“Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.”
My Notes
What Does Job 38:41 Mean?
"Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat." God asks Job who feeds the ravens — specifically, who provides for their babies when they cry out in hunger. The young ravens' cry is directed 'unto God,' not to their parents. The baby birds that wander hungry are, in the theological framework of this question, praying. And God hears.
The raven is a significant choice: ravens were unclean animals under Mosaic law (Leviticus 11:15). God doesn't feed only the clean, domesticated, religiously acceptable animals. He feeds the ravens. The provision extends to creatures that human religion classified as unclean. God's care crosses every boundary human categories create.
The image of young ravens crying and wandering captures vulnerability: they can't feed themselves. They don't know where food is. They cry out and wander. And yet — they survive. The provision comes. The God who provides for wandering, crying, hungry, unclean birds provides for all creatures in their need.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What hungry, inarticulate cry are you sending into the sky — and do you believe God hears it?
- 2.What does God feeding unclean ravens teach about the scope of divine provision?
- 3.How does baby ravens 'crying unto God' redefine what counts as prayer?
- 4.If God feeds the ravens that neither sow nor reap, what does that mean for your worries about provision?
Devotional
Who feeds the ravens? Their babies cry out to God — literally, the young ravens' hungry cries are directed to God, and God hears. The birds that can't feed themselves, that wander hungry and desperate, that cry into the sky without knowing who's listening — God provides for them.
The raven is unclean under the Law. God doesn't care. He feeds it anyway. The provision isn't limited to the ritually acceptable animals. It extends to the birds that human religion classified as unworthy. God's care doesn't check your purity status before feeding you. The unclean raven eats from the same divine provision as the clean dove.
The young ones 'cry unto God' — the Hebrew presents the baby ravens' hunger cries as prayer. The bird that doesn't know it's praying is praying. The creature that doesn't understand theology is directing its need to God. And God receives the cry. The most basic, inarticulate expression of need — a hungry baby bird's squawk — registers in God's ear as a request He answers.
Jesus will reference this exact verse in Luke 12:24: 'Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap... and God feedeth them.' The God who feeds ravens will feed you. The logic moves from lesser to greater: if God provides for unclean birds that can't even articulate their need, how much more will He provide for you?
What hungry, inarticulate cry in your life is already being heard by the God who feeds ravens?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Who provideth for the raven his food? - The same thought is expressed in Psa 147:9, He giveth to the beast his food, And…
Who provideth for the raven - This bird is chosen, perhaps, for his voracious appetite, and general hunger for prey,…
Hitherto God had put such questions to Job as were proper to convince him of his ignorance and short-sightedness. Now he…
The raven. The question extends to the end of the verse,
Who provideth for the raven his food,
When his young ones cry…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture