Job 39:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God asks whether the wild ox would ever consent to serve Job or stay beside his feeding trough.
What Does Job 39:9 Mean?
The speech turns to a great, powerful beast of the wild, a creature of immense strength the King James calls the unicorn. The Lord asks whether this animal would willingly serve Job or wait quietly at his manger like a tame ox.
The obvious answer is no. Job can domesticate cattle, but not this untamed power. The question exposes the limit of human dominion: there are strengths in creation that will not be yoked to our purposes. Yet the same wildness that defies Job is perfectly answerable to God, who alone commands what no person can. The Maker's lordship reaches where ours fails.
Job 39:9 in the Original Language
reem (רְאֵם), 'wild ox' -- a powerful untamed bovine, here a symbol of strength beyond human mastery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 39:9
What does Job 39:9 mean?
God asks whether the wild ox would ever consent to serve Job or stay beside his feeding trough.