Job 39:24 kjv
He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
Job 39:24 nkjv
He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
Job 39:24 niv
In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.
Job 39:24 esv
With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
Job 39:24 nlt
It paws the ground fiercely
and rushes forward into battle when the ram's horn blows.
Job 39 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 39:19-20 | "Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with majestic snorting?" | Immediate context; highlights divine source of horse's power and terrifying presence. |
| Job 39:21-23 | "He paws in the valley...goes out to meet the armed men. He mocks at fear..." | Describes the warhorse's eager readiness, boldness, and contempt for danger in battle. |
| Psa 33:17 | "A horse is a vain hope for deliverance..." | Emphasizes that despite horse's power, ultimate salvation comes from God, not military might. |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is prepared for the day of battle..." | Acknowledges the practical use of horses in warfare, but true victory is from the Lord. |
| Isa 5:28 | "Their horses’ hooves seem like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind." | Depicts invading armies' swift, destructive horses, mirroring the power shown in Job. |
| Jer 4:13 | "His chariots are like the whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles..." | Illustrates overwhelming and rapid military invasion, showcasing equine speed and force. |
| Jer 4:19 | "Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain!...because of the sound of the trumpet..." | Sound of trumpet signifies impending destruction and calls to mind battle warnings. |
| Hos 8:1 | "Set the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle he swoops down on the house of the Lord..." | Trumpet signifies alarm or judgment, used to warn of sudden danger or divine wrath. |
| Joel 2:1 | "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!" | Trumpet as a divine summons to attention or a warning of impending day of the Lord. |
| Joel 2:4-5 | "Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run...like a sound of chariots..." | Uses the power and sound of warhorses to describe a devastating, numerous invading force. |
| Hab 1:6-8 | "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans...horses are swifter than leopards; fiercer than evening wolves." | Describes a powerful, fearsome, and swift conquering army, highlighting horse capabilities. |
| Zep 1:16 | "A day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high battlements." | Trumpet as a signal for the day of the Lord's wrath and military judgment against enemies. |
| Rev 6:2 | "And behold, a white horse! Its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer." | First of the four apocalyptic horses, symbolizing relentless conquest and divine judgment. |
| Rev 6:4 | "And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth..." | Second apocalyptic horse, symbolizing intense warfare, bloodshed, and strife. |
| Rev 6:5 | "When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come!' And behold, a black horse!..." | Third apocalyptic horse, symbolizing famine and economic hardship due to war. |
| Rev 6:8 | "And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! Its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him." | Fourth apocalyptic horse, embodying widespread death and destruction following conflict. |
| Rev 19:11-14 | "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True..." | Christ's return on a white horse, symbolizing His righteous warfare and ultimate victory. |
| Num 23:24 | "...it does not lie down until it devours the prey..." | Figurative "devouring" or "swallowing" refers to consuming enemies or territories in conquest. |
| Isa 59:17 | "He put on righteousness as a breastplate...and the cloak of vengeance as zeal." | God's own "fierceness and rage" (zeal and vengeance) in action, though righteous. |
| Nah 2:3-4 | "The chariots flash with steel...charge madly in the streets; they rush to and fro in the squares..." | Describes the intense, frenzied action of war chariots in battle, much like the warhorse. |
| Psa 147:10-11 | "His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor His pleasure in the legs of a man..." | Highlights God's perspective: human/animal strength alone is not what pleases Him; fearing Him does. |
| Job 40:8 | "Will you even annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?" | God challenges Job, emphasizing the limitations of human understanding and power compared to Him. |
Job 39 verses
Job 39 24 Meaning
Job 39:24 paints a vivid portrait of the warhorse's consuming passion for battle. It describes the horse's ferocity and uncontrollable urge to rush into conflict, metaphorically "swallowing" the distance with immense speed and power, driven by an innate eagerness. This intensity is so profound that the horse completely disregards or fails to acknowledge the sound of the trumpet, a signal meant to direct its movements in warfare, demonstrating its inherent, untamed spirit and unyielding focus on the impending combat.
Job 39 24 Context
Job 39:24 is part of God's direct discourse to Job, beginning in chapter 38 and continuing through chapter 41. In this extended speech, God challenges Job's perception of His governance and wisdom by detailing His control over various aspects of the natural world and diverse creatures, many of which are beyond human comprehension or domestication. God confronts Job not with accusations but with an overwhelming display of divine power and intricate knowledge of creation. The description of the warhorse (Job 39:19-25) is a prime example within this segment, serving to illustrate the majestic and wild aspects of God's creation that humble humanity. The horse's innate power, courage, and untamed battle lust serve to contrast sharply with Job's limited perspective, revealing that God's ways and the complexity of His world are far grander than Job could grasp.
