Job 39:17 For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.

Job 17:4
For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

Job 35:11
Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

Deuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

He has not endowed her with understanding.
This part of the verse continues to underscore the limitations of the ostrich, a creature known for its seemingly foolish behavior, such as leaving its eggs unprotected. The lack of understanding in the ostrich serves as a metaphor for human limitations in comprehending God's purposes. In the broader context of the Book of Job, this highlights the theme of human suffering and the mystery of divine providence. The absence of understanding in the ostrich can be paralleled with the human condition, where people often struggle to understand God's plans and purposes, as seen in Job's own trials. This phrase also connects to the wisdom literature of the Bible, such as Proverbs, which frequently contrasts human folly with divine wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The verse opens by placing the focus squarely on the Lord Himself. In all of Job 38–41 God is reminding Job that every facet of creation rests in His hands (Job 38:4). His sovereignty determines the boundaries of the seas (Job 38:11) and the span of the heavens (Psalm 147:4-5). By starting with “For God,” the text underscores that what follows—whether granting or withholding—flows from divine prerogative, much like Romans 9:20-21 portrays the potter’s rights over the clay.

The “her” is the ostrich described in Job 39:13-18. God’s intentional action of deprivation is not cruelty; it is purposeful design.

• Creatures differ by His choice (Job 12:13-14).

• He raises up and brings low (1 Samuel 2:7).

By withholding certain instincts from the ostrich, the Lord highlights that wisdom is neither innate nor accidental—it is a gift He can choose to give or withhold.

Here “wisdom” refers to practical sense—what Proverbs 30:24-28 calls “small, but exceedingly wise.” Ants plan, conies seek shelter, but the ostrich lays eggs on sand and forgets them (Job 39:14-15). The contrast is intentional:

• Proverbs 3:19 reminds us, “The LORD founded the earth by wisdom.”

• James 1:5 tells us He “gives generously to all who ask.”

The ostrich’s lack shows that wisdom does not originate within creation; it flows from the Creator.

The verb stresses gift, not accident. Endowment comes from God alone (Job 35:10-11). Paul echoes this truth in Acts 17:25: “He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” When God withholds, no creature can supply what is missing.

Understanding carries the idea of discernment—seeing connections and acting accordingly. The ostrich runs swiftly (Job 39:18) yet tramples her own eggs, illustrating energy without insight. Scripture contrasts:

• Proverbs 2:6—“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

• Isaiah 40:28—His understanding is unsearchable.

By showcasing a creature without understanding, God humbles human pride: if even mighty Job depends on divine insight, how much more do we?

Job 39:17 teaches that every gift—including wisdom and understanding—rests entirely in God’s hands. He withholds from the ostrich to reveal His freedom to shape creation as He wills and to remind us that true wisdom comes only from Him. Acknowledging this keeps us humble, dependent, and worshipful before the One whose “greatness no one can fathom” (Psalm 145:3).

(1) The ostrich, they say, will swallow iron, stones, leaden bullets, and other things, which injure and sometimes prove fatal to it.

(2) When hunted, it thrusts its head into a hush, and iron,nee that the hunter does not see it.

(3) It allows itself to be captured by transparent devices. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...