A Prayer of Remembrance and Faithful Trust
Habakkuk 3:1-19
Hab.3.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- תפלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לחבקוק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנביא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- שגינות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 7:1 (verbal): The superscription calls Psalm 7 a 'shiggaion' (Hebrew שגיון/שגינות), the same technical musical/poetic term used in Habakkuk 3:1.
- Psalm 86:1 (structural): Begins with a superscription 'A prayer of David,' paralleling Habakkuk 3:1's identification of the following material as a prophetic prayer.
- Jonah 2:1 (thematic): Another instance in the prophetic literature where a prophet introduces a prayer (Jonah's prayer from the fish), comparable in function to Habakkuk's prayer-heading.
- Isaiah 38:9 (structural): Introduces a poetic/song-text with a heading ('A writing of Hezekiah'), similar to Habakkuk 3:1 which labels the ensuing piece as a prophetic prayer/song.
Alternative generated candidates
- A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.
- A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.
Hab.3.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שמעתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- שמעך: NOUN,m,sg,suff:2,m,sg
- יראתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- פעלך: NOUN,m,sg,suff
- בקרב: PREP
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- חייהו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,m,sg
- בקרב: PREP
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תודיע: VERB,hiphil,impf,2,m,sg
- ברגז: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תזכור: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 77:11-15 (verbal): Both texts recall and meditate on the LORD’s past mighty works and wonders (’I will remember your works/wonders’) and invoke those deeds as grounds for hope and renewed act by God.
- Deuteronomy 32:7 (allusion): ’Remember the days of old’ and call to recall God’s acts across generations parallels Habakkuk’s appeal concerning the LORD’s work ‘in the midst of the years’—inviting remembrance of former divine deeds.
- Psalm 80:4-7 (thematic): A communal plea for God to end his anger and restore/renew his people—’How long, O LORD… restore us’—parallels Habakkuk’s petition that God revive his work and, in wrath, remember mercy.
- Exodus 15:11-13 (thematic): The Song of Moses celebrates the LORD’s past salvific deeds and unmatched power; Habakkuk 3’s invocation of the LORD’s deeds and request for their renewal echoes this hymn-like retelling of God’s mighty acts.
- Joel 2:12-13 (thematic): An appeal to God’s character of mercy amid judgment—’return to the LORD… for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger’—resonates with Habakkuk’s plea that God, even in wrath, remember mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- O LORD, I have heard of your renown; I tremble; O LORD, work your work in the midst of the years— in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath, remember mercy.
- O LORD, I have heard your report; I stood in awe, O LORD. In the midst of the years revive your work; in the midst of the years make it known. In wrath, remember mercy.
Hab.3.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אלוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מתימן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יבוא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- וקדוש: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מהר: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- פארן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סלה: MISC
- כסה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הודו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- ותהלתו: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+SUFF,3,m,sg
- מלאה: ADV
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 33:2 (verbal): Explicitly mentions Mount Paran in a theophanic context—'he shined from Mount Paran'—closely echoing Habakkuk's 'Holy One from Mount Paran.'
- Psalm 72:19 (verbal): Prayer for God's glory to fill the earth ('let the whole earth be filled with his glory') parallels Habakkuk's 'his splendor covered the heavens… the earth was full of his praise.'
- Psalm 18:7-16 (thematic): Vivid theophany (earthquake, smoke, lightning, divine manifestation from the mountains) parallels Habakkuk's depiction of God's majestic coming and cosmic effects.
- Exodus 19:16-18 (structural): Sinai theophany imagery—mountain wrapped in smoke/darkness and the presence of God—resonates with Habakkuk's portrayal of God coming from the mountains with splendor covering the heavens.
Alternative generated candidates
- God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
- God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
Hab.3.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונגה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כאור: PREP
- תהיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- קרנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מידו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חביון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עזה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 34:29-35 (thematic): Moses' face shines after encountering Yahweh; similar motif of divine brightness/brightness issuing from the deity's presence.
- Ezekiel 1:26-28 (verbal): Description of the divine throne-vision with dazzling brightness and radiance (‘like the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD’), paralleling the theophanic imagery of light and glory.
