Job 39:21 kjv
He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
Job 39:21 nkjv
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms.
Job 39:21 niv
It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, and charges into the fray.
Job 39:21 esv
He paws in the valley and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons.
Job 39:21 nlt
It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength
when it charges out to battle.
Job 39 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 21:31 | The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord. | God's ultimate sovereignty over battle. |
| Ps 33:17 | An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver by his great strength. | God, not human might, is the true deliverer. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. | Trust in God over military strength. |
| Isa 31:3 | Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. | Limits of human and natural power. |
| Zech 12:4 | In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness. | God's control over war and animals. |
| Jer 8:6 | Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. | Natural instinct/haste. |
| Exod 15:21 | Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. | God's triumph over equestrian power. |
| Rev 6:2 | And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow... and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. | Symbolic warhorse in Revelation. |
| Rev 19:11 | And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True. | Christ on a horse for judgment. |
| Ps 104:24 | O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all. | God's wisdom in creation. |
| Rom 1:20 | For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen... | Creation reveals God's attributes. |
| Job 38:4 | Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? | God questioning Job's understanding. |
| Job 40:2 | Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? | God challenging Job's arguments. |
| Neh 8:10 | ...for the joy of the Lord is your strength. | Joy as a source of strength. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. | Divine source of strength. |
| Ps 28:7 | The Lord is my strength and my shield... | God as personal strength. |
| Gen 1:24-25 | And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind... | God's creation of land animals. |
| Ps 147:9 | He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. | God's provision for creation. |
| 1 Cor 1:25 | Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. | Divine wisdom and strength exceed human. |
| Isa 55:9 | For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways... | God's ways are beyond human comprehension. |
| Ps 119:90 | Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. | God's steadfastness and ordering of creation. |
Job 39 verses
Job 39 21 Meaning
Job 39:21 vividly describes the inherent nature of the warhorse as divinely endowed. It portrays the horse's restless anticipation of battle, its unbridled exultation in its own great strength, and its eager readiness to confront armed men, demonstrating its instinctual drive towards conflict as purposed by God.
Job 39 21 Context
Job 39:21 is part of the Lord's second speech to Job, spanning chapters 38-41. God is directly responding to Job's questioning and arguments about divine justice, wisdom, and the suffering of the righteous. Instead of offering a direct explanation for Job's trials, God redirects Job's attention to the intricate complexities and majestic power displayed in creation, demonstrating His sovereign wisdom and knowledge that far transcend human comprehension.
Specifically within Job 39, God details the instincts and behaviors of various wild animals (including wild goats, wild donkeys, wild oxen, ostriches, and then the horse) whose existences and natures are completely independent of human will or understanding. The description of the warhorse in verses 19-25 emphasizes its untamable, fierce, and martial spirit, a characteristic instilled directly by God. The point is not just the animal's power, but that this power and its inherent characteristics are entirely ordained by God, underscoring His unfathomable wisdom and control over all creation, even the most formidable creatures. This challenges Job to recognize his limited perspective in judging the Almighty.
Job 39 21 Word analysis
- He paweth (יַחְפֹּר - yakhfor): The Hebrew term implies a digging, pawing, or stamping with the hooves. It conveys a restless, eager movement, suggesting the horse is impatient, highly energetic, and anticipates action. This action is a physical manifestation of its internal desire and readiness for engagement, not just idleness.
- in the valley (בַּגַּיְא - ba'gay): The word refers to a low ground or a wide valley. This suggests an open, unhindered space where the horse can fully display its energy and prepare for movement, implying a natural arena for its characteristic display of power.
- and rejoiceth (וְיָגֵל - v'yagel): This is a strong verb indicating exultation, delight, or leaping for joy. It signifies not merely contentment but an active, profound pleasure and triumphal excitement. The horse genuinely revels in its very being, particularly in its strength and anticipated role.
- in his strength (בְּכֹחוֹ - b'khocho): Refers to its inherent might, vigor, and physical power. This strength is the foundation of its existence and the specific attribute that brings it such great joy and readiness. It's the divinely endowed capability that defines its purpose.
- he goeth on (יֵצֵא - yetze): Means "he goes out" or "he proceeds forth." This indicates an active, voluntary, and purposeful movement, not hesitant but decisive. It portrays the horse as readily, even eagerly, moving towards its intended target.
- to meet (לִקְרַאת - liqrat): Signifies to encounter, to go to face, or to confront. This highlights the directness of its purpose – to engage in confrontation, rather than avoiding it.
- the armed men (נֵשֶׁק - nesheq): Refers specifically to weaponry or armor, by extension, the men carrying them—soldiers equipped for battle. This means the horse is inherently designed for and drawn to the environment of conflict and those prepared for it.
- "He paweth...and rejoiceth": This phrase couples a physical manifestation of restlessness and anticipation with an internal, emotional state of joyous exultation. It paints a picture of an animal vibrating with eager energy, its movements driven by a deep internal delight.
- "rejoiceth in his strength": This powerfully communicates that the horse's joy is deeply tied to its God-given capabilities. It takes pleasure not in external things, but in its own intrinsic power and might, understanding its purpose through its inherent nature.
- "goeth on to meet the armed men": This describes the ultimate action stemming from the horse's described nature. It is an active, unbidden response to the sight of combatants, underscoring its fearless and eager plunge into conflict as part of its divine design.
Job 39 21 Bonus section
This description of the horse is part of God's strategy to impress upon Job His transcendent wisdom and power. By showcasing animals like the warhorse, whose nature is largely untamed and incomprehensible to human domestication or design, God challenges Job's understanding of cosmic order and justice. The horse's fearless readiness (further elaborated in Job 39:22-25) is presented as a natural, divinely implanted attribute, contrasting with human fears or vulnerabilities. This passage implicitly corrects Job's tendency to assess divine actions through a limited human lens, guiding him to acknowledge the incomprehensible majesty and freedom of God. It underlines that God’s wisdom is not limited to what humans can understand or control.
Job 39 21 Commentary
Job 39:21 stands as a profound testament to God's unparalleled wisdom and creative power. It highlights the warhorse not merely as a strong animal, but as a creature intrinsically imbued with a martial spirit and joyous readiness for battle, all by divine design. The "pawing" reflects its restless energy and anticipation, while "rejoicing in its strength" underscores an innate, deep pleasure it finds in its powerful existence, specifically for its role in conflict. This intrinsic nature, leading it "to meet the armed men," emphasizes its divinely programmed purpose. The verse powerfully reminds Job, and us, that even the formidable instincts and capabilities of creatures in the wild are entirely governed by the Creator. This insight helps humble human presumption and calls us to marvel at God's intricate and sovereign governance over every aspect of His creation. It shows that even what seems chaotic or fierce to us serves a purpose in God's ordered world.