Habakkuk 3:1

1. Habakkuk On the authorship of the poem see Introduction, pp. 472ff.

Upon Shigionoth R.V., “set to Shigionoth.” The singular of the noun occurs in Psalms 7:1, “Shiggaion of David.” The exact meaning of this and other technical musical terms in the psalm titles is not known. It seems to be related to a verb “to reel,” which is used of the giddiness of intoxication and of love. The primary meaning of the noun would seem to be “reeling”; as a musical term it probably denotes a particular style of poetry or music, or both; a song sung with great excitement, or with a rapid change of emotion. Such a poem is Psalms 7:0. The prayer of Habakkuk is said to be set to Shigionoth, that is, it is arranged and is to be sung after the manner of these “reeling songs.” Schmieder paraphrases it, “after the manner of a stormy, martial, and triumphant ode.”