Job 21:10 — Word Study
WLCשׁוֹר֣וֹ עִ֭בַּר וְלֹ֣א יַגְעִ֑ל תְּפַלֵּ֥ט פָּ֝רָת֗וֹ וְלֹ֣א תְשַׁכֵּֽל׃
BSATheir bullsshôwr [oxen, cattle] breedʻâbar■ withoutlôʼ failgâʻal▸ [always successfully, and do not loath] their cowspârâh [heifers, female cattle] bear calvespâlaṭ▸ [young ones, offspring] and do notlôʼ miscarryshâkôl▸ [are not bereaved, do not cast their young]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שׁוֹר֣וֹ | bull his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| עִ֭בַּר | it impregnates | Verb, Piel, perfect third person masculine singular |
| וְלֹ֣א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| יַגְעִ֑ל | it fails | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| תְּפַלֵּ֥ט | it calves | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| פָּ֝רָת֗וֹ | cow his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְלֹ֣א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| תְשַׁכֵּֽל׃ | it miscarries | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person feminine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry. |
| KJV | Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. |
| ASV | Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. |
| YLT | His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry. |
| WEB | Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry. |
| BBE | Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young. |
The translations agree on the core meaning of the verse, emphasizing the success of the bulls and cows.
The verse consists of two main clauses, each detailing the success of bulls and cows, with negations emphasizing what does not occur.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָבַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 21:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Reflection on the Wickedgenerated
Job 21:10 presents Job's argument that the wicked often experience prosperity and success, contrasting with the suffering of the righteous. He highlights the apparent ease with which their livestock reproduce, emphasizing their seemingly untroubled lives. This verse is part of Job's broader discourse on the injustices he perceives in the world, as he seeks to understand the nature of divine justice.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 23:26 | No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 7:13–14 | He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 28:11 | The LORD will make you prosper abundantly—in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land—in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. |
| 4 | Psalm 144:13–14 | Our storehouses will be full, supplying all manner of produce; our flocks will bring forth thousands, tens of thousands in our fields. |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 9:1–2 | So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שׁוֹר֣וֹ, sho.Rogenerated
The word שׁוֹר (shor) refers to a bull or ox, a common animal in agricultural societies, used for labor and sacrifice. It is a masculine noun, indicating possession with the suffix, meaning 'his bull.' This term is often associated with strength and utility in farming contexts, as seen throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
In this verse, the bull represents the prosperity and success of the wicked, who breed their cattle without fail. The use of this term emphasizes the fertility and productivity of their livestock, which serves as a symbol of their overall fortune.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that the bulls breed successfully and the cows bear calves without miscarrying.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is built around two main actions: the bulls breeding and the cows bearing calves. The finite verb עִבַּר governs the first clause, while תְּפַלֵּט governs the second. The conjunction וְלֹא introduces the negations, indicating what does not happen.
This construction emphasizes the certainty of the bulls breeding and the cows calving, while the negative clauses highlight the absence of failure or miscarriage.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שׁוֹר as βόες, meaning 'cattle' or 'oxen,' which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning. This choice indicates a consistent understanding of the term across translations.
The Greek word for 'fails' is ὠμοτόκησεν, which carries a similar connotation of not bringing forth successfully, reflecting the Hebrew's emphasis on successful breeding.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 21:10 states that the bulls of the wicked breed without fail, and their cows bear calves without miscarrying. This highlights the prosperity of the wicked, as they seem to enjoy success in their livestock and lives.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is illustrating the prosperity of the wicked, suggesting that they experience success and fertility in their livestock, unlike the suffering he endures.
Livestock is a symbol of wealth and prosperity in ancient agricultural societies, and Job uses this imagery to emphasize the apparent ease with which the wicked thrive.
This phrase indicates that the cows bear their young successfully, further underscoring the idea that the wicked enjoy uninterrupted success in their lives.
Job is questioning the fairness of divine justice, as he observes that the wicked appear to prosper while he suffers, challenging the assumptions of his friends about righteousness and reward.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this verse reveal about the nature of prosperity and justice?
- How can we reconcile the apparent success of the wicked with our understanding of divine justice?
- In what ways do we see similar patterns of success and failure in our own lives today?
- What lessons can we learn from Job's observations about the fate of the wicked?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on Job's observations regarding the nature of livestock and their breeding, highlighting the common understanding of gender in biblical terminology.
Ver. 10. Their ox conceiveth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and loseth not her calf. It is the usage of common talk to call 'ox' masculine, and 'cow' feminine, but literary phraseology designates 'ox' of the common gender.Early Church Fathers on Job 21 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 21:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTheir bull gendereth, and faileth not,.... As the wicked man's prosperity is described before by the increase and comfortable settlement of his children and grandchildren, and by the peace and safety
Read John Gill on Job 21 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryTheir bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. Their cattle (i:e., cows) conceive. The first clause of the verse describes an easy conception, the second a happy birch (Umbreit).
