Job 6:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Job argues that even animals do not cry out when they are content, so his own outcry signals real distress.
What Does Job 6:5 Mean?
Job turns to plain observation from the farm and the wild. A donkey grazing on good grass does not bray; an ox standing over its feed does not bellow. Animals complain only when something is wrong.
The point is gentle but pointed: his groaning is not idle ingratitude but the natural cry of genuine want. He asks his friends to read his lament the way one reads an animal's call, as evidence that something is truly lacking. God too hears such cries as honest signals of need, not as rebellion to be silenced.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 6:5
What does Job 6:5 mean?
Job argues that even animals do not cry out when they are content, so his own outcry signals real distress.