animal’s nightly patterns.

• The contrast between Jesus laid in a manger (Luke 2:7) and the untamed ox heightens the marvel: the Lord humbled Himself where even the beasts would not.

• Job’s silence (Job 40:4–5) proves the point—acknowledging that he cannot ensure obedience from the least controllable creature, let alone question the wisdom of its Maker.

---

summary

Job 39:9 reminds us that absolute power and ownership belong to God alone. If a single wild ox will not submit to human authority or lodge where we choose, how much more must we yield to the Almighty who commands every animal and holds the universe in place. Our proper response mirrors Job’s: humble awe, trust, and worship.

(9)The unicorn.--It is a mistake to identify this animal with the rhinoceros, as was formerly done; it is more probably the same with the buffalo, or wild ox. The most glaring form of the mistake is inPsalm 22:22 : "Thou hast heard me also from among thehornsof theunicorns"The way in which the animal is here spoken of, as in analogous contrast to the domestic ox, suggests that it is not wholly dissimilar. It is familiar and homely toil that the wild ox is contemplated as being put to, in the place of tame cattle, whose work it is.

Verse 9. -Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? This is an unfortunate translation, since there is no word etymologicallly correspondent to "unicorn" in the original. The word used isrem orreyrn; and therem is distinctly said inDeuteronomy 33:17 to have "horns." All that is said of the rim in Scripture points to some species of wild cattle, and recent critics are almost universally agreed thus far at any rate. Assyrian investigation carries us a step further. It is found that the wild bull so often represented on the monuments as hunted by the Ninevite monarchs was known to the Assyrians by the name ofrimu orrim. Careful examination of the sculptures has resulted in the identification of this animal withBee primi-genius an extinct species, probably identical with the urns of the Romans, which Caesar saw in Gaul, and of which he has left a description. "These uri," he says, "are scarcely less than elephants in size, but in their nature, colour, and form are bulls. Great is their strength, and great their speed; nor do they spare man nor beast, when once they have caught sight of him. ... Even when they are young, they cannot be habituated to man and made tractable. The size and shape of their horns are very different from those of our own oxen" ('De Bell. Gall.,' 6:28).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Will the wild ox
רֵּ֣ים‪‬(rêm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7214:A wild bull

consent
הֲיֹ֣אבֶה(hă·yō·ḇeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 14:To breathe after, to be acquiescent

to serve you?
עָבְדֶ֑ךָ(‘ā·ḇə·ḏe·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5647:To work, to serve, till, enslave

Will he stay
יָ֝לִ֗ין(yā·lîn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3885:To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate

by
עַל־(‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, against

your manger {at night}?
אֲבוּסֶֽךָ׃(’ă·ḇū·se·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 18:A crib, feeding trough


Job 39:9 NIV
Job 39:9 NLT
Job 39:9 ESV
Job 39:9 NASB
Job 39:9 KJV

Job 39:9 BibleApps.com
Job 39:9 Biblia Paralela
Job 39:9 Chinese Bible
Job 39:9 French Bible
Job 39:9 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 39:9 Will the wild ox be content (Jb)