Habakkuk 3:16
What does Habakkuk 3:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Habakkuk 3:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Habakkuk 3:16 means
After recounting the awe-inspiring acts of God, Habakkuk describes his deeply visceral, fearful reaction. His body trembled, his lips quivered, and "rottenness entereth into my bones," indicating extreme internal terror. This profound physical response is due to the terrifying knowledge that he "must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us." Despite remembering God's immense power, the reality of the impending Babylonian invasion causes a fearful and trembling anticipation of suffering, highlighting the tension between faith and the immediate prospect of hardship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Hearing it, my inner parts were moved, and my lips were shaking at the sound; my bones became feeble, and my steps were uncertain under me: I gave sounds of grief in the day of trouble, when his forces came up against the people in bands.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I have heard, and my belly trembleth, At the noise have my lips quivered, Rottenness doth come into my bones, And in my place I do tremble, That I rest for a day of distress, At the coming up of the people, he overcometh it.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I have heard and my bowels were troubled: my lips trembled at the voice. Let rottenness enter into my bones, and swarm under me. That I may rest in the day of tribulation: that I may go up to our people that are girded.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I heard, and my belly trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in my place, That I might rest in the day of distress, When their invader shall come up against the people.
Context
Following the powerful and majestic descriptions of God's historical interventions and His dominion over creation (verses 3-15), verse 16 marks a dramatic shift to Habakkuk's personal, emotional response. This verse directly precedes his climactic declaration of unwavering faith, even in the face of utter desolation. It is crucial for understanding the depth of the prophet's faith, as it reveals that his ultimate trust in God is not born of a lack of fear, but rather in spite of profound fear and trembling at the coming judgment.
v.15Thou didst tread the sea with thy horses, The heap of mighty waters.
v.16This passage
v.17For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6
if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,
- Habakkuk 1:5
Behold ye among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.
- 2 Kings 24:1
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
- Ezekiel 3:14
So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me.
- Psalms 94:12
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Jehovah, And teachest out of thy law;
- Jeremiah 25:9
behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith Jehovah, and I will send unto Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
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