CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 39:16 She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/39-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/18_Job_39_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 39:16 - God Speaks of His Creation" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/job/39-16.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/job/39-16.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/job/">Job</a> > <a href="/job/39.htm">Chapter 39</a> > Verse 16</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/39-15.htm" title="Job 39:15">◄</a> Job 39:16 <a href="/job/39-17.htm" title="Job 39:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/39.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/39.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/39.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />She is harsh toward her young, as if they were not her own. She doesn’t care if they die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/39.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/39.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/39.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />She is hardened against her young ones, as though <i>they were</i> not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/39.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />She treats her young harshly, as though <i>they were</i> not hers; Her labor is in vain, without concern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/39.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“She treats her young cruelly, as if <i>they</i> were not hers; Though her labor is for nothing, <i>she</i> is unconcerned,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/39.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/39.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“She treats her young cruelly, as if <i>they</i> were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, <i>she</i> is unconcerned;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/39.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />She treats her children cruelly, as if <i>they</i> were not hers; Though her labor be empty, <i>she</i> is without dread,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/39.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor is in vain because she is unconcerned [for the safety of her brood],<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/39.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />She treats her young harshly, as if they were not her own, with no fear that her labor may have been in vain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/39.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />She treats her young harshly, as if they were not her own, with no fear that her labor may have been in vain. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/39.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, she is without fear;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/39.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />She treats her eggs as though they were not her own, unconcerned that her work might be for nothing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/39.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />She is hardened against her young ones, as if they were not hers: though her labour be in vain, she is without fear;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/39.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />It acts harshly toward its young as if they weren't its own. It is not afraid that its work is for nothing<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/39.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />She acts as if the eggs were not hers, and is unconcerned that her efforts were wasted. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/39.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />She mistreats her young as though they're not hers, and she has no fear that her labor may be in vain,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/39.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/39.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />She is harsh with her young, as if they were not hers; she is unconcerned about the uselessness of her labor. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/39.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/39.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/39.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/39.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />It has hardened her young ones without her, "" Her labor [is] in vain, without fear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/39.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Her young ones it hath hardened without her, In vain is her labour without fear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/39.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />She made hard to her sons as not to her: her labor in vain without fear;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/39.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers, she hath laboured in vain, no fear constraining her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/39.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />She is hardened against her young, as if they were not hers; she has labored in vain, with no fear compelling her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/39.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />She cruelly disowns her young and her labor is useless; she has no fear. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/39.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />It deals cruelly with its young, as if they were not its own; though its labor should be in vain, yet it has no fear;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/39.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />She multiplies her young ones, though they do not stay with her; although her labor is in vain, she has no fear:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/39.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />She has multiplied children that are not with her, and she has labored uselessly without fear<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/39.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />She is hardened against her young ones, as if they were not hers; Though her labour be in vain, she is without fear;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/39.