But whenever she jumps up to run, she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.
Parallel translations
- WEB When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
- KJV What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
- BSB Yet when she proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at the horse and its rider.
- NKJV When she lifts herself on high, She scorns the horse and its rider.
- NASB “When she rushes away on high, She laughs at the horse and his rider.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Despite her limits, the ostrich can run so swiftly that she outpaces a horse and rider. God's creatures each have their own God-given excellence.
Overview
Though deprived of certain wisdom, the ostrich is endowed with remarkable speed, scorning the fastest horse. The contrast teaches that God compensates and equips his creatures in ways humans would not predict. Job is being led to marvel at a wisdom in creation he could neither devise nor improve, deepening his reverence for the Creator.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Job 39:7He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.
- Job 39:22He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.
- 2 Kgs 19:21This is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: ‘The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.
- Job 41:29Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.
- Job 5:22At destruction and famine you shall laugh, neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 39:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.