Habakkuk 3:8
New International Version
Were you angry with the rivers, LORD? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory?

New Living Translation
Was it in anger, LORD, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!

English Standard Version
Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD? Was your anger against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea, when you rode on your horses, on your chariot of salvation?

Berean Standard Bible
Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD? Was Your wrath against the streams? Did You rage against the sea when You rode on Your horses, on Your chariots of salvation?

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
O LORD, were You displeased with the rivers, Was Your anger against the rivers, Was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation?

New American Standard Bible
Did the LORD rage against the rivers, Or was Your anger against the rivers, Or was Your rage against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, On Your chariots of salvation?

NASB 1995
Did the LORD rage against the rivers, Or was Your anger against the rivers, Or was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, On Your chariots of salvation?

NASB 1977
Did the LORD rage against the rivers, Or was Thine anger against the rivers, Or was Thy wrath against the sea, That Thou didst ride on Thy horses, On Thy chariots of salvation?

Legacy Standard Bible
Did Yahweh’s fury burn against the rivers, Or was Your anger against the rivers, Or was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, On Your chariots of salvation?

Amplified Bible
Did the LORD rage against the rivers, Or was Your anger against the rivers, Or was Your wrath against the [Red] Sea, That You rode on Your horses, On Your chariots of salvation?

Christian Standard Bible
Are you angry at the rivers, LORD? Is your wrath against the rivers? Or is your fury against the sea when you ride on your horses, your victorious chariot?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Are You angry at the rivers, LORD? Is Your wrath against the rivers? Or is Your rage against the sea when You ride on Your horses, Your victorious chariot?

American Standard Version
Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers, Or thy wrath against the sea, That thou didst ride upon thy horses, Upon thy chariots of salvation?

Contemporary English Version
Our LORD, were you angry with the monsters of the deep? You attacked in your chariot and wiped them out.

English Revised Version
Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers, or thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses, upon thy chariots of salvation?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD is not angry with the rivers, is he? If you are angry with the rivers, if you are furious with the sea, [why] do you ride your horses, your chariots of salvation?

Good News Translation
Was it the rivers that made you angry, LORD? Was it the sea that made you furious? You rode upon the clouds; the storm cloud was your chariot, as you brought victory to your people.

International Standard Version
Was the LORD displeased with the rivers? Was your anger directed against the watercourses or your wrath against the sea? Indeed, you rode upon your horses, upon your chariots of deliverance.

Majority Standard Bible
Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD? Was Your wrath against the streams? Did You rage against the sea when You rode on Your horses, on Your chariots of salvation?

NET Bible
Is the LORD mad at the rivers? Are you angry with the rivers? Are you enraged at the sea? Is this why you climb into your horse-drawn chariots, your victorious chariots?

New Heart English Bible
Was the LORD displeased with the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers, or your wrath against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation?

Webster's Bible Translation
Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thy anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thy horses, and thy chariots of salvation?

World English Bible
Was Yahweh displeased with the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers, or your wrath against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Has YHWH been angry against rivers? Against rivers [is] Your anger? [Is] Your wrath against the sea? For You ride on Your horses—Your chariots of salvation.

Young's Literal Translation
Against rivers hath Jehovah been wroth? Against rivers is Thine anger? Against the sea is Thy wrath? For Thou dost ride on Thy horses -- Thy chariots of salvation?

Smith's Literal Translation
Was Jehovah angry against the rivers? if thine anger against the rivers? if thy wrath against the sea? if thou wilt ride upon thy horses, thy chariots of salvation?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wast thou angry, O Lord, with the rivers? or was thy wrath upon the rivers? or thy indignation in the sea? Who will ride upon thy horses: and thy chariots are salvation.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Could you have been angry with the rivers, Lord? Or was your fury within the rivers, or your indignation in the sea? He will ascend upon your horses, and your four-horse chariots are salvation.

New American Bible
Was your anger against the rivers, O LORD? your wrath against the rivers, your rage against the sea, That you mounted your steeds, your victorious chariot?

New Revised Standard Version
Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD? Or your anger against the rivers, or your rage against the sea, when you drove your horses, your chariots to victory?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Was the LORD angry against the rivers? Was thy anger against the rivers? Was thy rage against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thy horses and upon the chariots of thy salvation?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH raged upon the rivers! Your wrath was in the rivers and your vehemence in the sea. You rode on your horses and upon the chariot of your salvation!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Is it, O LORD, that against the rivers, Is it that Thine anger is kindled against the rivers, Or Thy wrath against the sea? That Thou dost ride upon Thy horses, Upon Thy chariots of victory?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wast thou angry, O Lord, with the rivers? or was thy wrath against the rivers, or thine anger against the sea? for thou wilt mount on thine horses, and thy chariots are salvation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Habakkuk's Prayer
7I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of Midian were trembling. 8Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD? Was Your wrath against the streams? Did You rage against the sea when You rode on Your horses, on Your chariots of salvation? 9You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers.…

Cross References
Exodus 15:1-10
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. / The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. / The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name. ...

Psalm 77:16-20
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. / The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. / Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. ...

