Job 39 22

Job 39:22 kjv

He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

Job 39:22 nkjv

He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword.

Job 39:22 niv

It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword.

Job 39:22 esv

He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword.

Job 39:22 nlt

It laughs at fear and is unafraid.
It does not run from the sword.

Job 39 verses

Job 39 22 Meaning

This verse describes the warhorse created by God, emphasizing its intrinsic fearlessness and might in the face of danger. It charges into the chaotic sounds of battle, disregarding the terrifying sights and instruments of war, never retreating. It highlights an innate, divinely imparted courage, serving as a powerful example of God's sovereign design and power evident in His creation.

Job 39 22 Context

Job 39 is part of God's speeches to Job (chapters 38-41) where God reveals His omnipotence and wisdom through the marvels of creation. These chapters serve to humble Job and remind him of God's vast, incomprehensible control over the universe, far beyond human understanding. Specifically, chapter 39 highlights several wild animals – the wild goat, the wild donkey, the wild ox, the ostrich, and the horse – contrasting their instincts and natures with human wisdom. The description of the warhorse (Job 39:19-25) emphasizes its divinely endowed power and bravery, designed specifically for battle. This account underscores that God, and not human military strength, is the ultimate arbiter of might and outcome. The vivid portrayal of the horse’s fearlessness in the face of mortal peril underscores the unfathomable depth of divine wisdom and intention in every detail of creation.

Job 39 22 Word analysis

• He mocks at fear:
  • Hebrew: יִשְׂחַק לְפַחַד (yis-ḥaq lə-phaḥaḏ).
  • יִשְׂחַק (yis-ḥaq): From ṣaḥaq, meaning "to laugh," "to play," but here conveying "to scoff," "to disdain," or "to defy." The warhorse exhibits an instinctive, complete disregard for fear, almost playful in its contempt for danger. This highlights an absolute fearlessness, not mere courage, but a total absence of terror. It is not learned bravado, but an innate characteristic, a marvel of God's design.
  • לְפַחַד (lə-phaḥaḏ): "at fear," or "in the face of dread." Phaḥaḏ implies deep terror, that which causes trembling. The horse's reaction isn't just lack of fear but an active spurning of it. This innate quality showcases God's incredible diversity in bestowing attributes, even within the animal kingdom.
• and is not dismayed:
  • Hebrew: וְלֹא יֵחָת (wə-lō ye-ḥāt).
  • יֵחָת (ye-ḥāt): From ḥātat, meaning "to be broken," "to be terrified," "to be confounded." This implies an unshakable spirit, untouched by panic or confusion in chaotic conditions. It further accentuates its natural fortitude given by its Creator, standing in stark contrast to human vulnerability.
• He does not turn back:
  • Hebrew: וְלֹא יָשׁוּב (wə-lō yā-šūḇ).
  • יָשׁוּב (yā-šūḇ): From shūḇ, "to return," "to turn around." This signifies a relentless forward momentum, an unwavering charge into conflict. It's a vivid picture of its intended purpose as an instrument of war, genetically wired for the frontal assault.
• from the sword:
  • Hebrew: מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב (mi-pə-nê ḥe-reḇ).
  • מִפְּנֵי (mi-pə-nê): Literally "from the face of," or "from the presence of." This preposition enhances the imagery, indicating that even when directly confronting lethal weapons and danger, the horse does not flinch or retreat.
  • חֶרֶב (ḥe-reḇ): "sword." Represents the instrument of death, the very epitome of battle danger. The horse's unyielding nature even in the direct path of such peril demonstrates its supernatural, divinely instilled, boldness.
• "He mocks at fear and is not dismayed": This phrase highlights a creature that defies natural self-preservation instincts when facing terror. Its courage isn't cultivated but bestowed, showing a facet of God's wisdom in shaping creation with specific purposes. This imagery also subtly functions as a polemic against human tendencies to rely on their own wisdom or power in the face of adversity, instead of the Almighty. The very instruments of human war are ultimately under divine design and control.
• "He does not turn back from the sword": This underscores the warhorse's absolute commitment to its charge, irrespective of lethal opposition. It speaks to divine purpose, where a creature acts consistently with the powerful instinct implanted by its Maker. This reflects the sovereignty of God, whose plan for creation, even for its destructive elements, is perfectly executed.

Job 39 22 Bonus section

• The passage reveals that God does not just create life, but also bestows specific, detailed attributes and instincts according to His purposes. This extends even to behaviors and responses in extreme situations like war.
• Ancient cultures, including Israel's neighbors, often venerated horses or attributed their power to various deities. By highlighting that Yahweh Himself "clothes" the horse with its strength and fearlessness (Job 39:19), the text subtly asserts God's sole authority over all natural forces and their inherent attributes, dismantling any idolatrous associations.
• The horse's contempt for danger and relentless forward motion, even "drinking up the battle," serves as a metaphor for spiritual fortitude against adversaries. Just as God gifts this physical strength and lack of dismay to a creature, He can similarly equip believers with boldness and courage in the face of spiritual or worldly opposition.

Job 39 22 Commentary

Job 39:22 is a profound testament to the intricate and diverse wisdom of God embedded within His creation. As part of God's answer to Job, this verse does not simply describe a horse, but utilizes the majestic and fearless warhorse to showcase God's absolute sovereignty and unmatched power. The horse's innate defiance of fear and its unwavering charge into the most perilous of circumstances — the battle and the sword — are presented not as admirable animal traits in themselves, but as direct evidence of a Creator who clothes it with such qualities. This highlights God’s meticulous design and control over instincts, far beyond Job's, or any human's, ability to comprehend or replicate. The creature's fearless nature implicitly contrasts with Job’s human limitations and fears, driving home the lesson that if God is so intimately involved in giving an animal such power, how much more is He in control of all things, including Job's suffering.