Job 39:10
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Original Language Analysis
הֲֽתִקְשָׁר
Canst thou bind
H7194
הֲֽתִקְשָׁר
Canst thou bind
Strong's:
H7194
Word #:
1 of 8
to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league)
עֲבֹת֑וֹ
with his band
H5688
עֲבֹת֑וֹ
with his band
Strong's:
H5688
Word #:
4 of 8
something intwined, i.e., a string, wreath or foliage
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
5 of 8
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
Historical Context
The reem (now extinct aurochs) was enormously powerful—far stronger than domesticated oxen. Ancient farmers would have coveted such power for agriculture. God's refusal to make it tamable taught that human benefit doesn't determine all creation's purposes. This humbled human pretensions to master nature.
Questions for Reflection
- What areas of life are you trying to "harness" that God may have designed to remain beyond your control?
- How does accepting God's design, even when it limits our purposes, demonstrate faith?
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Analysis & Commentary
"Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?" The "unicorn" (reem, רְאֵם, likely wild ox/aurochs) cannot be domesticated for plowing. The Hebrew emphasizes impossibility—no avot (rope) can bind it to furrows. God designed this powerful creature to remain wild despite its potential agricultural utility. This demonstrates that God's purposes for creation aren't limited to human use. Some things remain untamed by divine design, teaching humans to accept limits on their control.