Habakkuk 3:9
What does Habakkuk 3:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Habakkuk 3:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Habakkuk 3:9 means
This verse describes God's preparation for battle and His devastating power over creation. "Thy bow was made quite bare" speaks of God preparing His weaponry for action, indicating readiness for judgment or warfare on behalf of His people. The phrase "The oaths to the tribes were a sure word" is a powerful affirmation of God's covenant faithfulness to Israel, promising to uphold His commitments to them. Furthermore, God's power is such that He "didst cleave the earth with rivers," likely referencing miraculous water sources in the wilderness or a metaphorical depiction of His overwhelming destructive force, demonstrating His dominion even over the earth's very structure. "Selah" again prompts pause.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Thy bow was made quite bare; The oaths to the tribes were asure word. [Selah Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Thy bow was made quite bare; The oaths to the tribes were asure word. [Selah Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Your bow was quite uncovered. Selah. By you the earth was cut through with rivers.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Utterly naked Thou dost make Thy bow, Sworn are the tribes--saying, `Pause!' <FI>With<Fi> rivers Thou dost cleave the earth.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Thou wilt surely take up thy bow: according to the oaths which thou hast spoken to the tribes. Thou wilt divide the rivers of the earth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Thy bow was made naked, The rods [of discipline] sworn according to [thy] word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
Context
Following the rhetorical questions about God's motivation for salvation in verse 8, verse 9 vividly details God's readiness for battle and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people. It directly precedes further descriptions of God's overwhelming power displayed against creation and enemies. This verse reinforces the dual themes of God's destructive power and His faithful, purposeful protection of Israel, giving Habakkuk confidence that God would act for Judah's salvation as well.
v.8Was 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?
v.9This passage
v.10The mountains saw thee, and were afraid; The tempest of waters passed by; The deep uttered its voice, And lifted up its hands on high.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 105:41
He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; They ran in the dry places like a river.
- Luke 1:72
To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;
- Lamentations 2:4
He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his wrath like fire.
- Deuteronomy 32:23
I will heap evils upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them:
- Genesis 22:16
and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,
- Genesis 17:7
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
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