Job 39 24 Word analysis
- He swallows: (Hebrew: bəḡāmaʿ). To gulp down, to absorb quickly and forcefully. This word depicts an aggressive, rapid motion, as if the horse devours the ground with its swift charge. It conveys overwhelming momentum.
- the ground: (Hebrew: ’erets). Refers to the physical earth, terrain. The phrase "swallows the ground" implies that its speed is so immense, it covers or consumes vast distances quickly, reflecting its boundless energy in pursuit.
- in fierceness: (Hebrew: bəraʿaš). With trembling, agitation, or commotion. This signifies the horse's internal intense excitement and eager shaking for battle, a vibrating intensity. It points to a deep, visceral agitation and enthusiasm.
- and rage: (Hebrew: bəḥēmāh). Heat, burning anger, wrath, fury. This word strengthens the depiction of inner intensity, suggesting a powerful, almost uncontrollable passion for the fight. It's an overwhelming, hot emotion driving its charge.
- and he does not believe: (Hebrew: ya’amîn). To be firm, to trust, to believe, to affirm. In this context, it means the horse does not acknowledge, regard, or pay attention to the trumpet's call. It's not a theological lack of faith, but a physical and instinctual disregard due to overpowering battle-focus.
- that it is the sound: (Hebrew: qôl). Voice, noise, sound. Refers to the audible vibration produced by the trumpet. The horse is oblivious to this specific sensory input.
- of the trumpet: (Hebrew: šôpār). A ram's horn or horn trumpet. This was the primary ancient military signaling instrument for commands like charging or retreating. The horse's failure to "believe" its sound signifies its profound immersion in battle beyond normal commands.
Words-group analysis
- He swallows the ground in fierceness and rage: This phrase portrays a creature utterly consumed by its internal drive for war. The aggressive verb "swallows" combined with the strong emotions of "fierceness and rage" illustrates an unstoppable, headlong rush, emphasizing the horse's formidable spirit and unyielding will. It's a testament to its inherent power, not just its training.
- and he does not believe that it is the sound of the trumpet: This group of words powerfully conveys the warhorse's absolute absorption in its objective. It signifies that the horse is so profoundly driven by its instinctual battle-lust that even the specific, intended, guiding signals of its human master—the trumpet call—become irrelevant or simply go unheeded. It prioritizes its internal, divinely-instilled drive over external control, highlighting its wild, unconquerable nature.
Job 39 24 Bonus section
- The description of the warhorse in Job 39 directly serves God's purpose of humbling Job by displaying divine omnipotence and omnicompetence in creation. It's a reminder that God governs the untamed as well as the tame, and His plans and works are often beyond human comprehension.
- The Hebrew šôpār (trumpet) was used not just for battle but also for religious assemblies and to announce God's presence or judgment. The horse's indifference to its sound ironically underscores its purely instinctual, "wild" purpose assigned by God, separate from human systems of order or even sacred signals.
- This passage highlights the divine imprint even on creatures seemingly violent or unmanageable, showing God's wisdom in creating diversity and powerful natural forces. It suggests that even the most "wild" elements of creation serve a purpose within God's grand design, echoing the principle that all creation ultimately testifies to its Creator's glory.
Job 39 24 Commentary
Job 39:24 is a majestic portrayal of the warhorse, showcasing it not merely as an animal, but as a masterpiece of divine design, imbued with incredible power and an untamable spirit for battle. God describes this creature as literally "consuming" or devouring the ground beneath it in its frenzied eagerness, a powerful metaphor for its astonishing speed and momentum. The addition of "fierceness and rage" clarifies that this is no mere charge, but one fueled by intense, almost volcanic passion. Crucially, the verse notes its disregard for the "sound of the trumpet." This detail elevates the horse's depiction from simply fast or strong to one utterly consumed by its intrinsic purpose. It is so singularly focused on the combat that the very signal meant to control or guide it holds no sway. This passage underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation, revealing a creature whose very nature and profound instincts testify to a wisdom and power far beyond human grasp or complete domestication. It humbles Job by illustrating God's capacity to design and sustain life with an untamed grandeur that Job could never control or fully comprehend.