Job 39:18 Meaning: When Foolish Outruns Strong
When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider.
At the time on high she lifteth herself up, She laugheth at the horse and at his rider.
What time she lasheth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
Meaning in one sentence
An ostrich without wisdom still outruns a horse. God's creative design in Job 39:18 shows his power in the weak and unlikely.
Context
The book of Job reaches its climax when God speaks to Job from the whirlwind. Instead of answering Job's questions directly, God points to his creation, the wild animals, the stars, the sea. Chapter thirty‑nine takes Job on a tour of creatures that defy human control: the mountain goat, the wild donkey, the ostrich, the horse, the hawk. The ostrich puzzles us. Earlier verses describe her as a bad mother, reckless with her eggs and harsh with her young, because God has given her little wisdom. Then verse eighteen surprises us. When danger comes, she rises and laughs at the horse and rider who try to chase her. The bird that seems so foolish becomes unstoppable.
Key Words
The Hebrew behind “lifts up herself on high” comes from a verb that means to flap or beat the wings, like lashing yourself into motion. Commentators note that the ostrich cannot fly, but when she spreads her wings and runs, she whips up her own speed. The word for “scorns” is the same Hebrew root used for laughter, for mockery, for a joyful defiance that humbles the proud. The bird that lacks intelligence still possesses a God‑given power to rise and laugh. The timing matters too: “when she lifts up herself”, on that specific occasion, in the moment of pursuit, God has built into her a response that confounds the strongest enemy.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse with wonder. Wesley and the older commentators see it as a literal description of the ostrich’s astonishing speed, she runs so fast that no horse can catch her. Matthew Henry reflects on the contrast: a bird that seems so careless in one area yet so gifted in another. The Cambridge Bible notes that this “singular union of dissimilar qualities” reveals the freedom and resource of the Creator. Meanwhile, Keil and Delitzsch focus on how the ostrich, like the wild ass and oryx, cannot be tamed by human strength. All these readings agree that the verse invites humility before a God whose wisdom works in unexpected ways.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the ostrich’s scorn is sinful pride, as if God is rebuking her for laughing. In fact, God lists the ostrich’s swiftness as part of his creative display. He is not condemning her; he is showing Job, and us, that even a creature without wisdom can outrun what humans most trust. The laughter is not rebellion but a God‑given ability that points back to the Maker.
Living This Out
You might feel foolish today. Maybe you lack the wisdom or strength others seem to have. The ostrich does not dwell on what she lacks. When the moment comes, she lifts herself up and runs with the gifts God has given. You can do the same. You may not have every skill, but you have something, some speed, some stubbornness, some strange grace, that can carry you through. Trust the Designer who knows what he placed in you, even if it looks weak to the world.
Main takeaway: God’s wisdom is not limited to the strong or the smart; he often hides his power in the weak and makes them laugh at what frightens others.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The ostrich cannot fly like other birds, but God made her run very fast. When she runs, she laughs at the horse that tries to catch her. Isn’t God clever to make a bird that can outrun a horse?
For ages 9, 12
The ostrich seems silly, she leaves her eggs in the dust and does not care for her young. But God gave her incredible speed. When danger comes, she lifts herself up and runs faster than any horse. This shows that God’s wisdom is bigger than our ideas of what is smart or strong. Even things we think are weak can do amazing things when God designs them.
Questions People Ask
Why does God call the ostrich foolish if she is so fast?
In the verses just before this one, God describes how the ostrich leaves her eggs in the dust and treats her young harshly. She lacks wisdom in caring for her offspring. Yet that same bird is given remarkable speed. The point is not to mock the ostrich but to show that God's wisdom includes both weakness and strength in one creature.
Does the ostrich really laugh at the horse and rider?
The Hebrew word for "scorns" (sa‛ḥaq) means to laugh or mock, often with a sense of triumph. It is poetic language describing how the ostrich's speed makes the horse seem helpless. She does not literally laugh, but her escape becomes a kind of victory that shames the pursuer.
What is the main point of this verse in the book of Job?
God is questioning Job to show that human wisdom cannot comprehend the Creator's ways. The ostrich is one example among many wild animals that defy human control and understanding. The verse invites Job, and readers, to trust God even when his design seems paradoxical.
How does the description of the ostrich compare to the horse in the next verses?
The horse is strong, fearless, and glorious in battle (vv. 19, 25). The ostrich is weak, foolish with her young, yet swift. Together they show the range of God's creative power, from the mighty to the unlikely. Both creatures humble human pride in different ways.
Is the ostrich being punished for lacking wisdom?
No. The text does not present the ostrich's lack of wisdom as a punishment. It is simply a description of how God created her. She has deficiencies, but she also has astonishing gifts. The whole passage is about God's freedom to design creatures however he chooses.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study