- Daniel 10:6 (verbal): Apocalyptic portrait of a heavenly figure with a face like lightning and eyes like flaming torches—echoes Habakkuk’s emphasis on radiant, fearsome divine brightness.
- Revelation 1:14-16 (allusion): John’s vision of the exalted Son of Man—eyes like flame, face like the sun—reflects New Testament appropriation of OT theophanic imagery found in Habakkuk 3.
- 2 Samuel 22:14-16 (cf. Psalm 18:12-15) (thematic): A theophany in which the LORD appears with tempest, fire, and dazzling light; parallels Habakkuk’s depiction of divine rays and the veiling/manifestation of divine power.
Alternative generated candidates
- And his brightness was like the light; rays went forth from his hand—there was the hiding of his power.
- His brightness was like the light; rays went forth from his hand—there was the hiding of his power.
Hab.3.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ילך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- רשף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לרגליו: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 97:3 (verbal): “A fire goes before him and burns up his enemies”—close verbal/thematic parallel: fire/purge goes before God like Habakkuk’s רשף (flame) at his feet.
- Psalm 18:7-15 (2 Samuel 22:8-16) (verbal): Extended theophany language (smoke, fire, lightning, earthquakes) depicting God’s advance in judgment—Habakkuk 3 draws on the same corpus of motifs, including fire and destructive forces preceding the divine presence.
- Nahum 1:5-6 (thematic): Theophanic imagery of creation trembling and the earth burned at God’s presence. Shares the theme of cosmic/terrible destruction attending the LORD’s coming (fire, devastation before him).
- Joel 2:3, 2:6-11 (thematic): Description of the advancing army with fire devouring before it and ruin in its wake (day of the Lord imagery). Parallels Habakkuk’s picture of calamity/pestilence and burning preceding God’s march.
Alternative generated candidates
- Before him went pestilence, and plague walked at his feet.
- Before him went pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
Hab.3.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וימדד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ראה: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויתפצצו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הררי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- עד: PREP
- שחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- גבעות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הליכות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Nahum 1:5-6 (verbal): Mountains quake and hills melt before God’s presence—directly parallels the image of mountains scattering and hills bowing at theophany in Habakkuk 3:6.
- Job 9:5-8 (thematic): Describes God overturning and removing mountains and shaking the earth—theme of divine sovereignty over creation and nations echoes Habakkuk’s portrayal.
- Job 26:7-14 (thematic): A majestic theophany cataloguing God’s control over cosmic forces (earth hanging, mountains moved), paralleling Habakkuk’s language of God measuring the earth and subduing nations.
- Isaiah 40:12 (structural): Speaks of measuring the waters and marking off the heavens—parallels the motif of God ‘measuring’ the earth in Habakkuk 3:6 (sovereign measurement of creation).
- Psalm 18:7-15 (verbal): A theophanic description in which the earth shakes and the mountains move as God comes in power—similar imagery and verbs describing God’s mighty, world-shaping action.
Alternative generated candidates
- He stood and measured the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. Then the ancient mountains were shattered, the everlasting hills bowed—his ways are from of old.
- He stood, and measured the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were shattered; the everlasting hills bowed—his ways are eternal.
Hab.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- תחת: PREP
- און: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- אהלי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- כושן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירגזון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- יריעות: NOUN,f,pl,const
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 3:8 (verbal): Name overlap: Cushan (Cushan‑rishathaim) appears in Judges as an oppressor of Israel, echoing Habakkuk’s sight of the 'tents of Cushan' in distress.
- Judges 7:12–22 (thematic): Midian defeated and their camp thrown into panic — the image of Midianite tents disrupted and trembling parallels Habakkuk’s 'curtains of the land of Midian' trembling.
- Isaiah 21:16–17 (thematic): Prophetic oracle about the fall of Kedar and the loss of its tents—similar nomadic/tent imagery signaling the humiliation or collapse of desert peoples.
- Psalm 68:7–8 (thematic): Theophanic language of the earth and Sinai trembling at God’s presence; parallels Habakkuk’s vision of nations and their tents trembling before divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- At his rebuke I saw the tents of Cushan in anguish; the curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
- I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
Hab.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הבנהרים: PART
- חרה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- בנהרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אפך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- בים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עברתך: NOUN,f,sg,cstr,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- תרכב: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- סוסיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- מרכבתיך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ישועה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 15:10 (thematic): Song of Moses celebrates Yahweh's victory over Pharaoh's chariots and horses and his command of the sea—paralleling Habakkuk's image of God acting against rivers/sea and riding in triumph.
