Habakkuk 3:8
What does Habakkuk 3:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Habakkuk 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Habakkuk 3:8 means
Habakkuk employs rhetorical questions to emphasize God's purposeful action in past deliverances, particularly linking to the Exodus. He asks if God's powerful crossing of the Red Sea and other waters was due to anger at the waters themselves. The implied answer is no; rather, God's riding "upon thy horses, Upon thy chariots of salvation" was motivated by His intention to bring salvation to His people. These questions highlight that God's power is always directed by His redemptive purposes, even when it involves overwhelming natural forces.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers, Or thy wrath against the sea, That thou didst ride upon thy horses, Upon thy chariots of salvation?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Was 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?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers, Or thy wrath against the sea, That thou didst ride upon thy horses, Upon thy chariots of salvation?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Was your wrath burning against the rivers? were you angry with the sea, that you went on your horses, on your war-carriages of salvation?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Against rivers hath Jehovah been wroth? Against rivers <FI>is<Fi> Thine anger? Against the sea <FI>is<Fi> Thy wrath? For Thou dost ride on Thy horses--Thy chariots of salvation?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Wast thou angry, O Lord, with the rivers? or was thy wrath upon the rivers? or thy indignation in the sea? Who will ride upon thy horses: and thy chariots are salvation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Was Jehovah wrathful with the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers? Was thy rage against the sea, That thou didst ride upon thy horses, Thy chariots of salvation?
Context
Following the general trembling of nations recounted in verse 7, Habakkuk begins a series of rhetorical questions in verse 8, seeking to understand the divine motivation behind God's powerful historical actions. These questions precede and lead into a detailed recounting of God's great acts of deliverance, particularly evocative of the Exodus. This section clarifies that God's power is wielded purposefully for the salvation of His people, not out of arbitrary wrath.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 19:14
And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
- Psalms 18:10
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
- Exodus 7:20
And Moses and Aaron did so, as Jehovah commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
- Revelation 16:12
And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising.
- Psalms 114:3
The sea saw it, and fled; The Jordan was driven back.
- Psalms 68:4
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is Jehovah; and exult ye before him.
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