Habakkuk 3:3-15

3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran.^[a]His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.

4 His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.

5 Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.

6 He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever.

7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.

8 Were you angry with the rivers, LORD? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory?

9 You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers;

10 the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.

11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.

12 In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.

13 You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.

14 With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding.

15 You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.

Habakkuk 3:3-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 3

The title of this chapter is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, composed after the manner of a psalm of David, and directed to the chief singer, Hab 3:1,19. The occasion of it is expressed, Hab 3:2 in which the prophet declares his concern for the work of the Lord, and the promotion of the kingdom and interest of Christ; and observes the various steps that were, or would be, taken for the advancement of it; for which he prays, and suggests that these would be after the manner of the Lord's dealing with the people of Israel, and settling them in the land of Canaan, Hab 3:3-15 and there being several things awful in this account, both with respect to the judgments of God on his enemies, and the conflicts and trials of his own people, it greatly affected the mind of the prophet, Hab 3:16 and yet, in the view of the worst, he expresses his strong faith in the Lord, as to better times and things, that would most assuredly come, Hab 3:17-19.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 36:11,15
• 2. Isaiah 31:1
• 3. S Numbers 10:12
• 4. S Psalms 8:1
• 5. Psalms 48:10
• 6. S Isaiah 18:4
• 7. S Job 9:6
• 8. S Leviticus 26:25
• 9. S Psalms 46:2
• 10. Genesis 49:26
• 11. S Exodus 19:18; Psalms 18:7; Psalms 114:1-6
• 12. S Genesis 21:33
• 13. S Genesis 25:2; S Numbers 25:15; Judges 7:24-25
• 14. Exodus 15:14
• 15. S Exodus 7:20
• 16. S Psalms 77:16
• 17. S 2 Kings 2:11; S Psalms 68:17
• 18. S Deuteronomy 32:23; Psalms 7:12-13
• 19. S Psalms 77:16
• 20. Psalms 98:7
• 21. S Psalms 93:3
• 22. Joshua 10:13
• 23. Psalms 18:14
• 24. S Psalms 144:6; Zechariah 9:14
• 25. S Isaiah 41:15
• 26. S Exodus 13:21
• 27. S Psalms 20:6; S Psalms 28:8
• 28. S 2 Samuel 23:1
• 29. Psalms 68:21; Psalms 110:6
• 30. Judges 7:22
• 31. Psalms 64:2-5
• 32. S Job 9:8
• 33. Exodus 15:8; Psalms 77:19

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the middle of verse 9 and at the end of verse 13.