7439. ranah

Lexical Summary

ranah: Joyful shout, cry of joy, song of triumph

Original Word: רָנָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ranah
Pronunciation: rah-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-naw')
KJV: rattle
NASB: rattles
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to whiz

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

rattle

A primitive root; to whiz -- rattle.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to rattle
NASB Translation
rattles (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[רָנָה] verb rattle (onomatopoetic?); —

Qal Imperfect3feminine singular תִּרְנֶה Job 39:23 the quiver rattleth.

Topical Lexicon

Primary Biblical Setting

Job 39:23 places רָנָה within the Lord’s extended discourse to Job about the unfathomable wisdom displayed in the created order. Speaking of the warhorse, God says, “The quiver rattles against him, along with the flashing spear and lance” (Job 39:23). The solitary use of the term connects it inseparably to the clamor of battle and to the horse’s fearless response to that clamor.

Historical and Cultural Background

• Military equipment in the Ancient Near East was noisy by design: wooden quivers filled with arrows, metal‐tipped spears, and bronze or iron lances clanged and clattered as warriors advanced.
• A seasoned warhorse would be trained not merely to tolerate but to thrive amid such noise, a detail that magnifies the Creator’s point—instinctual courage in an animal defies human explanation apart from divine design (Job 39:19-25).
• Listeners in Job’s era would have recognized this imagery immediately; armies marched with horns, cymbals, and shouted cries (Nehemiah 4:20; 2 Chronicles 13:12), underscoring the auditory chaos captured by רָנָה.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty

The single appearance of רָנָה underscores God’s control over every facet of creation, even the tumult of warfare. The horse’s fearless response to battle noise is credited directly to the Lord (Job 39:19).

2. Human Limitation

Job cannot harness, direct, or fully understand the warhorse’s bravery (Job 39:22). The term therefore serves as a rhetorical tool, exposing humanity’s inadequacy in contrast to God’s exhaustive wisdom (Romans 11:33).

3. Spiritual Warfare Foreshadowed

While the verse speaks of literal combat, its placement in Scripture invites typological reflection. Believers face spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:12) and are called to stand firm amid “cries” of opposition, confident that God equips them with armor and courage (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Symbolic Significance

• Noise of Conflict: רָנָה signifies the external clamor that tests internal resolve. For the warhorse it is the catalyst for bold advance; for followers of Christ it parallels trials that can either unnerve or embolden (Philippians 1:28).
• Courage Under Command: Just as the animal’s bravery is subject to its rider, the Christian’s courage is subject to the Spirit (2 Timothy 1:7).
• Instrument of Judgment: In prophetic literature, God often employs battle noise as a symbol of impending judgment (Jeremiah 4:19). Job’s narrative reminds readers that even such terrifying sounds are under divine governance.

Practical and Ministerial Application

• Preaching: Use Job 39:23 to illustrate God’s meticulous involvement in both natural and spiritual realms, encouraging believers to trust Him when confronted by life’s “battle cries.”
• Counseling: The verse offers a metaphor for resilience. Just as the warhorse is undeterred by noise, so Christians can remain steadfast amid anxious circumstances by fixing eyes on their Commander (Hebrews 12:2).
• Worship: The juxtaposition of fearsome battle sounds with divine control can deepen reverence in corporate praise, moving hearts to marvel at God’s sovereignty.

Related Biblical Imagery

• Psalm 20:7 – Trust in the Lord over chariots and horses.
• Proverbs 21:31 – “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.”
• Revelation 19:11-16 – Christ as the Rider on a white horse, supreme over every earthly conflict.

Summary

Though רָנָה appears only once, its placement in Job 39:23 powerfully conveys the din of warfare and highlights God’s mastery over creation’s most intimidating elements. The term becomes a vivid reminder that every clamorous challenge believers encounter remains beneath the sovereign hand of the Lord, calling His people to courageous faith and steadfast obedience.

Forms and Transliterations

תִּרְנֶ֣ה תרנה tir·neh tirneh

Englishman's Concordance

Job 39:23
HEB: עָ֭לָיו תִּרְנֶ֣ה אַשְׁפָּ֑ה לַ֖הַב
NAS: The quiver rattles against
KJV: The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering
INT: against rattles the quiver the flashing

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7439
1 Occurrence

tir·neh — 1 Occ.