- Nahum 1:4 (verbal): Nahum explicitly says God 'rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers,' language closely echoing Hab 3:8's question about God's wrath against rivers and the sea.
- Psalm 68:17 (thematic): Speaks of the 'chariots of God' and divine hosts—resonant with Habakkuk's 'your horses' and 'chariots of salvation' imagery of God's martial, salvific movement.
- Psalm 77:16-19 (allusion): Describes God rising in judgment over the waters—'the waters saw you, O God; the depths trembled' and making a way through the sea, paralleling Habakkuk's motif of God acting against seas/rivers in a theophany.
- Psalm 18:9-16 (structural): A theophany of God descending with storm, earthquake, and arrows—structurally similar to Habakkuk's prophetic theophany of God riding forth with salvific, martial imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- O LORD, were you angry with the rivers? Was your wrath against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea, when you rode upon your horses, when your chariots of salvation rode forth?
- Was the LORD displeased with the rivers? Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD? Or was your anger against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation?
Hab.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עריה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3f
- תעור: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- קשתך: NOUN,f,sg,suff
- שבעות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מטות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- סלה: MISC
- נהרות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תבקע: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 22:16 (cf. Psalm 18:15) (verbal): Describes God’s intervention with water/earth imagery—'the channels of the sea were seen'/'foundations of the world laid bare'—paralleling Habakkuk’s image of rivers cleaving the earth.
- Psalm 77:16-19 (thematic): Speaks of God’s path through the sea and the trembling of the waters; thematically echoes Habakkuk’s portrayal of God controlling waters and earth in a theophanic, martial scene.
- Nahum 1:4 (verbal): Declares that the LORD 'rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers,' closely mirroring Habakkuk’s language of rivers being cleft or affecting the land.
- Exodus 14:21 (allusion): The parting of the sea at the Exodus—God’s control over waters and the earth—is an important background for Habakkuk’s image of rivers splitting the land in a divine act.
Alternative generated candidates
- You unveiled your bow and made ready your arrows—Selah; you split the earth with rivers.
- You uncovered your bow; you called for many arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers.
Hab.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ראוך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- יחילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הרים: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- זרם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תהום: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קולו: NOUN,m,sg,poss3ms
- רום: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ידיהו: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- נשא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 15:8 (verbal): Song of the Sea speaks of waters being driven back, the deep convulsing and waters standing up at God's blast—close verbal/thematic language to Habakkuk's 'a torrent flowed by; the deep gave voice.'
- Psalm 77:16-19 (verbal): Psalmic theophany: 'the waters saw you... the depths trembled... Your way was in the sea'—echoes the imagery of the deep crying out and God's path through the waters in Hab 3:10.
- Psalm 29:3-9 (thematic): The 'voice of the LORD' over the waters that shakes cedars and makes mountains skip parallels Habakkuk's picture of mountains and waters reacting to God's powerful presence and voice.
- Nahum 1:5 (thematic): Nahum portrays mountains quaking and hills melting at God's presence—a close thematic parallel to 'the mountains saw you and writhed' in Hab 3:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- The mountains saw you and writhed; the overflowing waters passed by; the deep uttered its voice and lifted up its hands on high.
- The mountains saw you and writhed; a torrent of waters swept by; the deep gave forth its voice; the sun and moon stood still at the light of your arrows, at the gleam of your spear.
Hab.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שמש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ירח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- זבלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חציך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2ms
- יהלכו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,pl
- לנגה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ברק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חניתך: NOUN,f,sg,suf-2ms
Parallels
- Joshua 10:12-14 (quotation): Joshua's prayer for the sun and moon to stand still is directly echoed by Habakkuk's language of sun and moon standing—an explicit theophanic motif and likely intertextual reference.
- Psalm 18:13-15 (verbal): Psalm 18 depicts the Lord sending out arrows, flashing lightnings, and cosmic disturbance—paralleling Habakkuk's 'light of your arrows' and the martial imagery of spear and lightning.
