Job 39 5

Job 39:5 kjv

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

Job 39:5 nkjv

"Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager,

Job 39:5 niv

"Who let the wild donkey go free? Who untied its ropes?

Job 39:5 esv

"Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

Job 39:5 nlt

"Who gives the wild donkey its freedom?
Who untied its ropes?

Job 39 verses

Job 39 5 Meaning

Job 39:5 presents a rhetorical question from God to Job, challenging him to acknowledge the ultimate source of untamed freedom in creation. It asserts that only the Creator has the power to grant wild animals their liberty and to ensure their natural, unrestrained existence, beyond human control or understanding. The verse highlights God's absolute sovereignty, extending even to the seemingly independent and wild aspects of His creation.

Job 39 5 Context

This verse is part of God's response to Job from the whirlwind, found in Job chapters 38-41. God systematically highlights His incomprehensible wisdom and boundless power over the natural world, particularly through questions about wild, untamable creatures. Job 39 specifically focuses on various wild animals like goats, deer, the wild donkey, wild ox, ostrich, horse, hawk, and eagle, using their intrinsic natures and behaviors—beyond human domestication or understanding—to illustrate God's ultimate sovereignty. Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern societies relied heavily on domesticated animals. The wild donkey (pere’, פֶּרֶא) stood in stark contrast to its domesticated counterpart (chamor, חֲמוֹר). Known for its fierce independence, speed, and untameable spirit, it roamed free in the desert. The rhetorical question here is not a polemic against specific beliefs but a direct assertion of God's unique power to bestow and maintain this wild freedom, something entirely outside human capability or comprehension, thereby demonstrating His unchallenged authority.

Job 39 5 Word analysis

• Who has sent out (מִ֤י שִׁלַּ֣ח / mî shillakh): "Who" emphasizes the sole agent, identifying the exclusive one capable of this act. "Sent out" (שָׁלַח / shālakh) means to release, dispatch, or allow to go free, signifying a deliberate, purposeful action. It speaks of divine command.
• the wild donkey (פֶּרֶא / pere'): This specific Hebrew term denotes the desert-dwelling, untamed ass, distinct from the common domestic donkey. It serves as a potent symbol of innate, unyielding freedom and independence. Its wild nature is its defining characteristic, not amenable to human control.
• free? (חָפְשִׁי֙ / chofshi): Literally meaning "at liberty" or "unrestricted." It highlights the absolute state of being unbound, especially in contrast to being enslaved or confined. Here, it underscores a freedom not granted by human design but inherent by divine decree.
• Or who has loosed (וּמִ֤י פִתַּח֙ / ūmî pittakh): Again, "who" reiterates the singularity of the doer. "Loosed" (פָּתַח / patach) means to unbind, unleash, or open, implying the removal of any physical or metaphorical restraints.
• the bonds (מוֹסְר֣וֹת / mosrot): Refers to ropes, harnesses, yokes, or any physical ties used for restraint or control. It signifies means by which something might be subjected or domesticated.
• of the wild donkey? (פָּרֶא / pere'): Repetition of the "wild donkey" reinforces the specific subject. The rhetorical question centers on this creature, universally recognized as resisting domestication, making the divine action even more striking.

Words-group analysis

• "Who has sent out... free? Or who has loosed the bonds...?" : The dual rhetorical questions powerfully reinforce God's exclusive authority and omniscience over creation. This phrasing directly challenges Job's (and humanity's) capacity to perform or even comprehend such a feat. It sharply contrasts human attempts at taming nature with God's sovereign decision to grant specific creatures inherent wildness and freedom. This illustrates that God's plan extends far beyond what is useful or controllable by mankind, showcasing His purposeful design even for that which appears chaotic to human eyes.

Job 39 5 Bonus section

This passage from Job, particularly chapter 39, serves as a significant theological statement challenging anthropocentrism. It illustrates that not all of creation exists for human utility, knowledge, or domestication. Some creatures, like the wild donkey, exist purely by God's design, maintained in their unique state of being outside of human control or direct benefit. Their purpose is derived from God's wisdom and pleasure, reminding humanity of their limited scope of influence and understanding in the grand scheme of creation. Furthermore, while the "wild donkey" in other biblical contexts might symbolize human stubbornness or apostasy (e.g., Jer 2:24), here, in Job 39:5, its freedom highlights God's power to give liberty and His absolute control over even that which appears beyond human command. It asserts that true freedom, whether of a creature or eventually of humanity from sin's bondage, ultimately flows from God's sovereign hand.

Job 39 5 Commentary

Job 39:5 profoundly establishes God's unique and absolute sovereignty over His creation. Through the image of the wild donkey, a creature celebrated for its untamable spirit and fierce independence from human efforts, God showcases His sole authority. This animal is free not by chance or human concession, but by divine decree. God alone "sent it out" into its boundless habitat and "loosed its bonds," ensuring its unhindered wildness. This underscores that while humans strive to subdue and harness nature for their own ends, there remains an essential realm of creation, sustained in its wildness, solely by God's will and wisdom. The verse implicitly corrects Job's human-centric view, redirecting his focus to a Creator who governs all things, visible and unseen, domesticated and wild, within His majestic purpose.

• Examples:
  • Like understanding that a roaring ocean maintains its raw power because God set its boundaries, this verse highlights the untamed creature's freedom as part of God's design.
  • Humanity builds zoos, but only God gave the cheetah its inherent speed and freedom in the open savanna.