Job 39:5
New International Version
“Who let the wild donkey go free? Who untied its ropes?

New Living Translation
“Who gives the wild donkey its freedom? Who untied its ropes?

English Standard Version
“Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

Berean Standard Bible
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?

King James Bible
Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

New King James Version
“Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager,

New American Standard Bible
“Who sent the wild donkey out free? And who opened the bonds of the swift donkey,

NASB 1995
“Who sent out the wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

NASB 1977
“Who sent out the wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

Legacy Standard Bible
“Who sent out the wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

Amplified Bible
“Who sent out the wild donkey free [from dependence on man]? And who has loosed the bonds of the wild donkey [to survive in the wild],

Christian Standard Bible
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from its harness?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from its harness?

American Standard Version
Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass,

Contemporary English Version
Who set wild donkeys free?

English Revised Version
Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Who lets the wild donkey go free? Who unties the ropes of the wild donkey?

Good News Translation
Who gave the wild donkeys their freedom? Who turned them loose and let them roam?

International Standard Version
"Who sets the wild donkey free? Who loosens the bonds of the wild donkey

Majority Standard Bible
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?

NET Bible
Who let the wild donkey go free? Who released the bonds of the donkey,

New Heart English Bible
"Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,

Webster's Bible Translation
Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

World English Bible
“Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who has sent forth the wild donkey free? Indeed, who opened the bands of the wild donkey?

Young's Literal Translation
Who hath sent forth the wild ass free? Yea, the bands of the wild ass who opened?

Smith's Literal Translation
Who sent the wild ass free? and who opened the bonds of the wild ass?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who hath sent out the wild ass free, and who hath loosed his bonds?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who has set the wild ass free, and who has released his bonds?

New American Bible
Who has given the wild donkey his freedom, and who has loosed the wild ass from bonds?

New Revised Standard Version
“Who has let the wild ass go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift ass,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who has left the wild ass to be free, and made him to escape the yoke?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who sent away the wild donkey a son of the free, and lets him escape from the yoke
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And who is he that sent forth the wild ass free? and who loosed his bands?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Speaks of His Creation
4Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return. 5Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness? 6I made the wilderness his home and the salt flats his dwelling.…

Cross References
Psalm 104:21
The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.

Isaiah 58:6
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

Jeremiah 2:24
a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.

Hosea 8:9
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.

Genesis 16:12
He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

Psalm 107:14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.

Isaiah 32:14
For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—

Isaiah 35:6
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 51:14
The captive will soon be freed; he will not die in the dungeon, and his bread will not be lacking.

Jeremiah 14:6
Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.”

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

John 8:32-36
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” / “We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?” / Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ...

Romans 8:21
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.


Treasury of Scripture

Who has sent out the wild ass free? or who has loosed the bands of the wild ass?

the wild

Job 6:5
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Job 11:12
For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

Job 24:5
Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.

who hath loosed

Genesis 49:14
Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

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Ass Bands Beast Bonds Donkey Fields Forth Free Loosened Opened Ropes Swift Untied Wild
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Ass Bands Beast Bonds Donkey Fields Forth Free Loosened Opened Ropes Swift Untied Wild
Job 39
1. Of the wild goats and hinds
5. Of the wild donkey
9. The unicorn
13. The peacock, stork, and ostrich
19. The horse
26. The hawk
27. The eagle














Who set the wild donkey free?
The phrase begins with a rhetorical question posed by God to Job, emphasizing divine sovereignty and wisdom. The "wild donkey" (Hebrew: פֶּרֶא, pere') is a symbol of untamed freedom and independence. In the ancient Near East, wild donkeys were known for their resilience and ability to survive in harsh desert conditions. This question highlights God's role as the Creator who grants freedom to His creatures, underscoring His authority over all creation. The wild donkey's freedom serves as a metaphor for the natural order established by God, which is beyond human control or understanding.

Who released the swift donkey from the harness?
The "swift donkey" (Hebrew: עָרוֹד, arod) refers to a creature known for its speed and agility. The term "released" suggests an intentional act of liberation, again pointing to God's sovereign power. The "harness" implies domestication and control, which contrasts with the donkey's inherent wildness. In the context of Job, this imagery serves to remind Job of the limitations of human power and understanding. The swift donkey's release from the harness symbolizes the freedom and autonomy granted by God, reinforcing the theme of divine wisdom and the natural order. This verse invites reflection on the majesty of God's creation and His ultimate authority over all living beings.

Verse 5. - Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Two kinds of onager or wild ass, seem to be intended - the one called pore' (פִרֶא), and the other 'arod (עָרוד). These correspond probably to the Asinus hemippus and the Asinus onager of modern naturalists, the former of which is still found in the deserts of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Northern Arabia, while the latter inhabits Western Asia from 48° N.lat. southward to Persia, Beloochistan, and Western India. Sir H. A. Layard describes the former, which he saw, as a "beautiful animal, in fleetness equalling the gazelle, very wild, and of a rich fawn colour, almost pink" ('Nineveh and its Remains,' Vol. 1. p. 324). The latter (Asinus onager) was seen by Sir R. K. Porter in Persia ('Travels,' vol. 1. p. 460), and is described in very similar terms. The two, however, appear to be distinct species (see Dr. Smith's 'Dict. of the Bible,' vol. 3. pp. 19, 20, Appendix). Both animals are remarkable for extreme wildness; and all attempts to domesticate the young of either have hitherto failed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Who
מִֽי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

set
שִׁלַּ֣ח (šil·laḥ)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

the wild donkey
פֶּ֣רֶא (pe·re)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6501: A wild donkey

free?
חָפְשִׁ֑י (ḥā·p̄ə·šî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2670: Exempt

Who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

released
פִתֵּֽחַ׃ (p̄it·tê·aḥ)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

the swift donkey
עָ֝ר֗וֹד (‘ā·rō·wḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6171: A wild donkey

from the harness?
וּמֹסְר֥וֹת (ū·mō·sə·rō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4147: Chastisement, a halter, restraint


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OT Poetry: Job 39:5 Who has set the wild donkey free? (Jb)
Job 39:4
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