Job 6 5

Job 6:5 kjv

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Job 6:5 nkjv

Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder?

Job 6:5 niv

Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?

Job 6:5 esv

Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?

Job 6:5 nlt

Don't I have a right to complain?
Don't wild donkeys bray when they find no grass,
and oxen bellow when they have no food?

Job 6 verses

Job 6 5 Meaning

Job 6:5 encapsulates Job’s defense of his bitter lament, presenting it as a natural, instinctual response to his immense suffering, similar to how animals only vocalize distress when they lack essential provisions. He implies his intense grief is not unwarranted but is rather a justified cry born out of extreme deprivation and pain, much like a hungry animal would not be content and silent.

Job 6 5 Context

Job 6:5 is part of Job’s passionate reply to Eliphaz, who, in chapters 4-5, has subtly accused Job of wickedness and urged him to confess his sin to receive divine favor. Job defends his deep despair and "impatient words" (Job 6:3) as a direct, inevitable outcome of his immense suffering, which he views as greater than the sands of the sea (Job 6:3). He uses vivid imagery and rhetorical questions drawn from the natural world to illustrate the normalcy of crying out when one is deprived and suffering. This verse challenges Eliphaz’s underlying assumption that Job's lamentations are gratuitous or sinful, instead asserting they are an appropriate response to an overwhelming, God-sent affliction that has stripped him of all comfort and prosperity. The verse uses a common understanding of animal behavior in ancient agricultural society to underscore the self-evident truth of his condition.

Job 6 5 Word analysis

• Does the wild donkey
  • "Does the...": The interrogative structure of the sentence sets up a rhetorical question, implying an obvious "No" answer, thereby strengthening Job's argument. It assumes shared knowledge of basic animal behavior.
  • "wild donkey" (Hebrew: pere, פֶּרֶא): Refers to a solitary, untamed animal known for its stubbornness, independence, and ability to survive in desolate, uncultivated areas. Unlike a domesticated donkey, it must forage for itself. Its very nature suggests it would only make noise if its inherent need for food was not met. This choice of animal highlights a raw, instinctual behavior driven by necessity.
• bray
  • (Hebrew: nehaq, נֶהַק): This verb specifically describes the loud, harsh cry of a donkey. It's a distinct sound of protest, complaint, or call, not a sign of contentment. Its use here reinforces the idea of vocalizing distress directly.
• when it has grass?
  • "when it has": Establishes a condition of possession or abundance.
  • "grass" (Hebrew: bitstah, בִּצָּה): Signifies ample pasture or verdant vegetation, implying sufficiency and satisfaction. The phrase creates a clear contrast: an animal with food is quiet and content. Job argues that his loud cries are evidence that he is without comfort and satisfaction.
• Or does the ox
  • "Or does the...": Continues the parallel rhetorical question, adding another example for emphasis.
  • "ox" (Hebrew: shor, שׁוֹר): Refers to a domesticated beast of burden, a common animal in agricultural life, which relies on its owner for provision. Its nature is one of steadiness and reliability when properly cared for.
• low
  • (Hebrew: ga'ah, גָּעַה): This verb describes the deep, resonant vocalization of cattle. Like "bray," it denotes a sound typically associated with seeking attention, a specific need, or sometimes, distress or loneliness, rather than contentment.
• over its fodder?
  • "over its": Again, signifies possession or a condition of abundance.
  • "fodder" (Hebrew: b'lil, בְּלִיל): Refers to mixed feed, prepared food for domesticated animals, indicating care, sustenance, and satiety. The implication is that a well-fed ox has no reason to bellow in protest or complaint.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass?": This first half uses the imagery of a self-sufficient, yet instinct-driven, wild animal. It argues that even the most unbridled creature only cries out when its fundamental need (food in this case) is not met. It draws a powerful parallel to Job's own deep need and lack of sustenance (comfort, justice, explanation).
• "Or does the ox low over its fodder?": The second half reinforces the point by shifting to a domesticated animal. The ox, cared for by humans and given prepared "fodder," symbolizes a state of comfort and provision. The rhetorical question here highlights that even a well-provided animal, which should be content, would not complain if its needs are met. Together, the two animal examples (wild and domesticated) comprehensively cover the principle that legitimate vocalizations of distress arise only from deprivation, not from satisfaction. Job is arguing that his own distress is of this legitimate, necessity-driven nature.

Job 6 5 Bonus section

The choice of animals in Job 6:5 (wild donkey and ox) adds layers of meaning. The wild donkey (pere) symbolizes unrestrained instinct, freedom, but also raw need in desolate places (Job 11:12; 39:5-8). Its cry is born of absolute, primal necessity. The ox (shor), conversely, is a domesticated animal, reliant on its provider. Its contentment or distress is directly tied to the care it receives. By referencing both, Job comprehensively illustrates that no creature, wild or domestic, protests or expresses suffering unless it truly lacks its fundamental sustenance or comfort. This strengthens his claim that his cries stem from an authentic, overwhelming state of deprivation and pain, not from any flaw in his character. The analogy humanizes his suffering by making it relatable to natural instincts that all can observe.

Job 6 5 Commentary

Job 6:5 serves as Job’s powerful rhetorical defense of his anguish. His friends, especially Eliphaz, view his bitter lament as excessive or even a sign of unconfessed sin. However, Job counters that his complaints are not capricious but as natural and legitimate as the cries of a starving animal. Just as a wild donkey only brays from hunger in a barren landscape, or a domestic ox lows when its feed is withheld, so too does Job only cry out because he is utterly devoid of comfort, peace, or understanding in his extreme suffering. His analogy speaks to a fundamental principle: true cries of distress are borne of true deprivation. Job asserts that his desperate state is the source of his profound words, making his "braying" and "lowing" entirely justifiable in the eyes of any who would understand the depths of his unmet need. He implies his friends would never accuse a well-fed animal of unprovoked noise; why then, accuse him, who has nothing but affliction, of unwarranted grief?