The big picture
Job 39 opens in verse 1 with “Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.”, and closes in verse 30 with “Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.” Repeated or prominent terms include Canst, ones, wild, young, rock. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 30Job 39:1-8
1–8: Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or…
Job 39:1–8 opens with “Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the…” and reaches “The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 39 develops its own movement around Canst, ones, wild, young, rock, with particular weight carried by wild, canst, knowest.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Job 39:1-8
King James Version1Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
4Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
5Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
6Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
7He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
8The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
Job 39:9-16
9–16: Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
Job 39:9–16 opens with “Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?” and reaches “She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 39 develops its own movement around Canst, ones, wild, young, rock, with particular weight carried by labour, unicorn, wings.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 5 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Job 39:9-16
King James Version9Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
10Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
12Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
Job 39:17-24
17–24: Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her…
Job 39:17–24 opens with “Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.” and reaches “He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 39 develops its own movement around Canst, ones, wild, young, rock, with particular weight carried by horse, strength, affrighted.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Job 39:17-24
King James Version17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
18What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
19Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
20Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
21He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
22He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
24He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
Job 39:25-30
25–30: He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar…
Job 39:25–30 opens with “He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the…” and reaches “Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 39 develops its own movement around Canst, ones, wild, young, rock, with particular weight carried by afar, rock, abideth.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Job 39:25-30
King James Version25He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
28She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
29From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
30Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 39:1 begins with “Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?”
Where the chapter turns
Job 39:13 forms a natural hinge: “Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?”
The final note
Job 39:30 leaves the reader with “Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Canst, ones, wild, young, rock, strength help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What reasons does Joseph give for refusing?
He will not betray his master's trust or commit great wickedness against God.
What remains constant across house and prison?
The Lord's presence, explicitly repeated by the narrator, despite Joseph's changed circumstances.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.