Job 39:5-7

39:5 Who let the wild donkey go free?

Who released the bonds of the donkey,

39:6 to whom I appointed the steppe for its home,

the salt wastes as its dwelling place?

39:7 It scorns the tumult in the town;

it does not hear the shouts of a driver. ¹ 

Jeremiah 2:24

2:24 You are like a wild female donkey brought up in the wilderness.

In her lust she sniffs the wind to get the scent of a male. ² 

No one can hold her back when she is in heat.

None of the males need wear themselves out chasing after her.

At mating time she is easy to find. ³ 

Hosea 8:9

The Willful Donkey and the Wanton Harlot

8:9 They have gone up to Assyria,

like a wild donkey that wanders off.

Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers. ⁴ 

[39:7]  ¹ sn The animal is happier in open countryside than in a busy town, and on its own rather than being driven by a herdsman.

[2:24]  ² tn The words “to get the scent of a male” are implicit and are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[2:24]  ³ sn The metaphor is intended to depict Israel’s irrepressible desire to worship other gods.

[8:9]  ⁴ tn Or “has hired herself out to lovers”; cf. NIV “has sold herself to lovers.”