Habakkuk 3:9

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Context

Habakkuk 3:9 is part of a magnificent prayer and hymn of the prophet Habakkuk, found in the third and final chapter of his book. This chapter is a poetic and dramatic description of God's majestic appearance (a theophany) and His powerful intervention on behalf of His people. Following Habakkuk's initial lament concerning injustice and God's response about the impending Babylonian invasion, this prayer expresses a profound awe and a fearful hope in God's ultimate justice and deliverance. The imagery here portrays God as a divine warrior, recalling His mighty acts in Israel's past to assure the prophet of His future faithfulness.

Key Themes

  • Divine Readiness and Power: The phrase "Thy bow was made quite naked" vividly pictures God's weapon drawn, uncovered, and ready for immediate action. It signifies God's preparedness for decisive judgment against His enemies and powerful deliverance for His people. This imagery emphasizes God's active involvement in human history and His readiness to execute His divine will.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: The reference to "the oaths of the tribes, even thy word" points to God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises made to Israel, the descendants of the twelve tribes. This underscores God's integrity and reliability, assuring Habakkuk that God will fulfill His sworn word, whether for protection or judgment. This theme echoes God's promises made to the patriarchs like Abraham (Genesis 15:18) and the specific blessings and curses outlined in the Law (Deuteronomy 28).
  • Sovereignty Over Creation: "Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers" is a powerful image of God's absolute control over nature. This likely alludes to miraculous events in Israel's history, such as the parting of the Red Sea or the gushing of water from the rock in the wilderness (Numbers 20:11). It serves as a reminder that no obstacle, natural or human, can stand in the way of God's purposes.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Naked" (ืขึธืจึธื”, 'arah): In this context, it doesn't mean bare or exposed in a vulnerable sense, but rather uncovered and prepared for action. The bow is drawn, not sheathed or put away, indicating readiness for battle.
  • "Cleave" (ื‘ึธึผืงึทืข, baqa): This Hebrew word conveys the sense of splitting, bursting open, or breaking through. It is the same verb used to describe the parting of the Red Sea, emphasizing a forceful and supernatural act of division.
  • "Selah": This term, frequently found in the Psalms, is a musical or liturgical notation. It typically indicates a pause for reflection, meditation, or a musical interlude, urging the reader to ponder the profound truth just stated.

Practical Application

Habakkuk 3:9 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that:

  1. God is Always Prepared: Just as His bow is "naked" and ready, God is actively engaged in the affairs of the world. He is not distant or indifferent but constantly working out His purposes, often in ways we cannot immediately discern.
  2. God is Faithful to His Word: The "oaths of the tribes" signify God's unwavering commitment to His promises. When we face uncertainties or injustice, we can rely on God's character and His unchanging Word. His promises of presence, provision, and ultimate victory are sure.
  3. God is Sovereign Over All: The imagery of cleaving the earth with rivers assures us that God has absolute power over all creation and circumstances. No problem is too big for Him, and He can make a way where there seems to be no way. This should inspire trust and awe in His mighty power.

This verse encourages us to meditate on God's past faithfulness and power, allowing it to fuel our hope and trust in His future actions, even when the present circumstances seem daunting (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 7:12 (7 votes)

    If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

  • Psalms 7:13 (7 votes)

    He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

  • Psalms 78:15 (4 votes)

    He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as [out of] the great depths.

  • Psalms 78:16 (4 votes)

    He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

  • Psalms 105:41 (4 votes)

    He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places [like] a river.

  • Luke 1:72 (3 votes)

    To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

  • Luke 1:75 (3 votes)

    In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.