- 2 Samuel 22:8-16 (verbal): This victory/theophany song (closely parallel to Psalm 18) uses the same motifs—heavens trembling, arrows and flashes of light—echoing Habakkuk's depiction of divine warfare and cosmic signs.
- Isaiah 38:8 (thematic): Hezekiah's sign of the sun's shadow going back invokes God's control over the sun's movement; thematically related to Habakkuk's image of sun and moon halting at God's act.
Alternative generated candidates
- The sun and moon stood still in their dwelling; at the light of your arrows they moved, at the gleam of your glittering spear.
- At the flash of your glittering beams the sun and moon halted in their dwelling; at the glare of your shining spear.
Hab.3.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בזעם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תצעד: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- באף: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תדוש: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 63:1-6 (verbal): Divine warrior imagery of treading/pressing in anger and the peoples' blood on garments—closely parallels Habakkuk’s language of marching in wrath and trampling nations.
- Joel 3:12-13 (verbal): Calls for nations to be put into the winepress/tread the grapepress—uses same agricultural/violence metaphor for divine judgment as ‘threshing’ the nations.
- Isaiah 41:15 (verbal): God promises to make his people a threshing sledge to thresh mountains—same threshing/beat imagery applied to subduing peoples.
- Jeremiah 51:20 (thematic): Speaks of God using instruments to break nations in pieces—resonant theme of divine anger acting decisively against nations.
- Psalm 2:9 (thematic): Imagery of breaking/dashing nations like pottery underlies the same motif of sovereign, violent overthrow of hostile peoples found in Habakkuk.
Alternative generated candidates
- With anger you marched over the earth; in wrath you trod down the nations.
- In anger you marched across the earth; in wrath you trampled the nations.
Hab.3.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יצאת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לישע: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עמך: NOUN,m,sg,suff-2m
- לישע: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- משיחך: NOUN,m,sg,suff2ms
- מחצת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רשע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ערות: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יסוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- צואר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Genesis 3:15 (verbal): Both verses employ the image of crushing the head (Hebrew shuph/מחץ) — the proto‑evangelium motif of striking the serpent's head echoes the violent defeat of the wicked in Habakkuk.
- Psalm 2:9 (thematic): Psalmist speaks of the Lord's anointed who will break the nations (rod of iron/dash in pieces); parallels Habakkuk's 'salvation of your anointed' and divine overthrow of the wicked.
- Exodus 15:13 (thematic): The song at the sea celebrates God going out to save and lead the redeemed—paralleling Habakkuk's opening line, 'You went out for the salvation of your people.'
- Isaiah 63:3-6 (allusion): Isaiah's theophany depicts the Lord coming in wrath to tread the nations and exact vengeance—similar theophanic, salvific, and punitive language (crushing/trampling, laying bare) found in Habakkuk 3:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- You went out to save your people, to save your anointed; you struck the head from the house of the wicked, exposing the foundations even to the neck. Selah.
- You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying bare to the neck its foundation. Selah.
Hab.3.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נקבת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- במטיו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRS,3,m,sg
- ראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרזיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRS,3,m,sg
- יסערו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- להפיצני: VERB,piel,inf+PRS_OBJ,1,sg
- עליצתם: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRS,3,m,pl
- כמו: PREP
- לאכל: INF,qal
- עני: ADJ,m,sg
- במסתר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 63:1-6 (verbal): Isaiah pictures the LORD treading the winepress in anger and trampling the nations—close verbal and imagistic parallel to Habakkuk’s picture of divine martial action and crushing of foes.
- Psalm 18:7-16 (thematic): A dramatic theophany: earth quakes, mountains melt, God appears in storm and judgment. Shares the cosmic, earthquake-and-victory language that frames Habakkuk’s vision.
- Nahum 2:3-4 (thematic): Nahum’s scene of chariots, horses and the devastation of a great city echoes Habakkuk’s martial imagery of riding out in wrath and overthrowing nations.
- Deuteronomy 32:41-43 (allusion): God’s declaration to take vengeance—making his sword flash and causing nations to rejoice/weep—parallels the motif of divine retribution and the consuming/destructive outcome described in Habakkuk.