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 21 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 21:10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.Ver. 10. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not, &c.] All things hit, and nothing misseth to make them happy and wealthy; they have profit and pleasure at will, the world comes tumbling in upon them, as towns were said to come in to Timotheus’ toils while he slept (Plut. in Sulla), and so they seem to be the only heirs of those promises, Exodus 23:26, "There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren in the land"; so Deuteronomy 7:14; whereunto notwithstanding they are perfect strangers: Laban and Nabal for instance.
Read John Trapp on Job 21 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 10. Their bull gendereth] עבר ibbar, passes over, i.e., on the cow, referring to the actions of the bull when coupling with the female. Their flocks multiply greatly, they bring forth in time, and none of them is barren.
Read AdamClarke on Job 21 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10. Their cattle thrives—no failure or barrenness assails them.
Read Cambridge on Job 21 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleTheir bull gendereth - See Rosenmuller and Lee on this verse; comp Bochart, Hieroz. P. 1, Lib. ii. c. xxx. The general idea is, that the wicked were prospered as well as the pious.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 21 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.
Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.
Tyndale line
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
Strictly literal
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.
His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
From the Latin
Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
Simplified
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text (MT) of Job 21:10 states that the bulls breed without fail and the cows bear calves without miscarrying. The Septuagint (LXX) does not provide a direct equivalent for this verse, as it contains a different structure and wording, indicating a divergence from the MT. Without the full text from the LXX, we cannot ascertain specific differences in meaning, but the lack of a direct match suggests that the Septuagint may convey a different nuance or emphasis compared to the MT. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional evidence for this specific verse, so we rely primarily on the MT and the LXX for comparison.
שׁוֹר֣וֹ עִ֭בַּר וְלֹ֣א יַגְעִ֑ל תְּפַלֵּ֥ט פָּ֝רָת֗וֹ וְלֹ֣א תְשַׁכֵּֽל׃
4 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 21:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שׁוֹר (shor) refers to a head of cattle, specifically a bullock or ox, and is associated with agricultural and sacrificial contexts. It is derived from the root meaning to travel, indicating its role in farming and food. The term appears in various forms and usages, including in Aramaic.
שׁוֹר 78 n.m. a head of cattle, bullock, ox, etc.
base
H7794 שׁוֹר a head of cattle, bullock, ox, etc.
7794 showr shore
from 7788; a bullock (as a traveller):--bull(-ock), cow, ox,
wall (by mistake for 7791).
see HEBREW for 07788
see HEBREW for 07791
שׁוֹר (shor) — cattle.
1) ox, bull, a head of cattle
1a) for plowing, for food, as sacrifice
Aramaic equivalent: tor (תּוֹר "bullock" H8450)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word עָבַר (abar) is a versatile verb meaning to pass over, through, or by, and it encompasses a range of actions including crossing, traversing, and alienating. It can also imply causing something to pass or be transferred, as well as emotional states like anger in its Hithpael form. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, though they do not provide specific verse references.
עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on
Qal
pass over
Pass beyond
Pass through, traverse
pass along by
pass by
sweep by, of scourge
be past, over, of time
pass along (from hand to hand)
Pass on, go on
Pass away
Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded
Pi.
his bull impregnateth
cause one to cross river
cause something to pass over
make over to
devote children to (לְ) heathen god
pass along (from hand to hand)
cause to pass through
let pass through
cause to pass by
let pass by
cause arrow to pass beyond
cause to pass under rod, for counting
cause to pass away, take away
Hiph.
cause to pass over, bring over
he made to pass across with chains of gold
base
[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself
base
H5674a עָבַר pass over, through, by, pass on .. pass over
. Pass beyond
. Pass through, traverse
. . pass along by
. pass by
. sweep by, of scourge
. be past, over, of time
. pass along (from hand to hand)
. Pass on, go on
. Pass away
. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded
. . his bull impregnateth . cause one to cross river
. cause something to pass over
. make over to
. devote children to (לְ) heathen god
. pass along (from hand to hand)
. . cause to pass through
. let pass through
. . cause to pass by
. let pass by
. cause arrow to pass beyond
. cause to pass under rod, for counting
. cause to pass away, take away
. . cause to pass over, bring over
. he made to pass across with chains of gold
H5674b עָבַר vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself
5674 `abar aw-bar'
a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any
transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive,
intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over,
through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over),
convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail,
gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way,
in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle,
overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over)
pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over,
through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish,
provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove,
send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X
speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to)
transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be
wrath.
