Job 39:4

Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

Job 39:4 (KJV)

Context

God speaks to Job out of a storm, asking questions that reveal His wisdom and power in creation. This verse belongs to a longer speech in which God points to wild animals as evidence of His care and control.

Meaning

The young ones of mountain goats or deer are described as being “in good liking,” meaning healthy and well-formed. God ensures their well-being even without human help.

The phrase “grow up with corn” does not mean they eat grain from fields. It is a poetic way of saying they grow strong in the open country, nourished by what God provides. Their growth is quick and sure.

“They go forth, and return not unto them” shows that once these young animals mature, they leave their mothers and become independent. They do not come back, yet they continue to thrive. This independence is part of the natural order God designed.

Biblical connections

In Job 38:41 and Job 39:1-3, God also speaks of providing food for young ravens and knowing when mountain goats give birth. Together these verses show that God watches over every stage of animal life, from birth to maturity.

Application

If God cares for wild creatures that cannot ask for help, He surely cares for people who trust Him. The same wisdom that guides a young deer to independence also guides human lives, even when the path is not clear.

This verse also teaches that growth and leaving home are part of God’s plan. Parents can trust God to care for their children as they step into adulthood, just as He cares for the young of the wild.

Reflection

God’s questions to Job are not meant to crush him but to enlarge his view of the Creator. When life feels confusing, remembering God’s detailed care for animals can quiet the heart and renew trust in His unfathomable wisdom.