God's questions aren't about whether Job can know the timing, but about whether he observes and cares for these wild creatures when they're most vulnerable. The point isn't just knowing facts, but recognizing the divine providence that sustains even the most elusive animals in their most critical moments.
“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young? Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; they go out and do not return to them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has just described His incredible power in creation, and now He turns to specific wild animals, asking Job if he truly understands the intricate details of their lives, like the precise timing and circumstances of births for mountain goats and does. These are creatures living far beyond human reach and control, highlighting that even in the wild, God's providential care is at work.
Have you ever tried to track a wild animal, to understand its every move? You might be surprised how little we truly know.
The Lord begins his profound response to Job by asking a series of questions about the natural world. Notice how these aren't simple trivia questions. God asks Job if he knows when the wild goats give birth or when the does calve.
This isn't about knowing the general seasons; it's about possessing the intimate, detailed knowledge of the 'when' and 'how' of their births. These are animals living in remote, inaccessible places – high cliffs, rocky terrains. Humans can't easily observe them, let alone track the precise timing of their most vulnerable moments.
God's questions highlight the vast gap between human observation and divine omniscience. While we might observe patterns, God knows the exact moment, the specific circumstances, and the intricate details of every wild creature's life.
Even the most elusive and untamed creatures have their needs met. How does that point to God's care?
The questions in Job 39:1 aren't just about Job's ignorance; they're about God's comprehensive care. The very fact that these wild animals successfully reproduce and survive, despite living in harsh, inaccessible environments, points to a divine provider.
Scholars note that animals like the ibex (wild goat) and hinds are often in precarious situations. They live on high rocks or are naturally timid, constantly needing protection. Yet, God has instilled in them instincts and provided the precise timing and even, at times, specific natural aids (like certain herbs mentioned by commentators) that enable them to give birth and nurture their young.
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This isn't a random occurrence. God's 'providence' – His active involvement and care – extends even to the wild creatures that humans can barely observe, ensuring their survival and continuation.
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.
saphar · Hebrew Verb
To count, recount, or declare; biblically, it often implies God's exhaustive knowledge and sovereignty over the number and duration of all things.
kara' · Hebrew Verb
To crouch or kneel down, often in the context of giving birth or bowing in worship; here it denotes the natural, instinctual posture of the animal during labor.
bar / biryah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the young of animals; used metaphorically in Scripture to speak of progeny, descendants, or that which is produced by another.
koach / chazaq · Hebrew Adjective/Verb
Possessing vigor, might, or health; often used to describe physical strength, but also carries spiritual connotations of endurance and resilience under God’s design.
This Psalm directly links the 'voice of the Lord' ( thunder) to the calving of hinds, echoing the idea that even natural processes, especially those of wild animals, are under God's powerful influence.
Psalm 104:18This Psalm explicitly mentions the wild goats finding refuge in the high mountains, reinforcing the imagery of these creatures dwelling in inaccessible places where only God's providence could sustain them.
1 Samuel 24:2This passage describes Saul pursuing David and his men 'upon the rocks of the wild goats,' illustrating the rugged and remote habitat of these animals, which makes human observation and control impossible.
Romans 8:22This verse speaks of 'all creation groaning in labor pains,' offering a New Testament perspective on the struggles and natural processes within the animal world that Job's questions touch upon.
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…
God's questions aren't about whether Job can know the timing, but about whether he observes and cares for these wild creatures when they're most vulnerable. The point isn't just knowing facts, but recognizing the divine providence that sustains even the most elusive animals in their most critical moments.
God has just described His incredible power in creation, and now He turns to specific wild animals, asking Job if he truly understands the intricate details of their lives, like the precise timing and circumstances of births for mountain goats and does. These are creatures living far beyond human reach and control, highlighting that even in the wild, God's providential care is at work.
God has just described His incredible power in creation, and now He turns to specific wild animals, asking Job if he truly understands the intricate details of their lives, like the precise timing and circumstances of births for mountain goats and does. These are creatures living far beyond human reach and control, highlighting that even in the wild, God's providential care is at work.
"“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspr…" — God's questions aren't about whether Job can know the timing, but about whether he observes and cares for these wild creatures when they're most vulnerable. The point isn't just knowing facts,…
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Last reviewed October 2026
