Job 39:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God asks whether Job gave the ostrich its splendid wings and feathers.
What Does Job 39:13 Mean?
The speech moves to a stranger creature, the ostrich, with its great beating wings and plumage that flashes as it runs. The Lord asks whether Job is the giver of such wings and feathers.
Again the answer must be no. Even an odd and seemingly foolish bird is dressed and equipped by its Maker, not by Job. God's creative care extends to creatures that puzzle us, that do not fit our notions of grace or sense. The reader is reminded that the Lord delights in a wild variety of life, fashioning each with His own hand, and that nothing He makes is beneath His attention.
Job 39:13 in the Original Language
renanim (רְנָנִים), 'ostrich' -- literally tied to a word for shrill crying, naming the bird by its piercing call.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 39:13
What does Job 39:13 mean?
God asks whether Job gave the ostrich its splendid wings and feathers.