Job 39:6
Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 6
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שַׂ֣מְתִּי
I have made
H7760
שַׂ֣מְתִּי
I have made
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
2 of 6
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עֲרָבָ֣ה
the wilderness
H6160
עֲרָבָ֣ה
the wilderness
Strong's:
H6160
Word #:
3 of 6
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea
בֵית֑וֹ
Whose house
H1004
בֵית֑וֹ
Whose house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 6
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
Psalms 107:34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.Job 24:5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.Jeremiah 17:6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.Jeremiah 2:24A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.Deuteronomy 29:23And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
Historical Context
Ancient peoples often viewed deserts as cursed or useless lands. God reveals these serve specific purposes—perfect habitats for certain creatures. This would expand understanding of divine wisdom and providence, showing God wastes nothing in His creation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's purposeful design of seemingly "barren" places encourage those in spiritual wilderness?
- What environments or seasons in your life seemed wasteful but may have been God's perfect design?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings." God gave wild asses the desert as their habitat—the aravah (עֲרָבָה, "wilderness/desert") and melachah (מְלֵחָה, "salt land/barren ground"). What humans consider wasteland, God designed as perfect habitat for these creatures. This reveals divine purpose in every environment. Nothing is truly wasteland in God's design; each ecosystem serves His purposes. The verse challenges human-centered value judgments about creation.