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />She has hardened <i>herself</i> against her young ones, as though <i>she bereaved</i> not herself: she labours in vain without fear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/39-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=6172" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/39.htm">God Speaks of His Creation</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">15</span>She forgets that a foot may crush them, or a wild animal may trample them. <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·ne·hā (N-mpc:: 3fs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">She treats her young</a> <a href="/hebrew/7188.htm" title="7188: hiq·šî·aḥ (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To make hard, treat roughly. A primitive root; to be unfeeling.">harshly,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lə·lō- (Prep-l:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">as if not</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">her own,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1097.htm" title="1097: bə·lî- (Adv) -- From balah; properly, failure, i.e. Nothing or destruction; usually without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc.">with no</a> <a href="/hebrew/6343.htm" title="6343: p̄ā·ḥaḏ (N-ms) -- Dread. From pachad; a alarm.">concern</a> <a href="/hebrew/3018.htm" title="3018: yə·ḡî·‘āh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- Toil, product. From yaga'; toil; hence, a work, produce, property.">that her labor</a> <a href="/hebrew/7385.htm" title="7385: lə·rîq (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Emptiness, a worthless thing, in vain. From ruwq; emptiness; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain.">was in vain.</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/147-9.htm">Psalm 147:9</a></span><br />He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/49-15.htm">Isaiah 49:15</a></span><br />“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/4-3.htm">Lamentations 4:3</a></span><br />Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-8.htm">Hosea 13:8</a></span><br />Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-11.htm">Deuteronomy 32:11</a></span><br />As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them and carried them on His pinions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-26.htm">Matthew 6:26</a></span><br />Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-24.htm">Luke 12:24</a></span><br />Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-29.htm">Matthew 10:29-31</a></span><br />Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. / So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/30-18.htm">Proverbs 30:18-19</a></span><br />There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand: / the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Genesis 1:21</a></span><br />So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/8-17.htm">Genesis 8:17</a></span><br />Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, and everything that crawls upon the ground—so that they can spread out over the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/9-10.htm">Genesis 9:10</a></span><br />and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth—every living thing that came out of the ark.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-17.htm">Psalm 104:17</a></span><br />where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-21.htm">Psalm 104:21</a></span><br />The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-27.htm">Psalm 104:27-28</a></span><br />All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season. / When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labor is in vain without fear;</p><p class="hdg">hardened</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/4-3.htm">Lamentations 4:3</a></b></br> Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people <i>is become</i> cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.</p><p class="hdg">as</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/28-56.htm">Deuteronomy 28:56,57</a></b></br> The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/3-26.htm">1 Kings 3:26,27</a></b></br> Then spake the woman whose the living child <i>was</i> unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, <i>but</i> divide <i>it</i>… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28,29</a></b></br> And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow… </p><p class="hdg">her labour</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/10-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 10:15</a></b></br> The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/habakkuk/2-13.htm">Habakkuk 2:13</a></b></br> Behold, <i>is it</i> not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/11-12.htm">Cares</a> <a href="/job/19-4.htm">Concern</a> <a href="/job/35-9.htm">Cruel</a> <a href="/2_kings/13-4.htm">Cruelly</a> <a href="/job/15-11.htm">Dealeth</a> <a href="/job/15-11.htm">Deals</a> <a href="/job/37-24.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/job/9-4.htm">Hardened</a> <a href="/job/19-3.htm">Hardly</a> <a href="/job/19-3.htm">Harshly</a> <a href="/2_kings/8-6.htm">Hers</a> <a href="/job/39-3.htm">Labor</a> <a href="/job/39-13.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/job/38-2.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-7.htm">Treats</a> <a href="/job/35-16.htm">Vain</a> <a href="/job/39-11.htm">Work</a> <a href="/job/39-4.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/55-22.htm">Cares</a> <a href="/psalms/131-1.htm">Concern</a> <a href="/job/41-10.htm">Cruel</a> <a href="/ezekiel/18-18.htm">Cruelly</a> <a href="/psalms/31-23.htm">Dealeth</a> <a href="/psalms/37-26.htm">Deals</a> <a href="/job/39-21.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-13.htm">Hardened</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-21.htm">Hardly</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-23.htm">Harshly</a> <a href="/proverbs/14-1.htm">Hers</a> <a href="/psalms/48-6.htm">Labor</a> <a href="/job/39-30.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/job/42-2.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/job/41-27.htm">Treats</a> <a href="/job/41-9.htm">Vain</a> <a href="/psalms/8-3.htm">Work</a> <a href="/job/39-30.