Job 39 in the early church

30 passages quote, allude to, or echo Job 39, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 19 · 26 · 30

Job 39:1

“Do you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:1Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.207 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Job 39:1Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.212 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Job 39:1On the Complaints of Job and David 4.4 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 383-390
Job 39:1–2Hexameron (Exameron) 5.30 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-390

Job 39:2

Can you count the months they are pregnant? Do you know the time they give birth?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:2Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.212 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Job 39:2On the Complaints of Job and David 4.4 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 383-390

Job 39:3

They crouch down and bring forth their young; they deliver their newborn.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:3On the Complaints of Job and David 4.4 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 383-390

Job 39:4

Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:4Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.207 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Job 39:4Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.213 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Job 39:4On the Complaints of Job and David 4.4 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 383-390

Job 39:5

Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:5–6Demonstration 13.9 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Job 39:5Oration 26.13 · Gregory of Nazianzusquotation, high confidenceca. 362–383
Job 39:5Commentary on Jeremiah 3.28 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 414-419
Job 39:5Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 4 · Eucherius of Lyonquotation, high confidenceca. 420-430
Job 39:5The Conferences 18.6 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Job 39:6

I made the wilderness his home and the salt flats his dwelling.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:6The Conferences 18.6 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Job 39:7

He scorns the tumult of the city and never hears the shouts of a driver.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:7The Conferences 18.6 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Job 39:8

He roams the mountains for pasture, searching for any green thing.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:8The Conferences 18.6 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Job 39:9

Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:9–12Homilies on Numbers 16.6 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Job 39:9Oration 26.13 · Gregory of Nazianzusquotation, high confidenceca. 362–383
Job 39:9Eleven Tractates 1.11 · Priscillianquotation, medium confidenceca. 380–385
Job 39:9Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.25.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397
Job 39:9Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 4 · Eucherius of Lyonquotation, high confidenceca. 420-430

Job 39:10

Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:10Homilies on the Psalms 28.5 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378

Job 39:19

Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:19–25Hexameron (Exameron) 5.25 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Job 39:19–25Commentary on Isaiah 54:1-3 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 408-410

Job 39:26

Does the hawk take flight by your understanding and spread his wings toward the south?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:26Catechetical Lecture 9.8 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Job 39:26Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 4 · Eucherius of Lyonquotation, high confidenceca. 420-430

Job 39:30

His young ones feast on blood; and where the slain are, there he is.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 39:30Demonstration 13.9 · Aphrahatallusion, medium confidence337-345
Job 39:30Letters 44.5 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, medium confidenceca. 394–413