Job 39:5-8 | JFB | STEP | 5. wild ass-- Two different Hebrew words are here used for the same animal, "the ass of the woods" and "the wild ass." (See on ; ; ; and ). loosed the bands-- given its liberty to. Man can rob animals of freedom, but not, as God, give freedom, combined with subordination to fixed laws.

‏ Job 39:5-8

5. wild ass--Two different Hebrew words are here used for the same animal, "the ass of the woods" and "the wild ass." (See on Job 6:5; Job 11:12; Job 24:5; and Jr 2:24).

loosed the bands--given its liberty to. Man can rob animals of freedom, but not, as God, give freedom, combined with subordination to fixed laws.

6. barren--literally, "salt," that is, unfruitful. (So Psa 107:34, Margin.)

7. multitude--rather, "din"; he sets it at defiance, being far away from it in the freedom of the wilderness.

driver--who urges on the tame ass to work. The wild ass is the symbol of uncontrolled freedom in the East; even kings have, therefore, added its name to them.

8. The range--literally, "searching," "that which it finds by searching is his pasture."