Lexical Summary arod: Wild donkey Original Word: עָרוֹד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wild ass From the same as Arad; an onager (from his lonesome habits) -- wild ass. see HEBREW Arad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition a wild donkey NASB Translation swift donkey (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עָרוֺד noun [masculine] wild ass (probably Aramaic loanword ( = Hebrew מֶּרֶא), ᵑ7 עֲרָדָא, עֲרוֺדָא Syriac  ; Mandean אראדא, compare Hom NS 133); **perhaps √  [run away?], < √  schreien [DHM zu Asma'ï, Farq p.43] das auch vom Wildesel vorkommt Amra alqais 4. 21, Zuhair 1. 25.' — NöFünf Mo`all, ii. 75 (SB Wlender Akkadian cxlii). — Job 39:5. Topical Lexicon Biblical Context Job 39:5 places the creature at the heart of the Lord’s interrogation of Job, “Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?” (Berean Standard Bible). The Hebrew adjective rendered “swift” or “wild” occurs nowhere else in Scripture, heightening its rhetorical impact. By pointing to an animal beyond human control, God exposes Job’s limited authority and magnifies divine sovereignty. Zoological Identification Scholars identify the animal as the Asiatic onager or Syrian wild ass (Equus hemionus), an agile equid native to the deserts of Arabia and Syria. The onager’s speed, endurance, and refusal to accept a yoke illustrate the untamed freedom highlighted in the text. Unlike the domesticated donkey, the onager lives in inhospitable regions, surviving on sparse vegetation and roaming great distances in search of water. Historical and Cultural Background In the patriarchal milieu reflected in Job, domesticated donkeys were essential pack animals, while the onager remained stubbornly outside human dominion. Ancient Near Eastern kings celebrated the chase and capture of wild asses, yet even royal hunters could rarely break their spirit for labor. For the everyday herdsman, the creature symbolized the unreachable—present but unmastered. Symbolic and Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty: By “setting it free,” the Lord demonstrates absolute rule over even the most elusive parts of creation. Ministry and Devotional Insights • Awe and Humility: The unbridled onager calls believers to reverence before the Creator who governs what no man can tame. Related Passages for Meditation Genesis 16:12; Jeremiah 2:24 – wild donkey as a picture of unrestrained independence. Psalm 104:11 – God’s creatures drink from streams of His provision. Job 12:7–10 – creation declares God’s hand in every life. Job 39:1–30 – wider catalogue of untamable creatures affirming divine governance. The lone biblical mention of this untamable desert dweller is sufficient to showcase the Lord’s unmatched authority and invite His people to rest, trust, and worship. Forms and Transliterations עָ֝ר֗וֹד ערוד ‘ā·rō·wḏ ‘ārōwḏ aRodLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 39:5 HEB: חָפְשִׁ֑י וּמֹסְר֥וֹת עָ֝ר֗וֹד מִ֣י פִתֵּֽחַ׃ NAS: loosed the bonds of the swift donkey, KJV: the bands of the wild ass? INT: free the bonds of the swift Who loosed 1 Occurrence |
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