The big picture
Habakkuk 3 opens in verse 1 with “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the…”, and closes in verse 19 with “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make…” Repeated or prominent terms include didst, LORD, salvation, earth, feet. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Habakkuk · King James Version · 19Habakkuk 3:1-7
1–7: A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
Habakkuk 3:1–7 opens with “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.” and reaches “I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The prophet’s prayer using storm, mountain, river, and battle imagery to remember divine deliverance; Empty fig trees, fields, folds, and stalls as the trembling prophet still rejoices and stands like a deer on high places, with particular weight carried by earth, everlasting, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.” Naming Habakkuk and Shigionoth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“O LORD , I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD , revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, midst, years. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Habakkuk 3:1-7
King James Version1A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
2O LORD , I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD , revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
3God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
5Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
6He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Habakkuk 3:8-14
8–14: Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the…
Habakkuk 3:8–14 opens with “Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath…” and reaches “Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The prophet’s prayer using storm, mountain, river, and battle imagery to remember divine deliverance; Empty fig trees, fields, folds, and stalls as the trembling prophet still rejoices and stands like a deer on high places, with particular weight carried by didst, rivers, salvation.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Habakkuk 3:8-14
King James Version8Was 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?
9Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
12Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
13Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
14Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
Habakkuk 3:15-19
15–19: Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of…
Habakkuk 3:15–19 opens with “Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.” and reaches “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The prophet’s prayer using storm, mountain, river, and battle imagery to remember divine deliverance; Empty fig trees, fields, folds, and stalls as the trembling prophet still rejoices and stands like a deer on high places, with particular weight carried by feet, LORD, trembled.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Habakkuk 3:15-19
King James Version15Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
16When 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.
17Although 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:
18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Habakkuk 3:1 begins with “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.”
Where the chapter turns
Habakkuk 3:8 forms a natural hinge: “Was 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…”
The final note
Habakkuk 3:19 leaves the reader with “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words didst, LORD, salvation, earth, feet, rivers help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does blame move through the conversation?
The man points to the woman and indirectly to God; the woman points to the serpent. Neither response repairs trust.
Where does mercy appear?
Continued life, the promise involving offspring, and clothing accompany the expulsion.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.