Habakkuk 3

King James Version

Full text for Habakkuk Chapter 3

1¶ A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.

2O LORD, I have heard thy speech, [and] was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

3¶ God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

4And [his] brightness was as the light; he had horns [coming] out of his hand: and there [was] the hiding of his power.

5Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

6He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways [are] everlasting.

7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: [and] the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

8Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? [was] thine anger against the rivers? [was] thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses [and] thy chariots of salvation?

9Thy bow was made quite naked, [according] to the oaths of the tribes, [even thy] word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

10The mountains saw thee, [and] they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, [and] lifted up his hands on high.

11The sun [and] moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, [and] at the shining of thy glittering spear.

12Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

13Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, [even] for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

14Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing [was] as to devour the poor secretly.

15Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, [through] the heap of great waters.

16¶ When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit [be] in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and [there shall be] no herd in the stalls:

18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19The LORD God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' [feet], and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Habakkuk's prayer expresses profound awe and fear at God's majestic power and past acts of salvation. He recounts God's glorious appearance, His judgment upon nations, and His deliverance of His people. Despite impending desolation, the prophet declares his unwavering faith and joy in the Lord, who is his strength and salvation.

Medium Summary

The third chapter of Habakkuk is a prayer, or a "Shigionoth," where the prophet expresses profound awe and fear upon hearing God's word. He petitions the Lord to revive His work and remember mercy amidst wrath. Habakkuk then vividly describes God's majestic appearance from Teman and Paran, His glory covering the heavens, and His power manifested through pestilence and the trembling of mountains and nations. He recounts God's historical acts of salvation, where He marched forth with chariots, cleaving the earth and striking down the wicked for His people. The prophet acknowledges his own trembling and physical distress upon contemplating these divine manifestations. Nevertheless, Habakkuk concludes with a powerful declaration of faith, stating that even if all natural provisions fail, he will rejoice in the Lord, his God and strength, finding salvation and stability in Him.

Long Summary

Habakkuk chapter three opens with a prayer, or "Shigionoth," from the prophet, expressing a profound sense of awe and fear upon hearing the Lord's speech. He earnestly implores God to revive His work in the midst of the years and, in wrath, to remember mercy. The prophet then launches into a magnificent description of God's theophany, depicting Him coming from Teman and Mount Paran, His glory covering the heavens and His praise filling the earth. God's brightness is likened to light, with horns emanating from His hand, signifying the hidden power within. Pestilence and burning coals precede Him, and He stands to measure the earth, scattering nations and causing everlasting mountains and perpetual hills to bow. Habakkuk observes the affliction of Cushan and the trembling of Midian. He rhetorically questions if God's anger was against the rivers or sea, as He rode forth on chariots of salvation, cleaving the earth and causing mountains to tremble and the deep to utter its voice. The sun and moon stand still at the light of His arrows and glittering spear as He marches through the land in indignation, threshing the heathen. God's purpose is clearly stated as the salvation of His people and His anointed, striking down the head of the wicked. The prophet recounts God's actions against those who sought to scatter His people, even walking through the sea. Personally, Habakkuk confesses his physical trembling and distress upon hearing these divine acts, yet he finds a promise of rest in the day of trouble. The chapter culminates in a powerful declaration of unwavering faith: even if the fig tree does not blossom, the vines yield no fruit, the olive labor fails, fields yield no food, and flocks and herds are cut off, Habakkuk will still rejoice in the Lord, the God of his salvation. He affirms that the Lord God is his strength, enabling him to walk securely upon high places. The prayer concludes with a note for the chief singer, indicating its liturgical use.

Core Concepts

  • Divine TheophanyThe chapter vividly describes God's majestic and terrifying appearance from Teman and Paran, with His glory covering the heavens, brightness like light, and pestilence preceding Him, demonstrating His overwhelming power.
  • God's Sovereignty and JudgmentGod is depicted as measuring the earth, scattering nations, causing mountains to tremble, and threshing the heathen in anger, illustrating His absolute control over creation and human history.
  • Salvation for His PeopleCentral to God's actions is the salvation of His people and His anointed, as He goes forth to strike down the wicked and deliver Israel from their enemies.
  • Prophet's Fear and AweHabakkuk expresses profound personal fear and physical trembling upon hearing and contemplating God's mighty deeds and impending judgment, acknowledging the gravity of divine power.
  • Faith Amidst DesolationDespite the potential for severe agricultural and economic collapse, the prophet declares an unwavering commitment to rejoice in the Lord, finding strength and salvation in Him regardless of external circumstances.
  • God as Strength and DelivererHabakkuk affirms the Lord God as his personal strength, who enables him to overcome difficulties and walk securely, metaphorically like hinds' feet on high places.
  • Mercy in WrathThe prophet's initial plea, "in wrath remember mercy," highlights a key theological tension, acknowledging God's justice while appealing to His compassionate nature.