About Habakkuk

Habakkuk wrestles with why God allows evil, learning to trust God's sovereign justice and live by faith.

Author: HabakkukWritten: c. 609-598 BCReading time: ~2 minVerses: 19
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King James Version

Habakkuk 3

19 verses with commentary

Habakkuk's Prayer

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. upon: or, according to variable songs, or, tunes, called in Hebrew, Shigionoth

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KJV Study Commentary

Chapter 3 begins: 'A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth' (tephillah laChabaquq hannavi al shigyonoth). After complaint and divine response, Habakkuk offers prayer—demonstrating journey from questioning to worship. 'Upon Shigionoth' (shigyonoth) likely indicates musical notation or style, possibly meaning 'wandering' or 'wild, enthusiastic' song. This suggests liturgical use—Habakkuk's ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

III. (1-15) A hymn describing a future self-manifestation of Jehovah on Israel’s behalf, accompanied by the signs and wonders of the early history. It is impossible to give the English reader an idea of the rhythmical structure of this beautiful composition. We will only observe that it is independent of the arrangement in verses, and that the poem (except in Habakkuk 3:7-8; Habakkuk 3:13, *fin.*)...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**11. spirit of the holy gods--**She remembers and repeats Nebuchadnezzar's language (Da 4:8, 9, 18). As Daniel was probably, according to Oriental custom, deprived of the office to which Nebuchadnezzar had promoted him, as "master of the magicians" (Da 4:9), at the king's death, Belshazzar might easily be ignorant of his services. **the king ... thy father the king ... thy father--**The repetit...
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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 years make known; in wrath remember mercy. speech: Heb. report, or, hearing revive: or, preserve alive

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KJV Study Commentary

Habakkuk's prayer petitions: '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 years make known; in wrath remember mercy' (Yahweh shamati shim'akha yareti Yahweh pa'alekha beqerev shanim chayyehu beqerev shanim todhi'a berogez rachem tizkkor). Having heard God's plan to use Babylon, the prophet is 'afraid' (yareti)—properly ter...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) **Thy speech.**—Better, *thy report,* as in margin. The tone is that of Psalm 44:1, “We have heard with our ears O God! our fathers have told us . . . ” Jehovah’s doings at the *beginning* of the years are well known; the prophet seeks that they may be manifested again, now in the *midst* of the years. The petition “in wrath remember mercy,” is explained by Habakkuk 1:5 *et seq.* It implies—th...
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God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. Teman: or, the south

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KJV Study Commentary

Habakkuk recalls theophany: 'God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise' (Eloha miTeman yavo veQadosh mehar-Paran selah kissah shamayim hodo utehillato male'ah ha'aretz). This poetic recollection draws from Sinai traditions and wilderness journey. 'Teman' and 'Paran' are regions in Sinai/Edom area, recalling Go...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(3-15) Habakkuk describes the “Theophany” or self-manifestation of Jehovah, which is to introduce the desired deliverance. The Authorised Version has unfortunately rendered all the verbs in this section in the *past* tense, thus obscuring the sense of the poem. They all refer to a scene really future, but brought by the grasp of faith into the immediate *present.* In the Hebrew some of these verbs...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13. the captivity of Judah--**the captive Jews residing in Babylon.

And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. horns: or, bright beams out of his side

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.</strong> Habakkuk's theophany continues with dazzling imagery. "His brightness was as the light" (וְנֹגַהּ כָּאוֹר תִּהְיֶה/<em>venoghah ka'or tihyeh</em>)—God's radiance blazes like sunlight, overwhelming in brilliance. This recalls Moses' encounter with God's glory (Exodus 33-...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) **And his brightness was as the light. . . .**—Better, *And a brightness shall there be, like sunlight, and rays are at His side; and there *[*i.e.,* in this radiance] *is the tabernacle of His power.*

Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. coals: or, diseases

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.</strong> God's approach brings both plague and fire—imagery of divine judgment. "Before him went the pestilence" (לְפָנָיו יֵלֶךְ דֶּבֶר/<em>lefanav yelekh dever</em>)—דֶּבֶר (<em>dever</em>) is plague, epidemic disease. This recalls the plagues on Egypt (Exodus 9:3, 9:15) and judgments throughout Israel's history. P...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **Before him went the pestilence. . . .**—Better, *Before Him shall go the plague, and burning pestilence shall go forth where He sets His feet.* Kleinert remarks that it was with these angels of death that Jehovah revealed Himself in the south, and destroyed the armies of Sennacherib (2Kings 19:35).