Alternative generated candidates
- You pierced through with their own spears the leaders of their host; at your rebuke their troops were scattered— their rejoicing was like devouring the poor in secret.
- You pierced with rebukes the heads of his warriors; at your rebuke they stormed out to scatter me. Their exultation was to devour the poor in secret.
Hab.3.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- דרכת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- בים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סוסיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:2,m,sg
- חמר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 15:1 (verbal): Song of the Sea: imagery of horse and rider cast into the sea parallels Habakkuk’s image of God treading the sea with his horses—both depict Yahweh’s victory over enemies by means of the sea.
- Exodus 15:10 (verbal): The sea covering the foe and sinking them like lead echoes Habakkuk’s reference to the many waters and God’s trampling of them—shared language of divine action through wind/sea.
- Psalm 77:19 (thematic): ‘Your way was in the sea, your path in the great waters’ directly parallels the motif of God’s path/act through the sea in Hab 3:15—both recall theophany at the sea.
- Psalm 89:9 (thematic): Yahweh’s rule over the swelling sea—‘You rule the surging of the sea; when its waves rise you still them’—resonates with Habakkuk’s depiction of divine mastery over mighty waters.
- Nahum 1:4 (thematic): God rebuking or commanding the sea (drying it up) presents the same theme of Yahweh’s sovereign power over waters found in Hab 3:15’s image of trampling the sea with horses.
Alternative generated candidates
- You trampled the sea with your horses, the surging of many waters.
- You rode upon the sea with your horses—through the surge of many waters.
Hab.3.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שמעתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- ותרגז: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- בטני: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss1cs
- לקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צללו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- שפתי: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יבוא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- רקב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעצמי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- ותחתי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1cs
- ארגז: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אנוח: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- ליום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לעלות: VERB,qal,inf
- לעם: PREP
- יגודנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 38:3-4 (verbal): Bodily affliction language—'there is no soundness in my flesh... no health in my bones' parallels Habakkuk's 'decay enters my bones' and physical trembling.
- Nahum 2:10 (verbal): Graphic bodily reaction to catastrophe—'the heart melted, the knees smite together' echoes Habakkuk's trembling limbs and quivering lips at the sight/sound of judgment.
- Isaiah 33:14 (thematic): Terror before divine judgment—'the sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling has seized the hypocrites' resonates with Habakkuk's fear and anticipation of 'the day of trouble' coming on the peoples.
- Isaiah 6:5 (thematic): Prophetic vision producing self‑collapse—Isaiah's 'Woe is me... for I am a man of unclean lips' and his overwhelmed response to a divine vision parallels Habakkuk's bodily shock on hearing God's revelation.
- Psalm 18:7-15 (structural): Theophanic/judicial imagery—earthquakes, smoke, and divine advance in this deliverance hymn structurally parallels Habakkuk 3's theophany that provokes fear, trembling, and bodily distress.
Alternative generated candidates
- I heard, and my inward parts trembled; my lips quivered at the sound; decay entered into my bones; I trembled within myself, at the presence of my Lord, when he advances to the peoples to ravage them.
- I heard, and my inward parts trembled; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; my legs shook beneath me. Yet I will wait quietly for the day of trouble to come upon the people who rise up against us.
Hab.3.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- תאנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תפרח: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- יבול: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בגפנים: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כחש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מעשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- זית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושדמות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אכל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- גזר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ממכלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צאן: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- בקר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ברפתים: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joel 1:10-12 (verbal): Joel uses the same agricultural images (vine, fig tree, olive, fields, flocks) to describe devastation after the locust plague — closely parallels Habakkuk’s catalogue of crop and livestock failure.
- Deuteronomy 28:38-40 (allusion): Part of the covenantal curses predicting failed harvests, unproductive vineyards and olives, and scarcity — thematically parallels Habakkuk’s depiction of national agricultural collapse as judgment.
- Isaiah 24:4-6 (thematic): Isaiah speaks of the earth mourning and yielding no produce because of sin, echoing Habakkuk’s theme of cosmic/agricultural desolation tied to divine judgment.
- Amos 4:6-9 (thematic): Amos recounts God’s withdrawing of rain and sending calamities that reduce crops and flocks as disciplinary acts — similar causal linkage between divine action and agricultural ruin found in Habakkuk 3:17.
