Habakkuk 3:8-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 3:3-15

It has been the usual practice of God's people, when they have been in distress and ready to fall into despair, to help themselves by recollecting their experiences, and reviving them, considering the days of old, and the years of ancient times (Ps. 77:5), and pleading with God in prayer, as he is pleased sometimes to plead them with himself. Isa. 63:11; Then he remembered the days of old. This is that which the prophet does here, and he looks as far back as the first forming of them into a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:8

Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers ?.... Referring, as is commonly thought, either to the rivers in Egypt turned into blood, which was one of the plagues of that land, Exodus 7:20 when the resentment of the Lord was not so much against them as against the Egyptians; and as a punishment of them for drowning the infants of the Israelites in them, and in order to obtain the dismissal of his people from that land: or else to the river Jordan,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:9

Thy bow was made quite naked ,.... It was took out of its case, and arrows out of their quiver, and these made use of against the enemies of his people: this is put for all weapons of war; the sword was unsheathed, and all military weapons employed, and the power of the Lord was exerted; or, as the Targum, "the Lord was revealed in his power;' fighting the battles of his people, as in the times of Joshua: according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah . That is, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:10

The mountains saw thee, and they trembled ,.... At the power and presence of God, as Sinai of old; See Gill on Habakkuk 3:6 by which are signified mighty people and nations, kings and great men, struck with terror at the amazing providence of God in the world, on the behalf of his own people, and against their enemies; see Revelation 6:14 , the overflowing of the water passed by ; which is usually referred to the overflowing of the river Jordan at the time of the passage of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:8

Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? - Floods; here is a reference to the passage of the Red Sea. The Lord is represented as heading his troops, riding in his chariot, and commanding the sea to divide, that a free passage might be left for his army to pass over. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:9

Thy bow was made quite naked - That is, it was drawn out of its case; as the arrows had their quiver, so the bows had their cases. A fine oriental bow and bow-case, with quiver and arrows, are now before me; they show with what propriety Jehovah is represented as taking his bow out of its case, in order to set his arrow upon the cord, to shoot at his enemies. It is not the drawing out, or making bare the arrow, that is mentioned here; but the taking the bow out of its case to prepare to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:10

The mountains saw thee - This is the continued answer to the questions in Habakkuk 3:8 . These are figures highly poetic, to show with what ease God accomplished the most arduous tasks in behalf of his people. As soon as the mountains saw him, they trembled, they were in pangs. When he appeared, the sea fled to right and left, to give him a passage. "It uttered its voice." The separation of the waters occasioned a terrible noise. "And it lifted up its hands on high." Its waters, being... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:8

Verse 8 The Prophet here applies the histories to which he has already referred, for the purpose of strengthening the hope of the faithful; so that they might know these to be so many proofs and pledges of God’s favor towards them, and that they might thus cheerfully look for his aid, and not succumb to temptation in their adversities. When he asks, was God angry with the rivers and the sea, he no doubt intended in this way to awaken the thoughts of the faithful, that they might consider the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:9

Verse 9 The Prophet explains the same thing more clearly in this verse—that the power of God was formerly manifested for no other reason but that the children of Abraham might be taught to expect from him a continued deliverance: for he says that the bow of God was made bare. By the bow, he means also the sword and other weapons; as though he had said, that God was then armed, as we have found declared before. God therefore was then furnished with weapons, and marched to the battle, having... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:10

Verse 10 Habakkuk proceeds with the history of the people’s redemption. We have said what his object was, even this that the people, though in an extreme state of calamity, might yet entertain hope of God’s favor; for he became not a Redeemer to the race of Abraham for one time, but that he might continue the same favor to them to the end. He says that mountains had seen and grieved. Some explain this allegorically of kings, and say, that they grieved when envy preyed on them: but this view is... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 3:3-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:10

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