Having dealt with the contrast between the domestic and wild donkey, the divine speaker now takes up the same contrasts between the domestic and wild ox.

Is the wild ox willing to serve you?: wild ox translates a term used in Deuteronomy 33.17 which speaks of Joseph having horns like those of a wild ox, to “push peoples … to the ends of the earth.” The parallelism in Psalm 29.6 and in Isaiah 34.7 implies that the term refers to some kind of ox. (King James Version translates it as “unicorn.”) Although ox in English refers mainly to a male bovine animal that has been castrated and is used for labor, the animal here was a powerful wild animal with dangerous horns, and in fact it was hunted by the ancient Assyrians. Its characteristics make it appear similar to the African “bush cow” or buffalo. Its strength and fierceness are mentioned in Numbers 23.22; Deuteronomy 33.17; Psalm 92.10. Dhorme translates “buffalo,” but in English this term requires a modifier such as “wild.” Serve you refers to doing heavy labor such as pulling a cart or plow, as in Good News Translation “work for you.” In languages in which the ox is unknown, we may say “wild cow” or substitute another animal if appropriate. The evident answer to the question in line a is “No!”

Will he spend the night at your crib? implies being closed up in a pen in order to eat. At night the domestic ox is brought from the fields to spend the night in a pen or stable. The word for crib occurs also in Isaiah 1.3; Proverbs 14.4 (Revised Standard Version footnote). It refers to the feed box or “trough” where the owner places food for the animals. Good News Translation “stable” is the building where the feed box is located. This line may also be expressed “Will the wild ox come to your feed box and spend the night?” or “Will the wild ox stay all night at the place where you feed your animals?”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .