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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Job 39:18

Verse Job 39:18. She lifteth up herself] When she raiseth up herself to run away. Proofs of the fleetness of this bird have already been given. It neither flies nor runs distinctly, but has a motion composed of both; and, using its wings as sails, makes great speed. So Claudian: -

Vasta velut Libyae venantum vocibus ales

Cum premitur, calidas cursu transmittit arenas,

Inque modum veli sinuatis flamine pennis

Pulverulenta volat.


"Xenophon says, Cyrus had horses that could overtake the goat and the wild ass; but none that could reach this creature. A thousand golden ducats, or a hundred camels, was the stated price of a horse that could equal their speed." - Dr. YOUNG.

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See also Job 39:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHAT TIME SHE LIFTETH UP HERSELF ON HIGH - In the previous verses reference had been made to the fact that in some important respects the ostrich was inferior to other animals, or had special laws in...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER S 38:39--39:30 _ 1. The beasts of prey (Job 38:39)_ 2. The wild goats, the ass, the unicorn and the ostrich (Job 39:1) 3. The horse, the hawk and the eagle (Job 39:19)...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Job 38:39 Ch. Job 39:30. The manifoldness of the Divine Mind as displayed in the world of animal life The instances chosen are the lion and the raven (Job 38:39); the wild goats and the hinds (ch....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The ostrich....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _lifteth up herself on high_ That is, in flight. The flying of the ostrich is properly a very swift running, in which she is helped by her outspread wings and tail. "Its speed has been calculated at t...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    GOODLY WINGS UNTO THE PEACOCKS— Bochart seems to have proved, beyond all dispute, that the word rendered _peacocks_ signifies _ostriches;_ and the following description entirely agrees with that opini...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. And of the animal world (Job 39:1, Job 40:2) TEXT 39:1-30 to Job 40:2 39 KNOWEST THOU THE TIME WHEN THE WILD GOATS OF THE ROCK BRING FORTH? _Or_ canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _WHAT TIME SHE LIFTETH UP HERSELF ON HIGH, SHE SCORNETH THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER._ Not withstanding her deficiences, she has distinguishing, excellences. LIFTETH ... HERSELF - for running: she cannot...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    LIFTETH UP HERSELF ON HIGH] RM 'rouseth herself up to flight.' SCORNETH THE HORSE] by outrunning him. Tristram puts the stride of an ostrich at full speed at from 22 to 28 ft. 19-25. The war-horse....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FIRST SPEECH OF THE ALMIGHTY (CONCLUDED) Chs. Job 38:39 and Job 38:39 depict the wonders of animate creation, and the instincts with which animals are gifted by the providence of God. In view of...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 39 GOD SPEAKS ABOUT BIRDS A...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    God did not teach the ostrich to be wise. But God did teach the ostrich to run. And the ostrich can even run faster than the horses in the battle. God taught the ostrich to run so that it could escape...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SHE LIFTETH UP HERSELF. — That is, either from the nest when she comes to maturity, or when she sets out to run. The ostrich has a habit of running in a curve, which alone enables horsemen to overtake...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כָּ֭ † עֵת בַּ † מָּרֹ֣ום תַּמְרִ֑יא...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XXVIII. THE RECONCILIATION Job 38:1 - Job 42:6 THE main argument of the address ascribed to the Almighty is contained in Chapter s 38 and 39 and in the opening verses of chapter 42. Job makes submis...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “KNOWEST THOU?” “CANST THOU?” Job 39:1 The series of questions is continued, and God asks more especially with respect to animated and organic nature. The wild goats, Job 39:1; the wild ass, Job 39:5...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    And still the unveiling goes forward: the mystery of the begetting and birth of lower animals, with the sorrows of travail, and the finding of strength; the freedom and wildness and splendid untameabl...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    What (l) time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. (l) When the young ostrich is grown up, he outruns the horse....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _High. With her head erect, the ostrich is taller than a man on horseback. (Pliny x. 1.) --- Its wings are used like sails, and enable it to run as fast as many birds can fly, (Calmet0 while it hurls...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (12) Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? (13) В¶ Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? (14) Which le...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 38 THROUGH 42. Jehovah then speaks, and addressing Job, carries on the subject. He makes Job sensible of his nothingness. Job confesses himself to be vile, an...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHAT TIME SHE LIFTED UP HERSELF ON HIGH,.... It is sometimes eight foot high l; when alarmed with approaching danger she raises up herself, being sitting on the ground, and erects her wings for flight...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider._ Ver. 18. _What time she lifteth up herself on high, &c._] That is, when she runneth away from the hunter (which she d...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _What time she lifteth up herself on high_ Or, as Dr. Shaw more properly renders this clause, _When she raiseth herself up to run away_, namely, from her pursuers. For which purpose she stretches out...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    What time she lifteth up herself on high, lifting herself to her full height with a lashing movement, SHE SCORNETH THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER, mocking them by the swiftness of her flight. The Lord now tu...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    V. 1. KNOWEST THOU THE TIME WHEN THE WILD GOATS OF THE ROCK BRING FORTH, their homes being on the rocks near the summits of the mountains? OR CANST THOU MARK WHEN THE HINDS DO CALVE, noting the travai...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE WILD GOATS AND THE DEER (vv.1-4) The Lord now turns Job's attention to animals not in the least aggressive, the wild goats and the deer. Indeed, rather than aggressive, they are elusive. Did Job...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SHE LIFTETH UP HERSELF ON HIGH, to flee from her pursuer; to which end she lifteth up her head and body, and spreads her wings. SHE SCORNETH THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER she despiseth them in regard of her...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 39:18 When H6256 lifts H4754 (H8686) high H4791 scorns H7832 (H8799) horse H5483 rider H7392 ...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: God's challenge to Job continued. CHARACTERS: God, Job. CONCLUSION: When we consider God's wonderful works in all nature about us, and see how wonderfully even the brute creatures are fitt...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 39:1. _The wild goat,_ on the Arabian rocks, leaps with incredible celerity from rock to rock, and leaves the dogs and wolves behind. She hides her young in those retreats. They follow the laws of...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 39:18 ROUSES HERSELF TO FLEE. The ostrich easily outruns the fearless warhorse. As it flees, the ostrich takes strides of over 15 feet (4.6 m) in length and reaches speeds of more than...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    NOTES Job 39:13. “_Gatest thou the goodly wings unto the peacock, or wings and feathers into the ostrich?_” (MARGIN: “The feathers of the stork and ostrich.”) The whole verse very variously rendered....

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 39:1 This chapter completes the survey of animate nature begun at Job 38:39. The habits and instincts of the wild goat, the wild ass, and wild cattle are first noticed (Job 38:1); then...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? can you mark when the hinds calve? Can you number the months that they fulfil? [Do you know how long their pregnancies are?] or do you...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Kings 19:21; Job 39:22; Job 39:7; Job 41:29; Job 5:22...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Lifteth — To flee from her pursuer: to which end she lifts up her head and body, and spreads her wings. Scorneth — She despises them thro' her swiftness; for though she cannot fly, yet by the aid of h...

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