Job 39:10
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Job 39:10
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Chapter Context
Job 39 is a wisdom dialogue chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of worship, fellowship, mercy. Written during the patriarchal period (literary composition later), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient wisdom traditions often wrestled with the problem of suffering and divine justice.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-30: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Job and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Job 39:10
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Analysis
"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.
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.
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?