Job 38 · Verse 39

Job 38:39

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Job 38:39, King James Version

Job 38:39 in other translations

BSBCan you hunt the prey for a lioness or satisfy the hunger of young lions
WEB“Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
ASVCanst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
YLTDost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
DARBYDost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
BBEDo you go after food for the she-lion, or get meat so that the young lions may have enough,
WebsterWilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

What does Job 38:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
39. At Job 38:39-39:30, the instincts of animals. Is it thou that givest it the instinct to hunt its prey? (Psa 104:21). appetite--literally, "life," which depends on the appetite" (Job 33:20).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? - Rather the lioness, or strong lion. Hast thou his instinct? Dost thou know the habits and haunts of such animals as he seeks for his food? Thou hast neither his strength, his instinct nor his cunning. In the best Hebrew Bibles, the thirty-ninth chapter begins with this verse, and begins properly, as a new subject now commences, relating to the natural history of the earth, or the animal kingdom; as the preceding chapter does to astronomy and meteorology.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 38:25-41

Hitherto God had put questions to Job to show him his ignorance; now God shows his weakness. As it is but little that he knows, he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels; it is but little he can do, therefore he ought not to oppose the ways of Providence. See the all-sufficiency of the Divine Providence; it has wherewithal to satisfy the desire of every living thing. And he that takes care of the young ravens…

Read the full comment on Job 38:25-41 →

Job 38:39 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הֲתָצ֣וּדha.ta.Tzud¿ will you huntH6679
לְלָבִ֣יאle.la.Vi'for a lionH3833
טָ֑רֶףTa.refpreyH2964
וְחַיַּ֖תve.chai.Yatand [the] life ofH2416
כְּפִירִ֣יםke.fi.Rimyoung lionsH3715
תְּמַלֵּֽא\׃te.ma.Le'will you fill?H4390

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 38:39

  • Psalms 104:21

    The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

  • Job 4:10-11

    The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

  • Psalms 34:10

    The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

  • Psalms 145:15-16

    The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Wilt.
4:10,11; Ps 34:10; 104:21; 145:15,16
appetite. Heb. life.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 38:38

    When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

  • Job 38:39

    Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

  • Job 38:40

    When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:39 in other languages

French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Est-ce toi qui chasses la proie pour la lionne, et qui rassasies l’appétit des lionceaux,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Erjagst du der Löwin den Raub, und stillst du die Gier der jungen Löwen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Numquid capies leænæ prædam, et animam catulorum ejus implebis,