God’s mysterious sovereignty over all creation lies beyond human comprehension.
In this passage, the Lord describes one of His many amazing creations, the ostrich, to teach Job about His infinite power and wisdom. The verse says, “She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned” (Job 39:16). Earlier, God poses a series of questions to Job, showing that only the Creator truly understands and governs the complexities of nature. By highlighting the ostrich’s peculiar behavior, the Lord reminds Job that divine providence extends to every creature—even those whose actions seem strange or uncaring by human standards.
The ostrich, named “ya’anāh” in Hebrew, is a large bird capable of living in arid regions for extended periods without water. It lives “in the desert and sandy places,” adapting to harsh conditions that few other creatures can endure. In Job’s time (around 2000-1800 BC, during the era of the patriarchs), such an animal would have been a striking example of God’s unmatched design. Yet, as this verse indicates, the ostrich appears indifferent to its own offspring, leaving them vulnerable. God uses this reality to illustrate His point that His own oversight and knowledge exceed any human attempt to comprehend or judge His ways.
“Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned” (Job 39:16) portrays a level of detachment that stands in stark contrast to the care one would expect from a mother. However, the Lord’s ultimate lesson here is not about the ostrich alone, but about trusting that He rules over even life’s most perplexing mysteries. Where the ostrich’s negligence seems cruel, it still fits into the unfolding tapestry of God’s creation, reminding Job—and us—that God’s ways are beyond our complete understanding.
Set to dark mode
Job 39:16 meaning
In this passage, the Lord describes one of His many amazing creations, the ostrich, to teach Job about His infinite power and wisdom. The verse says, “She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned” (Job 39:16). Earlier, God poses a series of questions to Job, showing that only the Creator truly understands and governs the complexities of nature. By highlighting the ostrich’s peculiar behavior, the Lord reminds Job that divine providence extends to every creature—even those whose actions seem strange or uncaring by human standards.
The ostrich, named “ya’anāh” in Hebrew, is a large bird capable of living in arid regions for extended periods without water. It lives “in the desert and sandy places,” adapting to harsh conditions that few other creatures can endure. In Job’s time (around 2000-1800 BC, during the era of the patriarchs), such an animal would have been a striking example of God’s unmatched design. Yet, as this verse indicates, the ostrich appears indifferent to its own offspring, leaving them vulnerable. God uses this reality to illustrate His point that His own oversight and knowledge exceed any human attempt to comprehend or judge His ways.
“Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned” (Job 39:16) portrays a level of detachment that stands in stark contrast to the care one would expect from a mother. However, the Lord’s ultimate lesson here is not about the ostrich alone, but about trusting that He rules over even life’s most perplexing mysteries. Where the ostrich’s negligence seems cruel, it still fits into the unfolding tapestry of God’s creation, reminding Job—and us—that God’s ways are beyond our complete understanding.