Arthur Walker-Jones, «The So-called Ostrich in the God Speeches of the Book of Job (Job 39,13-18)», Vol. 86 (2005) 494-510
The so-called ostrich passage (39,13-18) has been much discussed by scholars
both because of the difficulties it presents and the importance of its position in the
book of Job. Discussions have focused on why an ostrich appears, rather than
whether the Mynnr is, in fact, an ostrich. Quite a number of Hebrew words and
expressions have to be emended or explained to make them fit an ostrich.
Moreover, H.-P. Müller has shown that Mynnr is not the name for ostrich in Hebrew
or any Semitic languages, is not translated "ostrich" in early Greek versions, the
Peshitta, or Targums, and the translation "ostrich" probably came from a false
identification in early Christian reflection on nature. This article uses contemporary
ornithological literature and the information the passage provides on the
nest, habitat, behaviours, and calls of the Mynnr to identify a more likely type of
bird. The identification of the Mynnr as a sand grouse helps resolve a number of
problems in the text and clarify the literary connections of the passage to the rest
of the animal discourse, God speeches, and book of Job.
510 Arthur Walker-Jones
laugh-like calls and the ability to soar in the heavens may seem to
mock the horse. The world is more enigmatic and complex than Job
and his friends had imagined.
University of Winnipeg – Arthur WALKER-JONES
Faculty of Theology
515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9 – Canada
SUMMARY
The so-called ostrich passage (39,13-18) has been much discussed by scholars
both because of the difficulties it presents and the importance of its position in the
book of Job. Discussions have focused on why an ostrich appears, rather than
whether the µynnr is, in fact, an ostrich. Quite a number of Hebrew words and
expressions have to be emended or explained to make them fit an ostrich.
Moreover, H.-P. Müller has shown that µynnr is not the name for ostrich in Hebrew
or any Semitic languages, is not translated “ostrich†in early Greek versions, the
Peshitta, or Targums, and the translation “ostrich†probably came from a false
identification in early Christian reflection on nature. This article uses contem-
porary ornithological literature and the information the passage provides on the
nest, habitat, behaviours, and calls of the µynnr to identify a more likely type of
bird. The identification of the µynnr as a sand grouse helps resolve a number of
problems in the text and clarify the literary connections of the passage to the rest
of the animal discourse, God speeches, and book of Job.