- Psalm 107:33-34 (thematic): The Psalm describes God transforming fruitful land into a barren waste and causing scarcity, using imagery of withered crops and failing provision that parallels Habakkuk’s list of lost produce and livestock.
Alternative generated candidates
- Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls,
- Though the fig tree does not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines; though the olive crop fail and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—
Hab.3.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- אעלוזה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- אגילה: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- באלהי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- ישעי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 12:2 (verbal): Declares ‘God is my salvation’ and links that confession with trust and joy, echoing ‘God of my salvation’ and rejoicing in Habakkuk.
- Luke 1:47 (verbal): Mary’s ‘my spirit rejoices in God my Savior’ closely parallels the personal language of rejoicing in ‘the God of my salvation’.
- Psalm 27:1 (thematic): ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation’ expresses the same confidence in God-as-savior that grounds the psalmist’s (and Habakkuk’s) rejoicing.
- Philippians 4:4 (thematic): Paul’s injunction ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ echoes the attitude of steadfast joy in the LORD found in Habakkuk 3:18.
- Psalm 32:11 (thematic): ‘Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous’ reflects the communal/individual call to rejoice in the LORD, parallel to Habakkuk’s declaration of joy.
Alternative generated candidates
- yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
- yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Hab.3.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- חילי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1s
- וישם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- רגלי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- כאילות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- במותי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידרכני: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,obj1s
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנגינותי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs,1s
Parallels
- Psalm 18:33 (or 18:34) (verbal): Direct verbal parallel — Psalm 18 uses the same image: 'He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me on the heights,' echoing Habakkuk's language of God making feet like a deer and causing ascent to high places.
- 2 Samuel 22:34 (verbal): Part of David's victory song that parallels Psalm 18; repeats the deer/feet and high places motif, showing shared poetic tradition and imagery about divine enablement of agile ascent.
- Isaiah 40:31 (thematic): Shares the theme of divine-strengthened motion: those who wait on the LORD renew their strength, mount up (like eagles), run and walk without fainting — akin to Habakkuk's image of God granting strong, sure footing.
- Isaiah 35:6 (thematic): Uses a similar animal-mobility image of restoration: 'the lame shall leap like a hart (deer),' connecting to Habakkuk's motif of restored agility and elevated movement through God's power.
- Psalm 121:3 (thematic): Focuses on God's protection of the pilgrim's feet ('He will not let your foot be moved'), thematically linked to Habakkuk's confidence that the LORD secures and enables his steps to stand and ascend.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's and sets me upon my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
- The LORD God is my strength; he makes my feet like the hinds' feet and sets me upon my high places. To the choirmaster—on my stringed instruments.
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, upon Shigionoth.
O LORD, I have heard your report; I tremble, O LORD, at your work. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
His radiance was like light; rays went forth from his hand, and there was the hiding place of his power.
Before him went pestilence, and plague went out at his feet.
He stood, and measured the earth; he looked, and the nations trembled. Then the ancient mountains were shattered, the perpetual hills bowed—his ways are everlasting.
I saw the tents of Cushan in anguish; the dwellings of Midian trembled.
Was the LORD angry at the rivers? Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD? Was your anger against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation?
You uncovered your bow, you set your arrows—Selah; you split the earth with rivers.
The mountains saw you and writhed; a torrent of waters passed by; the deep uttered its voice; it raised its hands on high.
The sun and moon stood still in their courses at the light of your arrows, at the flash of your gleaming spear.
In anger you marched through the earth; in wrath you trampled the nations.
You went forth to save your people, to save your anointed; you crushed the head of the house of the wicked, stripping it from foundation to neck. Selah.
You pierced the heads of their warriors with their own spears; they rushed out like a whirlwind to scatter me; their exultation was as though to devour the poor in secret.
You rode upon the sea with your horses, through the surge of many waters.
I heard, and my inward parts trembled; my lips quivered at the sound; decay entered into my bones, and my steps trembled beneath me. Yet I will wait quietly for the day of distress, when the people come up against the nation.
Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines; though the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation.
The LORD, my Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's, and makes me walk on my high places. For the choirmaster; with stringed instruments.