Lexical Summary yethur: Jethur Original Word: יָתוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance range Passive participle of yathar; properly, what is left, i.e. (by implication) a gleaning -- range. see HEBREW yathar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originanother reading for tur, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs יְתוֺר Job 39:8 apparently noun masculine a searching, but see √. II. תּוֺר see II. תֹּר. תּוֺרָה see ירה. תּוֺשָׁב see ישׁב. תּוּשִׁיָּה see ישׁה. תּוֺתָח Job Job 41:21 see יתח. Topical Lexicon Canonical ContextThe single appearance of יָתוּר in Scripture occurs within the Lord’s second speech to Job (Job 38–41), where God asserts His sovereign wisdom by directing Job’s gaze to the free-ranging wild donkey. “He roams the mountains for pasture, searching for any green thing” (Job 39:8). The word paints the mental picture of a spacious, wandering range, underscoring the untamable liberty God grants this creature. Imagery and Symbolism 1. Freedom under Divine Restraint Though the donkey enjoys an apparently boundless terrain, that liberty exists only within boundaries set by the Creator (Job 39:5–8). יָתוּר therefore becomes a poetic emblem of freedom that is never autonomous from God’s providence. 2. God’s Hidden Provision The “green thing” the donkey seeks testifies that adequate nourishment already exists in the wilderness. Scripture repeatedly affirms this motif of God supplying sustenance in unlikely places—manna in the desert (Exodus 16), the brook for Elijah (1 Kings 17), and the lilies clothed by God (Matthew 6:28-30). 3. Human Insufficiency Job is invited to admit his own incapacity to govern that range. The term thus functions apologetically: if man cannot master the pastureland of a wild donkey, how can he question the cosmic government of the Almighty (Job 40:2)? Theological Themes • God’s Sovereignty in Creation יָתוּר underscores that even “unclaimed” territory belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). The mountains are not chaotic margins but ordained pasturage. • Providence for All Creatures The verse aligns with Psalm 104:21, 27, reminding readers that every living thing “looks to You to give them their food in due season.” • Man’s Dependent Knowledge Job, the archetypal wise man, must concede that his knowledge is regional, whereas God’s is universal—stretching to the donkey’s distant grazing grounds. Historical and Literary Insight The Book of Job employs vivid natural scenes common to ancient Near-Eastern experience. Desert-dwelling peoples recognized the roaming habits of wild asses. The inspired writer leverages this shared observation to communicate profound theology without resorting to myth; rather, real zoology becomes a classroom for doctrine. Related Biblical Motifs • Spying Out the Land (Numbers 13) The same verbal root appears in the activity of the twelve spies. Both contexts involve exploration of terrain, yet whereas the Israelites’ reconnaissance failed through unbelief, the donkey faithfully relies on God’s provision. • Shepherd Imagery (Psalm 23) Though the donkey roams without human shepherd, the Lord effectively “shepherds” it. The contrast heightens the shepherding grace later revealed in Jesus Christ, who declares, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Pastoral and Homiletical Applications 1. Trust in God’s Provision Believers tempted to anxiety can glean assurance: if God guides a wild animal to sustenance, He will not neglect His covenant people (Matthew 6:26). 2. Humility before Divine Wisdom Job’s confrontation with יָתוּר invites modern readers to bow before mysteries they cannot manage, echoing Romans 11:33. 3. Missionary Outlook The Lord claims far-flung ranges; therefore, no culture or geography lies outside the scope of His redemptive concern (Acts 1:8). Christological Perspective Jesus embodies the perfect balance of freedom and obedience. Whereas the donkey wanders instinctively, Christ moves purposefully within His Father’s will (John 8:29). The unbridled range of Job 39 anticipates the cosmic breadth of Christ’s reign, “far above all rule and authority” (Ephesians 1:21). Practical Ministry Reflections • Creation Care Recognizing God’s delight in the wilderness encourages responsible stewardship of natural habitats as an act of worship. • Spiritual Formation Retreat settings that mirror יָתוּר—wide, uncluttered spaces—often become arenas where believers rediscover dependence on God rather than on artificial supports. • Counseling Suffering Saints Job’s lesson reassures the afflicted that God’s purposes extend beyond visible boundaries; unexplained seasons may still be pastures in which divine goodness is hidden yet present. Thus, the solitary yet vivid occurrence of יָתוּר contributes a crucial thread to the biblical tapestry: the God who governs remote mountain ranges also oversees every detail of human experience, inviting humility, trust, and worship. Forms and Transliterations יְת֣וּר יתור yə·ṯūr yeTur yəṯūrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |