Job 38:41
Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights God's care not just for the raven itself, but specifically for its vulnerable young. It reveals that their "wandering for lack of food" is precisely when they "cry to God," underscoring His attentive provision even for creatures who seem most abandoned.
God has been displaying His power through His creation, from the vastness of the cosmos to the smallest details. Now, He turns His attention to the seemingly insignificant raven, highlighting how even this often-despised creature and its hungry young are completely dependent on divine care. This is part of God's grand argument to Job about His perfect sovereignty and profound care for all living things.
When we feel forgotten, what does it mean that God notices even the smallest creatures? Job 38 reveals a divine attentiveness that extends to the overlooked.
The Divine Provider
In Job 38, God challenges Job by pointing to His power and wisdom demonstrated throughout creation. One of the most striking examples is His care for the raven. These birds were often seen as unclean or unlucky, not the kind of creature you'd expect to be under divine protection. Yet, God specifically highlights how He provides for them.
Provision for the 'Contemptible'
Commentators note that ravens are often described as having voracious appetites and being generally neglected by humans. Their young, in particular, are sometimes thought to be quickly abandoned by their parents. Despite their low status, God hears their cries and provides for their needs. This isn't just about birds; it's a profound statement about God's universal providence.
What does it mean for a creature's cry to be directed towards God? This verse paints a picture of desperate need met by divine attention.
The Raven's Cry
The verse describes the young ravens crying out 'unto God' when they are hungry. This isn't necessarily a conscious theological appeal, but rather a raw, instinctual cry of distress. The point is that God hears these cries. He is attuned to the needs of His creation, even the urgent, desperate sounds of hungry fledglings.
Beyond Human Notice
Ravens, and especially their young, might be overlooked by people. They might be considered pests or creatures of ill omen. Yet, their desperate situation is not beneath God's notice. He responds to their need, ensuring they don't perish. This shows that divine care transcends human judgment and societal status.
Understand the original words
hîn · Hebrew Verb
The act of supplying, sustaining, or making available what is needed. In a biblical context, it highlights God’s sovereign care over all creation, ensuring that the needs of His creatures are met according to His will.
‘ōrēb · Hebrew Noun
A large, scavenging bird often associated with uncleanness in the Mosaic law, yet here used as a powerful example of God’s sovereign care for even the creatures considered lowly or common. Its presence underscores that God’s concern extends beyond humanity to the entire animal kingdom.
ṣēdāh · Hebrew Noun
A general term for meat, food, or sustenance acquired through hunting or foraging. It signifies the basic necessity of life that God supplies to creatures in the wild, affirming His role as the ultimate Provider.
This psalm directly echoes Job's question, asking who provides food for the wild animals and specifically mentions the young ravens, highlighting God's care for even the least of creatures.
Matthew 6:26Jesus uses the example of the ravens to teach about God's providential care, urging believers not to worry about their needs because they are of 'more value than many sparrows,' implying God's care for creation extends to His people.
Luke 12:24Similar to Matthew's teaching, Jesus points to the ravens as an example of God's abundant provision, contrasting their seemingly insignificant lives with the greater value of God's children.
1 Kings 17:4This passage shows God's direct intervention to provide for Elijah through ravens during a famine, illustrating His power and willingness to use unconventional means to sustain life, just as He does for the young ravens.
wesleyJob 38:41: "Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat."
38:41 Raven - Having mentioned the noblest of brute creatures, he now mentions one of the most contemptible; to shew the care of God's providence over all creatures, both great and small. Their young ones are so soon forsaken by their dams, that if God did not provide for them in a more than ordinary manner, they would be starved to death. And will he that provides for the young ra…
clarkeJob 38:41: "Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat."
Who provideth for the raven - This bird is chosen, perhaps, for his voracious appetite, and general hunger for prey, beyond most other fowls. He makes a continual cry, and the cry is that of hunger. He dares not frequent the habitations of men, as he is considered a bird of ill omen, and hated by all. This verse is finely paraphrased by Dr. Young: - "Fond man! the vision of a momen…
The verse highlights God's care not just for the raven itself, but specifically for its vulnerable young. It reveals that their "wandering for lack of food" is precisely when they "cry to God," underscoring His attentive provision even for creatures who seem most abandoned.
God has been displaying His power through His creation, from the vastness of the cosmos to the smallest details. Now, He turns His attention to the seemingly insignificant raven, highlighting how even this often-despised creature and its hungry young are completely dependent on divine care. This is part of God's grand argument to Job about His perfect sovereignty and profound care for all living things.
God has been displaying His power through His creation, from the vastness of the cosmos to the smallest details. Now, He turns His attention to the seemingly insignificant raven, highlighting how even this often-despised creature and its hungry young are completely dependent on divine care. This is part of God's grand argument to Job about His perfect sovereignty and profound care for living things.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Job 38:41 is available in the Sola app.
’ēl · Hebrew Noun
The Creator and Sustainer of all things, the supreme Judge and Sovereign of the universe. Calling upon Him in prayer or distress, even by the lower creatures, acknowledges His absolute authority and His active involvement in the lives of all beings.
’ōkel · Hebrew Noun
A state of physical deprivation resulting from the absence of sustenance. Biblically, this often serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the absolute dependence of all created things on the hand of the Creator for their ongoing existence.
"Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?" — The verse highlights God's care not just for the raven itself, but specifically for its vulnerable young. It reveals that their "wandering for lack of food" is precisely when they "cry to God," u…
