The Meaning of Job 38:39 Explained

Job 38:39

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

YLT: Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?

Darby: Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

ASV: Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Job 38:39 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 38:19-41 - What Man Cannot Do
In this chapter a number of nature-pictures pass before us. These include the creation of the earth, Job 38:4-7; the sea, Job 38:8-11; light, Job 38:12-15; the mysteries of the unseen, Job 38:16-18; snow and rain, Job 38:22-30; the constellations of heaven, Job 38:31-38; and the recesses of the forest-glades, Job 38:39-41.
What does it all mean? Ah! there are times when the voice of God through nature falls on our hearts like sweet music, and we hardly know whence or how, but we are comforted and strengthened. The peace passes understanding. Besides, the frequent question, Hast thou? was intended to turn Job's attention to the great mysteries contained in common and ordinary things. If he could not unravel these, how could he hope to fathom all the wonderful dealings of God with the human soul? His ways are above ours and His thoughts higher than ours; but we are sure from Calvary that He is love. Let us quiet ourselves, therefore, and trust. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 38

1  God challenges Job to answer
4  God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance
31  and weakness

What do the individual words in Job 38:39 mean?

can you hunt for the lion the prey Or the appetite of the young lions satisfy
הֲתָצ֣וּד ؟ לְלָבִ֣יא טָ֑רֶף וְחַיַּ֖ת כְּפִירִ֣ים תְּמַלֵּֽא

הֲתָצ֣וּד  can  you  hunt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: צוּד 
Sense: to hunt.
؟ לְלָבִ֣יא  for  the  lion 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶבֶא 
Sense: lion.
טָ֑רֶף  the  prey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טֶרֶף  
Sense: prey, food, leaf.
וְחַיַּ֖ת  Or  the  appetite 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
כְּפִירִ֣ים  of  the  young  lions 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּפִיר 
Sense: young lion.
תְּמַלֵּֽא  satisfy 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.

What are the major concepts related to Job 38:39?

Loading Information...