עָבַר (a.var) — to pass.
1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over
1a2) to pass beyond
1a3) to pass through, traverse
1a3a) passers-through (participle)
1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)
1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by
1a4a) passer-by (participle)
1a4b) to be past, be over
1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance
1a6) to pass away
1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory)
1a6b) to vanish
1a6c) to perish, cease to exist
1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)
1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands
1b) (Niphal) to be crossed
1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross
1d) (Hiphil)
V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singularHVpp3ms
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
גָּעַל (ga'al) means to abhor or loathe. It is a primitive root that conveys a strong sense of rejection or detestation. The verb appears in various forms: in the Qal stem, it means to abhor; in the Niphal, it can imply being defiled; and in the Hiphil, it refers to rejecting something as loathsome.
[גָּעַל] vb. abhor, loathe
Qal abhor, loathe
Niph. the shield of heroes was defiled
Hiph. and doth not curse, or allow, (the cow) to reject as loathsome
base
H1602 גָּעַל abhor, loathe
1602 ga`al gaw-al'
a primitive root; to detest; by implication, to
reject:--abhor, fail, lothe, vilely cast away.
גָּעַל (ga.al) — to abhor.
1) to abhor, loathe, be vilely cast away, fall
1a) (Qal) to abhor, loathe
1b) (Niphal) to be defiled
1c) (Hiphil) to reject as loathsome, show aversion
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
פָּלַט (palat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to escape or slip away. It encompasses various nuances, including delivering, bringing to safety, and causing to escape, with different forms indicating active or passive meanings. The entries suggest its use in contexts of security and deliverance, though no specific Old Testament verses are cited.
[פָּלַט] vb. escape
Qal and (if) escapers of them escape.
Pi.
bring into security
cause to escape, cast forth, of cow calving
appar. intrans. be delivered
Hiph. bring into security
base
H6403 [פָּלַט] escape .and (if) escapers of them escape.
. . bring into security
. cause to escape, cast forth, of cow calving
. appar. intrans. be delivered
. bring into security
6403 palat paw-lat'
a primitive root; to slip out, i.e. escape; causatively, to
deliver:--calve, carry away safe, deliver, (cause to) escape.
פָּלַט (pa.lat) — to escape.
1) to escape, save, deliver, slip away
1a) (Qal) to escape
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to bring into security, deliver
1b2) to cause to escape, cast forth
1b3) to be delivered
1b4) to slip away
1c) (Hiphil) to bring into security, bring to safety
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singularHVpi3fs
פָּרָה (parah) refers to a heifer or cow, specifically a female bovine. The entries consistently define it as a heifer or cow, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
פָּרָה 26 n.f. heifer, cow
base
H6510 פָּרָה heifer, cow
6510 parah paw-raw'
feminine of 6499; a heifer:--cow, heifer, kine.
see HEBREW for 06499
פָּרָה (pa.rah) — heifer.
cow, heifer
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
The Hebrew word שָׁכֹל (shakol) primarily means 'to be bereaved' or 'to miscarry,' indicating loss or childlessness. It can refer to causing barrenness or abortion and includes related forms like שָׁכוּל (shakul), meaning 'childless.' The entries reflect a range of meanings associated with loss of children, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[שָׁכֹל, שָׁכַל] vb. be bereaved
Qal be bereaved
Pi.
make childless
cause barrenness, or abortion
shew barrenness, or abortion
Hiph. miscarrying womb
base
[שָׁכוּל] adj. childless (through bereavement);—fs. Is 49:21
ref
מְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶת n.f.abstr. barrenness, 2 K 2:21
ref
H7921a שָׁכֹל, שָׁכַל be bereaved .be bereaved
. . make childless
. . cause barrenness, or abortion
. shew barrenness, or abortion
. miscarrying womb
H7921b שָׁכוּל childless H7921c מְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶת n. f. abstr. childless (through bereavement)
7921 shakol shaw-kole'
a primitive root; properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer
abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or
figuratively):--bereave (of children), barren, cast calf
(fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, X
expect, lose children, miscarry, rob of children, spoil.
שָׁכֹל (sha.khol) — be bereaved.
1) to be bereaved, make childless, miscarry
1a) (Qal) to be bereaved
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make childless
1b2) to cause barrenness, show barrenness or abortion
1b3) to miscarry
1c) (Hiphil) miscarrying (participle)
שָׁכוּל (sha.khul) — childless.
adj
childless (through bereavement)
Also means: shak.kul (שַׁכּוּל "childless" H7909)
מְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶת (me.sha.ke.let) — barenness.
barrenness
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singularHVpi3fs