He 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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>He 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.</strong> God's sovereign power over all creation is displayed. "He stood, and measured the earth" (עָמַד וַיְמֹדֶד אֶרֶץ/<em>amad vayemoded eretz</em>)—God stands and surveys, measuring out the earth like a builder ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(6) **He stood, and measured the earth . . .**—Better, *He has taken His stand and measured the earth, He has looked and made the heathen tremble; and the primeval mountains are broken up, the ancient hills sink down; His goings are as of old; i.e.,* His proceedings are the same as of old time, when He brought up Israel from Egypt. God measures or parcels out the earth; and the usurping invader is...
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I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. Cushan: or, Ethiopia in: or, under affliction, or, vanity

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.</strong> Habakkuk's vision continues with more examples of nations terrified by God's theophany. "The tents of Cushan" (אָהֳלֵי כוּשָׁן/<em>oholey Kushan</em>)—Cushan likely refers to a region in Arabia or possibly Ethiopia/Cush. "In affliction" (תַּחַת אָוֶן/<em>tachat aven</em>) means under troub...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(7) **“I saw.**”—Better, I *see.* **Did tremble.**—Better, *are trembling.* Probably the imagery is still borrowed from the Exodus story, the nations instanced being the borderers on the Red Sea—viz., Cushan (Cush, or Ethiopia) on the west, and Midian on the east side. A plausible theory, however, as old as the Targum, connects this verse with later episodes in Israel’s history. “Cushan” is identi...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. Not inconsistent with Da 5:29. For here he declares his interpretation of the words is not from the desire of reward. The honors in Da 5:29 were doubtless urged on him, without his wish, in such a way that he could not with propriety refuse them. Had he refused them after announcing the doom of the kingdom, he might have been suspected of cowardice or treason.

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 thy chariots of salvation? of: or, were salvation?

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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 thy chariots of salvation?</strong> Habakkuk asks rhetorical questions about God's theophanic displays involving water. "Was the LORD displeased against the rivers?" (הֲבִנְהָרִים חָרָה יְהוָה/<em>havin'harim charah YHWH</em>)—did the riv...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(8) **Was the Lord displeased?**—Better, *Is it* *with the rivers Jehovah is wroth? Is Thine anger against the rivers? Is Thy wrath against the sea?—that Thou* (thus) *ridest upon Thy horses, that Thy chariots* (thus appear) *for deliverance?* **Of salvation.**—Better, *for salvation,* or *for deliverance.* The allusion is obviously to Israel’s miraculous passage through the Red Sea and the Jordan...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**18. God gave--**It was not his own birth or talents which gave him the vast empire, as he thought. To make him unlearn his proud thought was the object of God's visitation on him. **majesty--**in the eyes of his subjects. **glory--**from his victories. **honour--**from the enlargement and decoration of the city.

Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. earth: or, rivers of the earth

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thy bow was made quite naked</strong> (קֶשֶׁת עֶרְיָה תֵעוֹר/<em>qeshet eryah te'or</em>)—God's bow is completely uncovered, ready for battle. The double expression emphasizes totality: stripped bare for action. This recalls God as Divine Warrior fighting for Israel against enemies. <strong>According to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word</strong> connects divine warfare to covenant pro...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(9) **Thy bow was made quite naked.**—Better, *Thy bow shall be bared, even the chastisements sworn by Thy word. Selah. With rivers shalt thou cleave the earth.* God’s chastisements, which are compared in Psalm 21:12 to arrows fitted to the string, are here represented as a bow taken out of the case, and so “made naked,” or “bared.” The word *matteh, *“rod,” “stem” (hence, also, “tribe”), used to ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19. A purely absolute monarchy (Jr 27:7).

