Habakkuk 3:17
What does Habakkuk 3:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Habakkuk 3:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Habakkuk 3:17 means
This verse presents a stark, comprehensive picture of utter economic ruin and desolation. Habakkuk imagines a scenario where every major source of sustenance—figs, vines, olives, fields (for general crops), flocks, and herds—completely fails. This describes a famine of catastrophic proportions, eliminating all agricultural and animal provisions. The prophet deliberately articulates the worst possible material conditions to set the stage for his subsequent declaration of faith, emphasizing that his trust in God is not dependent on favorable circumstances.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Although 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For 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:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For though the fig-tree has no flowers, and there is no fruit on the vine, and work on the olive comes to nothing, and the fields give no food; and the flock is cut off from its resting-place, and there is no herd in the cattle-house:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Though the fig-tree doth not flourish, And there is no produce among vines, Failed hath the work of the olive, And fields have not yielded food, Cut off from the fold hath been the flock, And there is no herd in the stalls.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the fig tree shall not blossom: and there shall be no spring in the vines. The labour of the olive tree 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For though the fig-tree shall not blossom, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labour of the olive-tree 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:
Context
Building on Habakkuk's confession of profound fear and trembling in the face of impending doom in verse 16, verse 17 paints a vivid, comprehensive picture of the worst-case scenario through agricultural metaphors. This detailed depiction of future desolation directly precedes and sets up Habakkuk's triumphant declaration of faith in God regardless of circumstances. It heightens the stakes, showing that his faith is not a shallow optimism but a deep resolve in the face of utter material ruin.
v.16I 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.
v.17This passage
v.18Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 28:15
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
- Joel 1:10
The field is laid waste, the land mourneth; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
- Amos 4:6
And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.
- Jeremiah 14:2
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they sit in black upon the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
- Haggai 2:16
Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw out fifty vessels, there were but twenty.
- Deuteronomy 28:30
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not use the fruit thereof.
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