Habakkuk 3:6

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.

He stood {H5975}, and measured {H4128} the earth {H776}: he beheld {H7200}, and drove asunder {H5425} the nations {H1471}; and the everlasting {H5703} mountains {H2042} were scattered {H6327}, the perpetual {H5769} hills {H1389} did bow {H7817}: his ways {H1979} are everlasting {H5769}.

When he stands up, the earth shakes; when he looks, the nations tremble, (Selah) the eternal mountains are smashed to pieces, the ancient hills sink down; the ancient paths are his.

He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.

He stood, and measured the earth; He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; And the eternal mountains were scattered; The everlasting hills did bow; His goings were as of old.

Commentary

Habakkuk 3:6 is a powerful verse from the prophet Habakkuk's prayer, a magnificent hymn of faith and triumph. This verse vividly portrays God's majestic power and unwavering control over all creation and human history.

Context

Chapter 3 of Habakkuk is a prayer (often called a psalm or hymn) offered by the prophet after receiving God's answers to his initial laments. Habakkuk had questioned why God allowed wickedness to prevail and why the Chaldeans (Babylonians), a more wicked nation, would be used to punish Judah. God revealed His plan of judgment, but also His ultimate justice and sovereignty, promising that the righteous would live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). This prayer in chapter 3 is Habakkuk's response, a profound expression of awe and trust in God's character, recalling past acts of divine intervention and anticipating future deliverance. Verse 6 specifically describes a theophany, a glorious manifestation of God's presence and power, echoing ancient traditions of God appearing to His people.

Key Themes

  • God's Absolute Sovereignty and Power: The imagery of God "measuring the earth" and scattering mountains underscores His supreme authority and absolute control over creation. Nothing, not even the most enduring elements of the natural world or the most powerful nations, can stand against His will.
  • Divine Judgment and Intervention: God's action of "driving asunder the nations" highlights His active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate right to judge and disperse peoples according to His divine purpose. This is a reminder that earthly powers are subject to His dominion.
  • The Everlasting Nature of God's Ways: The concluding phrase, "his ways are everlasting," is a profound theological anchor. Despite the terrifying displays of power and judgment, it affirms the unchanging nature of God's character, principles, and purposes. His justice, faithfulness, and love are constant through all generations.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "measured" (madad) can imply surveying, apportioning, or even trampling, suggesting God's authoritative assessment and possession of the earth. "Drove asunder" (parats) means to break forth, burst out, or scatter, conveying a forceful, disruptive action. The terms "everlasting mountains" and "perpetual hills" use the Hebrew word 'olam, which denotes eternity or a very long duration. By stating that even these seemingly eternal structures bow and scatter, the prophet emphasizes God's power as infinitely greater than anything finite. The repetition of "everlasting" for God's ways reinforces His eternal consistency and reliability.

Practical Application

In a world often marked by political upheaval, natural disasters, and uncertainty, Habakkuk 3:6 offers immense comfort and a call to trust. It reminds us that behind all the chaos, there is a sovereign God whose "ways are everlasting." This means His character is unchanging, His promises are sure, and His ultimate plan for justice and redemption will prevail. We can find stability and hope in His unshakeable nature, even when our own circumstances or the global landscape feel like "mountains are scattering" around us. The prophet's ultimate trust, as seen later in his prayer (Habakkuk 3:17-19), flows from this confident understanding of God's eternal power and steadfastness.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 49:26 (7 votes)

    The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

  • Nahum 1:5 (5 votes)

    The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

  • Deuteronomy 33:15 (5 votes)

    And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

  • Luke 1:50 (4 votes)

    And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.

  • Acts 17:26 (4 votes)

    And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

  • Micah 5:8 (3 votes)

    And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

  • Psalms 135:8 (3 votes)

    Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.