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Job 39</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/39-1.htm">Of the wild goats and hinds</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/39-5.htm">Of the wild donkey</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/39-9.htm">The unicorn</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/39-13.htm">The peacock, stork, and ostrich</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/39-19.htm">The horse</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/39-26.htm">The hawk</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/39-27.htm">The eagle</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/job/39.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>She treats her young harshly</b><br />This phrase refers to the ostrich, a creature God describes in His discourse to Job. The Hebrew word for "harshly" is "ʿāzab," which can mean to forsake or abandon. In the context of the ostrich, it highlights the seemingly indifferent nature of the bird towards its offspring. This behavior contrasts with the typical nurturing instincts seen in other animals, emphasizing the unique and sometimes incomprehensible ways of God's creation. The ostrich's behavior serves as a metaphor for the mysterious and often unfathomable aspects of God's wisdom and design, reminding us that His ways are higher than our ways (<a href="/isaiah/55-9.htm">Isaiah 55:9</a>).<p><b>as if not her own</b><br />The phrase underscores the apparent detachment of the ostrich from her young. In the Hebrew context, this reflects a lack of ownership or responsibility, which is unusual in the animal kingdom. This imagery serves to illustrate the broader theme of the Book of Job: the inscrutability of God's creation and the divine wisdom that governs it. It challenges human assumptions about care and responsibility, inviting believers to trust in God's sovereign plan, even when it defies human logic or understanding.<p><b>with no concern</b><br />The Hebrew word "lāʾ" conveys a sense of negation or absence, in this case, the absence of concern or worry. This highlights the ostrich's lack of anxiety over her offspring's fate. In a broader theological context, it can be seen as a reflection of God's peace and assurance, where worry is unnecessary because of His ultimate control and provision. For believers, this can be an encouragement to cast their anxieties on God, knowing He cares for them (<a href="/1_peter/5-7.htm">1 Peter 5:7</a>).<p><b>that her labor was in vain</b><br />The phrase "in vain" translates from the Hebrew "ḥinnām," meaning without cause or for nothing. This suggests that the ostrich's efforts in laying eggs and nurturing are seemingly futile. However, this futility is only apparent from a human perspective. In the divine order, nothing is truly in vain, as God orchestrates all things for His purposes. This serves as a reminder to believers that their labor in the Lord is not in vain (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-58.htm">1 Corinthians 15:58</a>), even when immediate results are not visible.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/39.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers.</span> This is a deduction from what has preceded, and discloses no new fact. Recent careful observation of the habits of the ostrich indicates that the parental instinct is not wanting, though it may be weaker than in most birds. Both the male and the female incubate at night, and, when the nest is approached by the hunter, the parent bird or birds will leave it, and try to draw him away from it by running on in front of him, or feigning to attack him, much as peewits do in our own country. <span class="cmt_word">Her labour is in vain without fear</span>; or, <span class="accented">though her labour is in vain</span>, <span class="accented">she is without fear</span> (see the Revised Version); <span class="accented">i.e.</span> though she is often disappointed of her immediate hope of offspring, through her eggs being crushed and destroyed, yet she grows no wiser, she does not fear for the future. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/39-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">She treats her young</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנֶ֣יהָ</span> <span class="translit">(bā·ne·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">harshly,</span><br /><span class="heb">הִקְשִׁ֣יחַ</span> <span class="translit">(hiq·šî·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7188.htm">Strong's 7188: </a> </span><span class="str2">To make hard, treat roughly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as if not</span><br /><span class="heb">לְּלֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lə·lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her own,</span><br /><span class="heb">לָ֑הּ</span> <span class="translit">(lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">with no</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּלִי־</span> <span class="translit">(bə·lî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1097.htm">Strong's 1097: </a> </span><span class="str2">Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as</span><br /><br /><span class="word">concern</span><br /><span class="heb">פָֽחַד׃</span> <span class="translit">(p̄ā·ḥaḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6343.htm">Strong's 6343: </a> </span><span class="str2">A, alarm</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that her labor</span><br /><span class="heb">יְגִיעָ֣הּ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·ḡî·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3018.htm">Strong's 3018: </a> </span><span class="str2">Toil, a work, produce, property</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was in vain.</span><br /><span class="heb">לְרִ֖יק</span> <span class="translit">(lə·rîq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7385.htm">Strong's 7385: </a> </span><span class="str2">Emptiness, a worthless thing, in vain</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/39-16.htm">Job 39:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/39-16.htm">OT Poetry: Job 39:16 She deals harshly with her young ones (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/39-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 39:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 39:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/39-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 39:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 39:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>