Job 39:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 39:19-25

God, having displayed his own power in those creatures that are strong and despise man, here shows it in one scarcely inferior to any of them in strength, and yet very tame and serviceable to man, and that is the horse, especially the horse that is prepared against the day of battle and is serviceable to man at a time when he has more than ordinary occasion for his service. It seems, there was, in Job's country, a noble generous breed of horses. Job, it is probable, kept many, though they are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:20

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper ?.... Which is frightened at every noise, and at any approach of men; but not so the horse; or canst thou move him, or cause him to skip and jump, or rather leap like a grasshopper? that is, hast thou given, or canst thou give him the faculty of leaping over hedges and ditches, for which the horse is famous? so Neptune's war horses are said F17 Homeri Iliad. 13. v. 31. to be ευσκαρθμοι , good leapers; the glory of his nostrils is ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:1-30

This chapter completes the survey of animate nature begun at Job 38:39 . The habits and instincts of the wild goat, the wild ass, and wild cattle are first noticed ( Job 38:1-12 ); then a transition is made to the most remarkable of birds, the ostrich ( Job 38:13-18 ). Next, the horse is described, and, as it were, depicted, in a passage of extraordinary fire and brilliancy ( Job 38:19-25 ). Finally, a return is made to remarkable birds, and the habits of the hawk and eagle obtain... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:1-30

Jehovah to Job: the first answer-the examination: 6. Concerning certain wild animals. I. THE MOUNTAIN GOAT AND THE HIND . (Verses 1-4.) 1 . The creatures intended. It is generally agreed that these are the steinbock, or ibex, and the stag. The former, inhabiting exclusively the more rocky and desolate parts of the country, possesses fore legs considerably shorter than its hinder, which enable it to ascend with more facility than to descend, and lead it, when pursued, to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:1-30

The creatures not dependent upon man. We truly know that of man it is written, "Thou hast put all things under his feet;" and "We see not yet all things put under him." The creatures over whom dominion was given to man are not wholly submissive. And man must learn his littleness in presence of the great creatures of God whom he fails to subdue. "The wild goats" and "the hinds" and "the wild ass," "the unicorn," even "the ostrich," "the horse" and the birds of the air, "the hawk" and "the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:19-25

The war-horse. This magnificent picture of the horse shows him to us as he is about to rush into battle. Whilst asses, oxen, and camels were employed for peaceable work on the farm and as beasts of burden, the horse was almost confined to war. He was rarely used excepting to dash with the charioteer into the thick of the fight. In the poet's picture he is scenting the battle from afar. Let us look at his striking features. I. STRENGTH . There are two kinds of strength—mere brute... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:20

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? rather, Canst thou make him leap forward as a grasshopper? The bound with which a war-horse rushes to battle seems intended. The glory of his nostrils is terrible . When the war-horse snorts, men tremble (see Jeremiah 8:16 , "The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones"). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 39:20

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? - Or, rather, “as a locust” - כארבה kā'arbeh. This is the word which is commonly applied to the locust considered as gregarious, or as appearing in great numbers (from רבה râbâh, “to be multiplied”). On the variety of the species of locusts, see Bochart “Hieroz.” P. ii. Lib. iv. c. 1ff The Hebrew word here rendered “make afraid” (רעשׁ râ‛ash) means properly “to be moved, to be shaken,” and hence, to tremble, to be afraid. In the Hiphil, the form... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 39:19-25

Job 39:19-25. Hast thou given the horse strength? Hebrew, גבורה , geburah, his fortitude, the courage and generous confidence for which the horse is highly commended. The reader will observe, that all the great and sprightly images which thought can form of this noble animal are expressed in this paragraph with such force and vigour of style as (to use the words of an elegant writer) “would have given the great wits of antiquity new laws for the sublime, had they been acquainted with... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 39:1-30

Control of the animal world (38:39-39:30)The pressure on Job increases as God continues with his unanswerable questions. From the natural world in general, God moves to the animal world. He draws Job’s attention to animals that sometimes appear to have no purpose so far as human life is concerned, but are still part of God’s ordering of the world.God asks Job if he is able to order nature by providing wild animals with food (39-41), while protecting timid animals when they give birth and care... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 39:19-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:1-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:1-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:1-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:19-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 39:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 39:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 39:19-25

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 39:1-30

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