Habakkuk 3:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

You brandish your naked bow and order it filled with arrows. (Selah) You split the earth with rivers.

Berean Standard Bible:

You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers.

American Standard Version:

Thy bow was made quite bare; The oaths to the tribes were asure word. [Selah Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thy bow^{H7198} was made quite^{H6181} naked^{H5783}, according to the oaths^{H7621} of the tribes^{H4294}, even thy word^{H562}. Selah^{H5542}. Thou didst cleave^{H1234} the earth^{H776} with rivers^{H5104}.

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Commentary for Habakkuk 3:9

Habakkuk 3:9 is a verse from the oracle of the prophet Habakkuk, who lived during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, around the late 7th century BCE. This was a time when the Babylonian Empire was on the rise, and the southern kingdom of Judah was experiencing moral decay and idolatry. Habakkuk's prophecy is a dialogue with God, expressing his anguish over the injustice and violence he sees around him and questioning why God allows these things to happen.

In the third chapter, Habakkuk shifts from dialogue to a prayer in the form of a theophany, describing God's power and His role as a divine warrior. Verse 3:9 specifically speaks to God's might and His readiness for battle. "Thy bow was made quite naked" suggests that God's weapon is prepared and visible, ready for action. The phrase "according to the oaths of the tribes, [even thy] word" likely refers to the covenantal promises made to the Israelite tribes, indicating that God's actions are in line with His sworn commitments to His people.

The word "Selah" appears at the end of the verse, which is a term used frequently in the Psalms and in Habakkuk, thought to be a musical or liturgical direction, signaling a pause for reflection or a change in the musical score.

"Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers" speaks to the imagery of God's power to disrupt and alter the natural order. This could be an allusion to the parting of the Red Sea or to other instances where God displayed His sovereignty over creation, such as the flood in the time of Noah or the crossing of the Jordan River. It emphasizes God's ability to use nature as an instrument of His will, particularly in the context of delivering His people or judging the nations.

In summary, Habakkuk 3:9 reflects the themes of God's covenant faithfulness, His power as a divine warrior, and His control over nature. It is a declaration of trust in God's promises and His sovereignty, even in the face of national crisis and the prophet's own struggles with understanding God's ways.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7198
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֶשֶׁת
   Transliteration: qesheth
   Pronunciation: keh'-sheth
   Description: from קָשָׁה in the original sense (of קוֹשׁ) of bending; a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris; [idiom] arch(-er), [phrase] arrow, bow(-man, -shot).
   
2. Strong's Number: H6181
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶרְיָה
   Transliteration: ʻeryâh
   Pronunciation: er-yaw'
   Description: for עֶרְוָה; nudity; bare, naked, [idiom] quite.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5783
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוּר
   Transliteration: ʻûwr
   Pronunciation: oor
   Description: a primitive root; to (be) bare; be made naked.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7621
   There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁבוּעָה
   Transliteration: shᵉbûwʻâh
   Pronunciation: sheb-oo-aw'
   Description: feminine passive participle of שָׁבַע; properly, something sworn, i.e. an oath; curse, oath, [idiom] sworn.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4294
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַטֶּה
   Transliteration: maṭṭeh
   Pronunciation: mat-teh'
   Description: or (feminine) מַטָּה; from נָטָה; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread); rod, staff, tribe.
   
6. Strong's Number: H562
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֹמֶר
   Transliteration: ʼômer
   Pronunciation: o'-mer
   Description: the same as אֵמֶר; {something said}; promise, speech, thing, word.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5542
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סֶלָה
   Transliteration: çelâh
   Pronunciation: seh'-law
   Description: from סָלָה; suspension (of music), i.e. pause; Selah.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1234
   There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּקַע
   Transliteration: bâqaʻ
   Pronunciation: baw-kah'
   Description: a primitive root; to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open; make a breach, break forth (into, out, in pieces, through, up), be ready to burst, cleave (asunder), cut out, divide, hatch, rend (asunder), rip up, tear, win.
   
9. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5104
    There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָהָר
    Transliteration: nâhâr
    Pronunciation: naw-hawr'
    Description: from נָהַר; a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity; flood, river.