“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The questions aren't really about knowing the exact moment, but about whether you grasp the intricate, divinely orchestrated providence involved in the survival of these wild, inaccessible creatures during their most vulnerable times. It highlights that God's care extends far beyond what humans can observe or control, even in the most remote corners of creation.
“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does?
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a lengthy debate where Job has been challenging God, the Lord begins to answer by showcasing His immense power and wisdom through creation. God questions Job's understanding of the intricate details of animal life, starting with the wild goats and deer, emphasizing that even these creatures' reproductive cycles, often occurring in inaccessible places, are known and overseen by God, not by human knowledge or intervention.
When was the last time you worried about a wild animal giving birth? Probably never. Yet, God does.
In Job 39, God shifts His focus from the cosmos to the creatures. He asks Job if he knows the specifics of when wild goats and hinds give birth. This isn't about mere timing; it's about the intricate, divinely orchestrated care that surrounds these vulnerable moments.
Instinct, Not Intellect:
These wild animals aren't consulting calendars or seeking birthing classes. They operate on instinct, a direct download from their Creator. God has woven into their very being the knowledge of when and how to bring forth life, often in the most precarious and inaccessible places.
God's Providence in the Wild:
Think about it: mountain goats on steep cliffs, hinds in the open forest. They're exposed to predators, harsh weather, and the simple dangers of their environment. Yet, God's providence ensures they have the right instincts, the right timing, and even, as some ancient texts suggest, the right herbs to aid them in birth. This points to a Creator who is intimately involved, not just in the grand sweep of the universe, but in the granular details of every life He has made, wild or tame.
Ever felt like you know better than God? These questions from Job cut right to the heart of human arrogance.
God isn't just asking Job trivia questions; He's exposing the vast chasm between human understanding and divine knowledge. The wild goats and hinds live in remote, rugged places, far from human observation. Their birthing processes are mysteries to us, requiring specific knowledge that Job, or any human, simply doesn't possess.
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Beyond Human Scope:
God is pointing out that there are countless aspects of His creation – the intricate instincts of animals, their reproductive cycles, their survival strategies – that are beyond human comprehension. We can observe, yes, but to truly know the timing, the circumstances, and the divine oversight involved? That's God's domain.
The Arrogance of Ignorance:
By posing these questions, God isn't belittling Job, but rather humbling him. It's a gentle, yet firm, reminder that man's wisdom is finite, while God's is infinite. The attempt to fully grasp or question God's justice and ways is like trying to chart the birthing times of wild animals from a distance – ultimately futile without direct, divine revelation.
Understand the original words
ya'alah · Hebrew Noun
Referring to animals adapted to rugged, mountainous terrain, used in the Bible as a symbol of God's provision for creatures in inaccessible or difficult places.
'ayalah · Hebrew Noun
A female deer; in this context, it represents wildlife that exists and reproduces entirely outside of human control or intervention.
This Psalm describes the powerful voice of the Lord, and the commentary notes that this divine 'voice' is said to make the hinds calve, directly linking God's power to the mysterious timing of animal births.
Psalm 104:18This Psalm speaks of the high hills being a refuge for the wild goats, highlighting the specific, often inaccessible habitats of these animals that God cares for.
1 Samuel 24:2This passage mentions David hiding in the 'rocks of the wild goats,' showing that these animals, known for their refuge in high places, were a familiar image even in the wilderness where David sought refuge.
Matthew 6:26Jesus uses the example of birds of the air, which God feeds and to whom He pays attention, to teach about God's care for His followers, paralleling the divine attention given to wild creatures.
clarkeJob 39:1: "Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?"
Knowest thou the time - To know time, etc., only, was easy, and has nothing extraordinary in it; but the meaning of these questions is, to know the circumstances, which have something peculiarly expressive of God's providence, and make the questions proper in this place. Pliny observes, that the hind with young is by instinct directed to a certain herb, named seselis, which…
jfbJob 39:1: "Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?"
CHAPTER 39Job 39:1-30.1. Even wild beasts, cut off from all care of man, are cared for by God at their seasons of greatest need. Their instinct comes direct from God and guides them to help themselves in parturition; the very time when the herdsman is most anxious for his herds.wild goats—ibex (Ps 104:18; 1Sa 24:2).hinds—fawns; most timid and defenseless animals, yet cared…
The questions aren't really about knowing the exact moment, but about whether you grasp the intricate, divinely orchestrated providence involved in the survival of these wild, inaccessible creatures during their most vulnerable times. It highlights that God's care extends far beyond what humans can observe or control, even in the most remote corners of creation.
After a lengthy debate where Job has been challenging God, the Lord begins to answer by showcasing His immense power and wisdom through creation. God questions Job's understanding of the intricate details of animal life, starting with the wild goats and deer, emphasizing that even these creatures' reproductive cycles, often occurring in inaccessible places, are known and overseen by God, not by human knowledge or intervention.
After a lengthy debate where Job has been challenging God, the Lord begins to answer by showcasing His immense power and wisdom through creation. God questions Job's understanding of the intricate details of animal life, starting with the wild goats and deer, emphasizing that even these creatures' reproductive cycles, often occurring in inaccessible places, are known and overseen by God, not by human knowledge or intervention.
"“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does?" — The questions aren't really about knowing the exact moment, but about whether you grasp the intricate, divinely orchestrated providence involved in the survival of these wild, inaccessible creature…
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Last reviewed October 2026