You know, as we go through the book of Job verse by verse, we sometimes come across little phrases that seem simple at first, but they actually carry a beautiful meaning when we look closer.
In both the KJV and the NKJV, you’ll notice the words “she asses” in chapter 1 and again in chapter 42. In Job 1:3 it says Job had “…five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses.” Then, after all his suffering, in Job 42:12 we read that God blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning, and he had “a thousand she asses.”
Now, “she asses” is just the older English way of saying female donkeys. Back in 1611 when the King James Version was translated, the common word for donkey was “ass.” The word “donkey” came along much later. So “she asses” simply means female donkeys, what we today call “jennies.”
But the Hebrew word here is very specific. It’s ’athon (אָתוֹן). This isn’t the general word for donkey. It’s a feminine word that points clearly to a female donkey. The Holy Spirit inspired the writer to use this exact word on purpose.
Why Were Female Donkeys So Valuable in Job’s Day?
Job lived very early in history, probably between Genesis 11 and Genesis 12, before Abraham. In that patriarchal time, female donkeys were especially prized for practical reasons.
They gave milk, which was important in dry regions where water could be scarce. They could bear foals, so the herd would grow and multiply naturally. And they were usually gentler and steadier than the males, making them better for riding and for carrying loads on long journeys.
Because of this, a good female donkey was often more valuable than a male. Having many ’athon meant you had real, lasting wealth, the kind that would keep providing and increasing for years to come.
God’s Double Blessing
At the beginning of the book, Job had five hundred she asses.
After the trials were over, God gave him one thousand, exactly double.
This is part of the wonderful restoration in chapter 42. God didn’t just replace what Job had lost; He blessed him with more, and with high-quality, productive animals that spoke of future fruitfulness and ongoing provision.
It’s a quiet but powerful picture that the latter end can be greater than the beginning when we trust the Lord through the storms.
The Same Word in Other Places
You see this same Hebrew word ’athon used in other important spots in the Bible. It’s the word for Balaam’s donkey in Numbers 22, the female donkey that saw the angel and spoke. And in Zechariah 9:9, the prophecy about the Messiah riding into Jerusalem speaks of “a colt, the foal of a female donkey” (’athon). That’s exactly what happened when Jesus rode the donkey on Palm Sunday.
The Bible is so careful with its words. When it specifies “she ass,” it’s painting a richer picture of gentle strength, patience, and fruitfulness.
A Simple Lesson for Us Today
Job’s story reminds us that our God notices every detail. The same Lord who counted every one of Job’s female donkeys knows every trial you’re facing right now.
He is able to restore, sometimes with double blessing, and He often uses the humble and ordinary things of life to show His goodness.
So, the next time you read “she asses” in Job, don’t just hurry past it. Let it remind you of God’s generous, practical care and the fruitful restoration He loves to bring to His children.
Add comment