This verse from Job 21:10, "Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry," is a description of the prosperity and good fortune that Job is observing in the wicked people around him. It's meant to highlight the unfairness of their situation in comparison to Job's own suffering.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"Their bulls breed without fail": This suggests virility and success in animal husbandry. Their livestock reproduces reliably, which is a sign of wealth and good fortune in an agrarian society. Breeding is a vital task, and to have it be without failure suggests no impediments or difficulties in achieving this task.
"Their cows calve, and don't miscarry": This reinforces the idea of successful reproduction. The cows not only conceive but also carry their calves to term, ensuring a healthy and growing herd. Miscarriages were and are a significant loss for livestock owners. This phrase further emphasizes that the wicked are spared even this common tragedy.
In context, the verse serves to underscore the following points:
The wicked prosper: Job is arguing against the traditional belief that righteousness is always rewarded and wickedness always punished. He sees evidence to the contrary: these wicked people are thriving.
Injustice: Job is questioning God's justice. If God is just, why are these obviously wicked people experiencing such blessings, while he, who considers himself righteous, is suffering terribly?
Appearance vs. Reality: The verse contributes to Job's exploration of appearances versus true justice. Outwardly, the wicked appear blessed, but Job wonders if their prosperity hides a deeper, more sinister truth.
Challenging conventional wisdom: It goes against the Deuteronomic theology of reward and punishment. This conventional wisdom dictates that obedience to God results in blessings like healthy livestock. Job's observation is in direct opposition to this view.
In short, the verse paints a picture of flourishing livestock as a symbol of the overall prosperity enjoyed by the wicked, highlighting Job's lament about the apparent lack of justice in the world.
This verse from Job 21:10, "Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry," is a description of the prosperity and good fortune that Job is observing in the wicked people around him. It's meant to highlight the unfairness of their situation in comparison to Job's own suffering.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"Their bulls breed without fail": This suggests virility and success in animal husbandry. Their livestock reproduces reliably, which is a sign of wealth and good fortune in an agrarian society. Breeding is a vital task, and to have it be without failure suggests no impediments or difficulties in achieving this task.
"Their cows calve, and don't miscarry": This reinforces the idea of successful reproduction. The cows not only conceive but also carry their calves to term, ensuring a healthy and growing herd. Miscarriages were and are a significant loss for livestock owners. This phrase further emphasizes that the wicked are spared even this common tragedy.
In context, the verse serves to underscore the following points:
The wicked prosper: Job is arguing against the traditional belief that righteousness is always rewarded and wickedness always punished. He sees evidence to the contrary: these wicked people are thriving.
Injustice: Job is questioning God's justice. If God is just, why are these obviously wicked people experiencing such blessings, while he, who considers himself righteous, is suffering terribly?
Appearance vs. Reality: The verse contributes to Job's exploration of appearances versus true justice. Outwardly, the wicked appear blessed, but Job wonders if their prosperity hides a deeper, more sinister truth.
Challenging conventional wisdom: It goes against the Deuteronomic theology of reward and punishment. This conventional wisdom dictates that obedience to God results in blessings like healthy livestock. Job's observation is in direct opposition to this view.
In short, the verse paints a picture of flourishing livestock as a symbol of the overall prosperity enjoyed by the wicked, highlighting Job's lament about the apparent lack of justice in the world.