Job 39:10 | KingComments | STEP | The next animal God asks Job about is “the wild ox” ( ), an enormously strong animal. This animal is mentioned several times as a symbol of strength ( ; ). God asks Job if that animal would want to serve him and if he could keep it as a pet. Job knows that this is impossible, because the wild ox is too strong to tame him. If he would let the animal spend the night in his manger next to the tame oxen, he would cause great devastation in his night lodging, because he would not let himself be tied up or locked up. The great strength of the wild ox makes him excellently suited to tie him with a rope before the plough in order to draw furrows over his land ( ). God asks if Job would be able to do this. There is some irony in this question. Besides ploughing, the wild ox can of course also pull the harrow. But what he can do when it comes to his strength, he doesn’t want to do. His whole nature rebels against it. That’s why Job cannot rely on him, no matter how great his strength is ( ). He cannot let him do any work. He does not have to rely on the strength of the wild ox to bring his seed from the field to his barns and thresh it ( ). The farmers do not benefit from the wild ox, but God wants him in His creation. This useless powerhouse was created by God to show His power. Just as the wild ox does not make his power available to man, so God’s power is not available to man at his command. If Job has no control over such creatures as the wild donkey and the wild ox to make them subservient to himself, how unsuitable is he then to rule the world or judge God’s actions.

‏ Job 39:10

The Wild Ox

The next animal God asks Job about is “the wild ox” (Job 39:9), an enormously strong animal. This animal is mentioned several times as a symbol of strength (Num 23:22 ; Num 24:8; Deu 33:17). God asks Job if that animal would want to serve him and if he could keep it as a pet. Job knows that this is impossible, because the wild ox is too strong to tame him. If he would let the animal spend the night in his manger next to the tame oxen, he would cause great devastation in his night lodging, because he would not let himself be tied up or locked up.

The great strength of the wild ox makes him excellently suited to tie him with a rope before the plough in order to draw furrows over his land (Job 39:10). God asks if Job would be able to do this. There is some irony in this question. Besides ploughing, the wild ox can of course also pull the harrow. But what he can do when it comes to his strength, he doesn’t want to do. His whole nature rebels against it. That’s why Job cannot rely on him, no matter how great his strength is (Job 39:11). He cannot let him do any work. He does not have to rely on the strength of the wild ox to bring his seed from the field to his barns and thresh it (Job 39:12).

The farmers do not benefit from the wild ox, but God wants him in His creation. This useless powerhouse was created by God to show His power. Just as the wild ox does not make his power available to man, so God’s power is not available to man at his command. If Job has no control over such creatures as the wild donkey and the wild ox to make them subservient to himself, how unsuitable is he then to rule the world or judge God’s actions.