Job 38 39

Job 38:39 kjv

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

Job 38:39 nkjv

"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

Job 38:39 niv

"Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions

Job 38:39 esv

"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

Job 38:39 nlt

"Can you stalk prey for a lioness
and satisfy the young lions' appetites

Job 38 verses

Job 38 39 Meaning

(h2)Job 38:39 poses two rhetorical questions to Job from God's whirlwind discourse: "Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the hunger of the young lions?" This verse emphasizes God's unchallenged, sovereign power and ceaseless providential care over all creation, including the wild and powerful beasts like lions. It underscores human frailty and inability to manage or sustain even the most fundamental aspects of the natural world, especially compared to the Almighty Creator who single-handedly sustains all living things.

Job 38 39 Context

(h2)Job 38:39 is part of God's first response to Job, spoken from a whirlwind, covering chapters 38 and 39. After 37 chapters of dialogue between Job, his friends, and Elihu, God finally speaks directly to Job. Instead of explaining Job's suffering, God poses a series of rhetorical questions designed to highlight Job's ignorance and impotence in contrast to God's omnipotence and omniscient control over the cosmos. The verses preceding 38:39 deal with celestial phenomena, the deep earth, and weather patterns, none of which Job can comprehend or control. This specific verse marks a transition to questions about the animal kingdom, further demonstrating God's meticulous care for and mastery over all creation, down to the feeding of wild beasts. The broader context aims to humble Job, shift his focus from self-justification to God's incomprehensible greatness, and illustrate the vast gap between divine wisdom and human understanding.

Job 38 39 Word analysis

(h2)

• Can you hunt:
  • Original Hebrew: הֲתָצוּד (Ha-taṣud). Ha- is an interrogative particle, introducing a question expecting a "no" answer. Taṣud means "to hunt, to catch, to ensnare."
  • Significance: This is a direct challenge to Job's capacity, powerfully asserting his inability. It asks if Job possesses the foresight, strength, or knowledge to provide the basic needs of a predatory animal in the wild.
• the prey:
  • Original Hebrew: לַיִשׁ (laish) following a implied verb. More literally, "for the lion." The idea of "prey" is inherent in what a lion needs.
  • Significance: It's not just food, but the dangerous act of hunting to secure it. This highlights the inherent struggle and dependence of even the most formidable creatures.
• for the lion:
  • Original Hebrew: לַיִשׁ (laish). Refers to a mature, strong lion, often symbolizing power and might in ancient Near Eastern culture.
  • Significance: Even this symbol of self-sufficiency and ferocity in nature is utterly dependent on a higher power for its survival. God, not man, provides for this apex predator.
• Or satisfy:
  • Original Hebrew: אִם תְּמַלֵּא (im tĕmalē'). Im means "or," introducing an alternative question. Tĕmalē' means "to fill, to fulfill, to complete, to make full."
  • Significance: Beyond merely hunting, can Job fully satisfy their hunger? It implies continuous, sufficient provision, which goes beyond a one-time act.
• the hunger:
  • Original Hebrew: נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh). Often translated "soul" or "life," but here means appetite, craving, or inner need.
  • Significance: It speaks to the deep, visceral need of the animal, emphasizing the profound and recurring necessity of provision for survival.
• of the young lions:
  • Original Hebrew: כְפִירִים (kəphīrīm). Refers to younger lions, often between cub and mature adult, still needing support or being at a stage of fierce development.
  • Significance: This adds a layer of dependence. While fierce, they are not yet fully independent or expert hunters, highlighting their vulnerability and reliance on sustenance provided by a source beyond themselves, ultimately God. The inclusion of both mature and young lions emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's providence across all life stages.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Can you hunt...Or satisfy": These two parallel questions establish the theme of human impotence versus divine omnipotence. The transition from active hunting to completely satisfying hunger demonstrates the comprehensive nature of divine provision—it's not just finding food, but truly sustaining life.
• "for the lion...of the young lions": The pairing of mature and young lions highlights God's provision for the entire life cycle of even the most powerful creatures. It encompasses both the seemingly independent and the obviously vulnerable, showing that all stages of creation are reliant on Him. This is a subtle polemic against any notion that mighty beasts or human heroes are self-sufficient. In the ancient world, lions were potent symbols of power and divinity; God's questions dismantle any challenge to His unique and sole dominion.

Job 38 39 Bonus section

(h2)

• The rhetorical "Can you...?" followed by "Or...?" is a common Hebrew poetic device to drive home an undeniable truth through a series of increasingly impossible scenarios for the human subject.
• God's discourse on creation (Job 38-39) serves not just to humble Job, but to remind humanity of God's active involvement and careful ordering of a world that often appears chaotic or beyond human control.
• The consistent pattern in God's speech is to show that what appears independent in creation (like the lion) is, in fact, entirely dependent on Him for its very survival, debunking human pride or belief in self-sufficiency.

Job 38 39 Commentary

(h2)In Job 38:39, God brings Job's limited understanding of the natural world into sharp focus by challenging him with the simple, yet profound, act of providing for wild beasts. The rhetorical questions expose the vast chasm between Job's finite capabilities and God's infinite power and sustained activity in creation. Humans can perhaps kill animals for sport or domesticate them, but we cannot, by our own might, oversee the complex ecological balance and consistent provisioning for the survival of entire wild species, especially powerful predators like lions. God does not just create the animals; He continually sustains them by providing their sustenance in the wild. This truth serves to humble Job, redirecting his attention from his suffering and attempts at self-justification towards the awe-inspiring reality of God's active, faithful governance over every detail of creation. The verse encourages absolute trust in the God who manages and sustains even the ferocious beasts, implying He will surely care for His human creations too.

• Practical usage example: When faced with seemingly overwhelming financial needs, remember that the God who feeds the wild lions will provide for your needs (Matt 6:31-33).
• Practical usage example: If struggling with a sense of helplessness, reflect on God's mighty and minute care for creation; it points to His capacity to help in your life's details.