Job 6 · Verse 5

Job 6:5

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Job 6:5, King James Version

Job 6:5 in other translations

BSBDoes a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
WEBDoes the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
ASVDoth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
YLTBrayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
DARBYDoth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
BBEDoes the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?
WebsterDoth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

What does Job 6:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. Neither wild animals, as the wild ass, nor tame, as the ox, are dissatisfied when well-supplied with food. The braying of the one and the lowing of the other prove distress and want of palatable food. So, Job argues, if he complains, it is not without cause; namely, his pains, which are, as it were, disgusting food, which God feeds him with (end of Job 6:7). But he should have remembered a rational being should evince a better spirit than the brute.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Doth the wild ass - פרא pere, translated onager, by the Vulgate, from the ονος αγριος of the Septuagint, which we properly enough, translate wild ass. It is the same with the tame ass; only in a wild state it grows to a larger size, is stronger, and more fleet. The meaning of Job appears to be this: You condemn me for complaining; do I complain without a cause? The wild ass will not bray, and the ox will not low, unless in want. If they have plenty of provender, they are silent. Were I at rest, at ease, and happy, I would not complain.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 6:1-7

Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition to outward troubles, the inward sense of God's wrath took away all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath of God is harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then did the Saviour endure in the garden and on the cross, when he bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine justice for us! Whatever burden of affliction…

Read the full comment on Job 6:1-7 →

Job 6:5 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.

הֲיִֽנְהַק\־ha.yin.hak-¿ does it brayH5101
פֶּ֥רֶאPe.re'a wild donkeyH6501
עֲלֵי\־'a.lei-onH5921
דֶ֑שֶׁאDe.she'grassH1877
אִ֥ם'imor?H518
יִגְעֶה\־yig.'e.ho-does it lowH1600
שּׁ֝֗וֹרShoran oxH7794
עַל\־'al-onH5921
בְּלִילֽוֹ\׃be.li.Lofodder itsH1098

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

Cross references for Job 6:5

  • Jeremiah 14:6

    And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.

  • Psalms 104:14

    He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

  • Joel 1:18-20

    How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. O Lord, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

  • Psalms 42:1

    To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when he hath grass. Heb. at grass.
Ps 104:14
loweth.
Ps 42:1; Jer 14:6; Joe 1:18-20

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

Context

  • Job 6:4

    For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

  • Job 6:5

    Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

  • Job 6:6

    Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Read all of Job 6

Job 6:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Acaso gime el asno montés junto á la hierba? ¿muge el buey junto á su pasto?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’âne sauvage brait-il auprès de l’herbe? Le bœuf mugit-il auprès de son fourrage?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Schreit ein Wildesel beim Grase, oder brüllt ein Rind bei seinem Futter?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Numquid rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam? aut mugiet bos cum ante præsepe plenum steterit?