The 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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>The mountains saw thee, and they trembled</strong> (רָאוּךָ יָחִילוּ הָרִים/<em>ra'ukha yachilu harim</em>)—creation itself reacts to God's presence with fear. Mountains, symbols of permanence and stability, shake at theophany. This echoes Sinai, where the mountain quaked at God's descent (Exodus 19:18).<br><br><strong>The overflowing of the water passed by</strong> (זֶרֶם מַיִם עָבָר/<em>...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(10-18) All the verbs in these verses are misrendered as regards tense. (See note on 3-15.) (10) **The mountains saw thee.**—The earthquake at Sinai and the dividing of the Red Sea, the waters of which were lifted up “as a wall on the right hand and on the left” of Israel, lie at the basis of this description. This imagery, however, of sweeping floods and quaking mountains is usual in poetical acc...
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The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. at the light: or, thine arrows walked in the light

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>The sun and moon stood still in their habitation</strong> (שֶׁמֶשׁ יָרֵחַ עָמַד זְבֻלָה/<em>shemesh yareah amad zevulah</em>)—this directly references Joshua's long day (Joshua 10:12-13), when God stopped celestial movements at Israel's leader's request so battle could be completed. Sun and moon 'standing still in their habitation' depicts these heavenly bodies frozen in their appointed pa...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(11) **The sun and moon stand still in their habitation**—*scil.,* where they were at the beginning of the judgment. Here, of course, Habakkuk has in mind Joshua 10:12-13. The rest of the verse is best rendered, *at the light of Thine arrows which go abroad, at the bright glancing of Thy spear.* Apparently, the conception is that the surpassing brightness of the theophany shames the heavenly bodie...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**21. heart was made like ... beasts--**literally, "he made his heart like the beasts," that is, he desired to dwell with them.

Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thou didst march through the land in indignation</strong> (בְּזַעַם תִּצְעַד־אָרֶץ/<em>beza'am titz'ad-aretz</em>)—God strides across the earth in anger against wickedness. The verb 'march' (צָעַד/<em>tza'ad</em>) suggests purposeful, military advance. <strong>Thou didst thresh the heathen in anger</strong> (בְּאַף תָּדוּשׁ גּוֹיִם/<em>be'af tadush goyim</em>)—God tramples nations like gra...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(12) **Thou didst march**.—Here the verbs are in the future, and are to be rendered accordingly.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

22. Thou hast erred not through ignorance, but through deliberate contempt of God, notwithstanding that thou hadst before thine eyes the striking warning given in thy grandfather's case.

Thou 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. by: Heb. making naked

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed</strong> (יָצָאתָ לְיֵשַׁע עַמֶּךָ לְיֵשַׁע אֶת־מְשִׁיחֶךָ/<em>yatzata leyesha ammekha leyesha et-meshichekha</em>)—God's warfare has redemptive purpose: 'salvation' (יֵשַׁע/<em>yesha</em>) of His people. The mention of 'thine anointed' (מְשִׁיחֶךָ/<em>meshichekha</em>, Messiah) could refer to Israel...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(13) **Thou wentest**.—Here the verbs, though past, are best rendered by the English present. **Even for salvation** . . .—Better, *even for the salvation of Thine anointed*—*scil.,* Thy chosen people, as also, perhaps, in Psalm 105:15. The rendering of the Authorised Version has the support of Aquila and the Quinta. It is a possible rendering, but few impartial Hebraists will deny that the other ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**23. whose are all thy ways--**(Jr 10:23).

Thou 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. came: Heb. were tempestuous

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages</strong> (נָקַבְתָּ בְמַטָּיו רֹאשׁ פְּרָזָו/<em>naqavta vematav rosh perazo</em>)—God struck enemy leaders with their own weapons ('staves,' מַטָּיו/<em>matav</em>). This depicts poetic justice: the wicked destroyed by their own instruments of violence. Proverbs repeatedly teaches this principle (Proverbs 26:27, 28:10)—tho...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(14) **Thou dost strike through with his staves** . . .—Better, *Thou dost pierce with his* (*scil.,* thine anointed people’s) *spears the head of his* (the enemy’s) *princes, when they sweep by to scatter me abroad, when they exult as if to devour the afflicted secretly.* The first clause is very obscure. *Matteh* means not only “spear,” but also “rod,” “stem,” “tribe” (see on Habakkuk 3:9); and ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**24. Then--**When thou liftedst up thyself against the Lord. **the part of the hand--**the fore part, the fingers. **was ... sent from him--**that is, from God.

Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters. heap: or, mud

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters</strong> (דָּרַכְתָּ בַיָּם סוּסֶיךָ חֹמֶר מַיִם רַבִּים/<em>darakhta vayyam susekha chomer mayim rabbim</em>)—God strides through the sea with His horses, trampling massive waters. This directly recalls the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14-15), where God delivered Israel by dividing waters. The imagery portrays...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(15) **Thou didst walk.**—Better, *Thou walkest. *“Heap” is probably the correct translation of *chômer* here, as in Exodus 8:10. With this glance at the miraculous passage of the Red Sea (see Habakkuk 3:8) this prophetic poem comes to a sudden termination. The new paragraph begins with Habakkuk 3:16, not, as is indicated in the Authorised Version, with Habakkuk 3:17.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**25. Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin--**literally, "numbered, weighed, and dividers."

Rejoicing in the Lord

When 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. invade: or, cut them in pieces

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KJV Study Commentary

Habakkuk describes his physical response to divine revelation: 'When 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' (shamati vattirga'az bni lishmua tzafilu sephatay yavo raqav ba'atzmotay vetachtay erga'ash asher a...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(16-19) Habakkuk now reverts abruptly to the Divine sentence of Habakkuk 1:5 *et seq.,* and describes with what emotion he meditates on the coming disasters, and on his own inability to prevent them. His anxiety is, however, swept aside by a joyful and overpowering confidence in God. These verses are a kind of appendix to the preceding poem. (16) **That I might rest** . . .—Better, *that I should ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

26. God hath fixed the number of years of thine empire, and that number is now complete.

Although 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: fail: Heb. lie

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Although 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:</strong> This verse begins one of Scripture's most profound expressions of faith in the face of total material loss. Habakkuk envisions complete agricultural ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(17) **Although**.—Better, *For.* The conjunction connects this verse with what precedes, and explains Habakkuk’s affliction more fully. With the sword shall come famine, invasion as usual producing desolation.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**27. weighed in the balances--**The Egyptians thought that Osiris weighed the actions of the dead in a literal balance. The Babylonians may have had the same notion, which would give a peculiar appropriateness to the image here used. **found wanting--**too light before God, the weigher of actions (1Sa 2:3; Psa 62:9). Like spurious gold or silver (Jr 6:30).

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.</strong> After describing total catastrophic loss, Habakkuk makes this stunning declaration of faith—"Yet I will rejoice." The Hebrew "Yet" (וַאֲנִי/<em>va'ani</em>) is emphatic and contrastive, setting up the radical difference between circumstances and response. Despite everything, in defiance of all evidence, the pro...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(18) **Yet**—*i.e.,* in spite of all the afflictions predicted in Habakkuk 3:17. We are reminded of St. Paul’s expression of confidence in Romans 8:37.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**28. Peres--**the explanation of "dividers" (Da 5:25), the active participle plural there being used for the passive participle singular, "dividers" for "divided." The word "Peres" alludes to the similar word "Persia." **divided--**namely, among the Medes and Persians [Maurer]; or, "severed" from thee [Grotius].

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 stringed instruments. stringed: Heb. Neginoth

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KJV Study Commentary

Habakkuk concludes with triumphant declaration: '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' (Yahweh Adonai cheyli veyasem raglai ka'ayaloth ve'al-bamothai yadrikheni). After describing total agricultural failure (v.17) and declaring he'll rejoice anyway (v.18), he affirms God as 'my strength' (cheyli)—source of power a...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(19) **The Lord God**.—This is an adaptation from Psalm 18:33. The “hinds’ feet” indicate the strength and elasticity of the prophet’s confidence; the “high places” are, as Kleinert observes, “the heights of salvation which stand at the end of the way of tribulation, and which only the righteous man can climb by the confidence of faith.” **To the chief singer**—*i.e.*, to the precentor, or presidi...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**29. Belshazzar ... clothed Daniel with scarlet--**To come from the presence of a prince in a dress presented to the wearer as a distinction is still held a great honor in the East. Daniel was thus restored to a similar rank to what he had held under Nebuchadnezzar (Da 2:48). Godly fidelity which might be expected to bring down vengeance, as in this case, is often rewarded even in this life. The ...
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