Job 39:17

Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

Job 39:17 (KJV)

Context

Job was a righteous man who suffered greatly. His friends debated why he suffered, but God finally spoke to Job out of a whirlwind. In Job 38-41, God asks Job many questions about creation to show His wisdom and power. Job 39:17 is part of that speech, where God describes the ostrich.

Meaning

God says He has deprived the ostrich of wisdom and has not given her understanding. The Hebrew phrase can mean “made her forget” wisdom. This is a deliberate act of God. The ostrich is a bird that cannot fly and shows strange behavior. In the previous verse, Job 39:15, the ostrich forgets that a foot may crush her eggs. This lack of wisdom is not a punishment for sin. It shows that God gives wisdom to some creatures and not to others, according to His own will. God’s sovereignty over wisdom is clear: He distributes it as He pleases, and no creature can claim it as a right.

Biblical connections

This verse connects to the theme that true wisdom belongs to God alone. Job himself acknowledges this in Job 12:13, where he says that wisdom and power belong to God. The ostrich is one of many creatures God mentions, like the wild goat, the horse, and the eagle. Each creature shows God’s creative power and wisdom in a different way. The broader context of Job 39 includes descriptions of these animals, each demonstrating God’s creative power and wisdom.

Application

This verse reminds us that wisdom and understanding are gifts from God. He distributes them as He chooses. We should not be proud of our own knowledge, because it comes from God. Instead, we should approach Him with humility, knowing that His ways are far above ours. When we do not understand why things happen, we can trust that God is wise and sovereign. This should lead us to humility and trust in God’s sovereign purposes, rather than questioning His justice.

Reflection

God’s question to Job challenges us to accept our limits. The ostrich lacks wisdom, yet God cares for her. In the same way, we may lack understanding, but God is still in control. We can rest in His wisdom, even when His plans are hidden from us.