Job 39 13

Job 39:13 kjv

Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

Job 39:13 nkjv

"The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork's?

Job 39:13 niv

"The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork.

Job 39:13 esv

"The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love?

Job 39:13 nlt

"The ostrich flaps her wings grandly,
but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.

Job 39 verses

Job 39 13 Meaning

Job 39:13 presents a rhetorical question from God to Job concerning the ostrich. It notes the seemingly joyful or proud flapping of the ostrich's wings, then challenges whether these wings provide the nurturing, protective care that defines true devotion, particularly in parenting, contrasting it with the ostrich's perceived indifference to its eggs. This verse introduces a deeper exploration of divine wisdom embedded in creation, highlighting aspects that might seem illogical or contrary to human understanding, yet are part of God's perfect design.

Job 39 13 Context

Job 39:13 is part of God's extensive discourse (chapters 38-41) answering Job's laments and challenges. Instead of directly addressing Job's suffering, God demonstrates His immeasurable power, wisdom, and sovereign control over all creation. He uses a series of rhetorical questions about various creatures and natural phenomena to humble Job and illustrate the limits of human understanding in comparison to divine omniscience. Within chapter 39, God points to specific wild animals – the mountain goat, wild donkey, wild ox, and here, the ostrich – highlighting their unique characteristics and behaviors as evidence of His intricate design and rule. The ostrich is presented as an enigma: majestic yet seemingly lacking in conventional parental wisdom, further emphasizing that God’s ways are beyond human critique or full comprehension. The subsequent verses (Job 39:14-17) explicitly detail the ostrich’s peculiar parenting habits, which sets up the rhetorical question posed in verse 13. This whole section serves to underscore Job's need to trust in God's wisdom, even when His designs or allowance of suffering seem contradictory or incomprehensible from a human perspective.

Job 39 13 Word analysis

• The wings: Hebrew: kānāph (כָּנָף). This term refers to the literal wings of a bird. In a broader sense, wings can symbolize protection, power, or speed. Here, it refers to a distinct physical feature of the ostrich, leading to the description of its motion.
• of the ostrich: Hebrew: rĕnānîm (רְנָנִים), typically refers to ostriches. These birds were known in the Middle East for their size, speed on land, but peculiar wings which are not adapted for flight in the same way as other birds. They have large, showy wings, which are primarily used for display, balance during running, and as a steering mechanism, rather than sustained aerial locomotion.
• flap joyfully: Hebrew: na‘ălaz (נַעֲלָז) from the root ‘ālaz (עָלַז), meaning to exult, rejoice, or triumph. This phrase depicts a proud, perhaps even exuberant, movement of the ostrich's wings. The visual image is one of powerful, showy motion, potentially reflecting confidence or a sense of delight in its speed or display. However, the subsequent question introduces a strong counterpoint.
• but are they the pinions: Hebrew: ’ephrōach (אֶפְרֹחַ). This word usually refers to the young of birds, or specifically the newly hatched chick. In context with "plumage," it can denote the kind of feathers characteristic of nurturing, protective parents. This introduces the pivotal question about the quality of care.
• and plumage: Hebrew: nōtsāh (נֹצָה). This term specifically means "feather" or "plumage," referring to the covering of a bird. Together with ’ephrōach, it evokes the complete covering that birds use for warmth, protection, and comfort, especially for their young.
• of love?: Hebrew: chāsîd (חָסִיד). This is a crucial and multi-layered word. While ESV translates it as "of love," its more direct meaning is "pious, godly, devoted, faithful," implying one characterized by steadfast love (חסד - chesed), loyalty, and devotion, especially in a covenantal sense or in demonstrating faithful kindness. Many other translations (e.g., KJV, NASB, NET) interpret chāsîd here as "stork," because the stork was proverbially known as a "devoted" or "pious" bird due to its observed strong parental care (Jer 8:7), making the comparison to the ostrich's lack of care particularly stark. The rhetorical question thus asks whether the ostrich’s outwardly joyous or proud flapping is actually expressive of truly devoted, nurturing parental care, implying that it is not.
• "The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but are they the pinions and plumage of love?": This phrase group juxtaposes superficial exuberance with a deeper, essential quality of devotion. It highlights a dichotomy: outward display versus inward disposition or practical care. The "joyful" flapping may seem impressive, but God immediately raises the question of whether this outward show correlates with protective, loving care, especially given the ostrich's later described behaviors regarding its eggs. This is a divine probe into appearances versus reality.

Job 39 13 Bonus section

• The portrayal of the ostrich in Job 39 as a creature lacking wisdom and parental care aligns with other ancient Near Eastern observations, though from a divine perspective. The following verses explicitly state God "has made her forget wisdom; she has not been given a share in understanding" (Job 39:17). This emphasizes that even seemingly flawed traits are part of God's sovereign plan, serving His unknown purposes.
• The debate over whether chāsîd refers to "love" (an abstract quality) or "stork" (a specific bird known for love/devotion) significantly impacts the nuance of the verse. If it refers to the stork, the contrast is starker: "Are these like the wings of the devoted stork?" emphasizing the absence of comparison. If "love," it asks whether the wings genuinely reflect loving protection. Both interpretations lead to the same point about the ostrich's parental deficiency.
• This verse, like the rest of God's speeches, demonstrates God’s deep involvement and knowledge of every detail of creation, even the paradoxical and seemingly contradictory. This directly challenges Job's implicit claim of understanding God's justice or ability to run the world.

Job 39 13 Commentary

Job 39:13 acts as a divine rhetorical setup, introducing the perplexing nature of the ostrich as an example of God’s mysterious yet perfect design in creation. The initial observation of the ostrich’s "joyful" wing flapping portrays a magnificent, powerful creature. However, God immediately counters this perceived majesty with a challenging question: Do these impressive wings represent genuine, devoted, and nurturing care? The implied answer, clarified in the following verses (39:14-17), is a resounding "No." The ostrich, despite its powerful wings and speed, is divinely portrayed as lacking the natural, tender instinct for parental care seen in other creatures. This isn't a critique of the ostrich but a profound illustration of God's wisdom, which operates beyond human comprehension and judgment. It teaches Job (and us) that divine purposes and designs might appear contradictory or illogical from a human viewpoint, yet are perfectly orchestrated by the Creator. The verse reminds us to look beyond superficial appearances and recognize the complexity of God’s works, accepting that His ways and the mechanisms of His creation often surpass our finite understanding.