Habakkuk 3:16-18

16 I heard and my inward parts ¹trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my ²bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must ³wait quietly for the day of distress, For the ⁴people to arise who will invade us.

17 Though the ⁵fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the ⁶olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the ⁷flock should be cut off from the fold And there be ⁸no cattle in the stalls,

18 Yet I will ⁹exult in the LORD, I will ¹⁰rejoice in the ¹¹God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:16-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 3

The title of this chapter is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, composed after the manner of a psalm of David, and directed to the chief singer, Hab 3:1,19. The occasion of it is expressed, Hab 3:2 in which the prophet declares his concern for the work of the Lord, and the promotion of the kingdom and interest of Christ; and observes the various steps that were, or would be, taken for the advancement of it; for which he prays, and suggests that these would be after the manner of the Lord's dealing with the people of Israel, and settling them in the land of Canaan, Hab 3:3-15 and there being several things awful in this account, both with respect to the judgments of God on his enemies, and the conflicts and trials of his own people, it greatly affected the mind of the prophet, Hab 3:16 and yet, in the view of the worst, he expresses his strong faith in the Lord, as to better times and things, that would most assuredly come, Hab 3:17-19.

Cross References

• 1. Daniel 10:8; Habakkuk 3:2
• 2. Job 30:17, 30; Jeremiah 23:9
• 3. Luke 21:19
• 4. Jeremiah 5:15
• 5. Joel 1:10-12; Amos 4:9; 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9
• 6. Micah 6:15
• 7. Joel 1:18
• 8. Jeremiah 5:17
• 9. Exodus 15:1, 2; Job 13:15; Isaiah 61:10; Romans 5:2, 3
• 10. Psalms 46:1-5; Philippians 4:4
• 11. Psalms 25:5; Psalms 27:1; Isaiah 12:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "belly"
• [b]. Or "To come upon the people" who "will"
• [c]. Lit "produce"