Psalm 114:3-7
The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back; / the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. / Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, ...

Isaiah 63:11-13
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?

Joshua 3:13-17
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.” / So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them. / Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ...

Nahum 1:3-6
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. / He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. / The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers. ...

Judges 5:4-5
O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water. / The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.

Psalm 18:15
The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

Psalm 29:3-4
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters. / The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

Psalm 68:7-8
O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah / the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

Isaiah 51:9-10
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon? / Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Revelation 19:11-16
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ...

Revelation 6:2-8
So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer. / And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” / Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. ...

Matthew 21:5
“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

John 12:15
“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”


Treasury of Scripture

Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was your anger against the rivers? was your wrath against the sea, that you did ride on your horses and your chariots of salvation?

the Lord.

Exodus 14:21,22
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided…

Joshua 3:16,17
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho…

Psalm 114:3,5
The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back…

ride.

Habakkuk 3:15
Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

Deuteronomy 33:26,27
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky…

Psalm 18:10
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

of salvation.

Jump to Previous
Anger Angry Burning Chariot Chariots Displeased Horses Indignation Kindled Rage Ride Rivers Rode Salvation Sea Streams Victorious Victory War-Carriages Wrath Wrathful
Jump to Next
Anger Angry Burning Chariot Chariots Displeased Horses Indignation Kindled Rage Ride Rivers Rode Salvation Sea Streams Victorious Victory War-Carriages Wrath Wrathful
Habakkuk 3
1. Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God's majesty.
17. The confidence of his faith.














Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD?
This phrase begins with a rhetorical question that sets the tone for the entire verse. The Hebrew word for "angry" here is "חָרָה" (charah), which conveys a sense of burning or kindling with anger. This imagery suggests a divine intensity and passion. The rivers symbolize the natural world, which in ancient Near Eastern cultures, were often seen as chaotic forces. The question implies that God's actions transcend mere human understanding and are not driven by capricious anger but by a righteous purpose. The use of "O LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenantal name of God, reminding the reader of His eternal faithfulness and justice.

Was Your wrath against the streams?
The word "wrath" is translated from the Hebrew "אַף" (aph), which can also mean "nostrils" or "face," suggesting a vivid image of God's anger as something visible and powerful. The "streams" refer to smaller bodies of water, possibly indicating the lesser powers or nations that stand against God's people. This phrase continues the theme of questioning God's motives, inviting the reader to reflect on the nature of divine justice. It reassures believers that God's wrath is not arbitrary but is directed against forces that oppose His will and His people.

Did You rage against the sea
The term "rage" comes from the Hebrew "רָגַז" (ragaz), meaning to tremble or quake, often used to describe an earthquake or a violent shaking. This word choice conveys the overwhelming power of God as He confronts the sea, a symbol of chaos and disorder in ancient literature. The "sea" (יָם, yam) is often depicted as a formidable adversary, representing the ultimate challenge to divine order. This phrase reassures the faithful that God is sovereign over all creation, even the most chaotic and untamable elements.

when You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation?
The imagery of God riding on horses and chariots evokes a powerful military metaphor. In the ancient world, horses and chariots were symbols of strength and speed in battle. The phrase "Your chariots of salvation" highlights God's role as a divine warrior who fights for the deliverance of His people. The Hebrew word for "salvation" is "יְשׁוּעָה" (yeshuah), which is closely related to the name Yeshua (Jesus), pointing to the ultimate salvation through Christ. This imagery serves as a reminder of God's active involvement in the world, bringing about His redemptive purposes through His mighty acts.

(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. The "horses" and "chariots" which are here the symbols of Divine might, come in the more fittingly in view of Exodus 14 (see Habakkuk 3:14 seq.), where Pharaoh, pursued with "horses and chariots," only to find Jehovah Himself arrayed against him.

Verse 8. - Interrupting his description of the theophany, the prophet asks the motive of this wrathful revelation. This is done, not with expectation of an answer, but giving life and vigour to the composition. Such sudden transitions are not uncommon (camp. Judges 5:12; Psalm 78:19, etc.). Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? Was it against the rivers, O Jehovah? was thy wrath kindled against the rivers? Was God angry with inanimate nature, when he showed his power, for instance, in the Nile and the Jordan and the Red Sea? God meant more by these acts. He showed his supremacy over all creation, and his will to save his people and to crush all opposition to the execution of his great design (see Psalm 106:9; Psalm 114:3, etc.). That thou didst ride upon thine horses. The prophet speaks of the Lord as a Leader of a mighty host which came with chariots and horses to defend the Israelites and to crush their foes (comp. Psalm 18:10). And thy chariots of salvation. "And," which is not in the Hebrew, is better omitted, the clause being an explanation of "thine horses." The chariots come for the salvation, i.e. the deliverance, of Israel (ver. 13). Some translate, "Thy chariots are salvation;" as the Septuagint, καὶ ἡ ἱππασία σου σωτηρία: and Vulgate, et quadrigae tuae salvatio. It comes to the same thing, whichever rendering we adopt.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Were You angry
חָרָ֣ה (ḥā·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

at the rivers,
הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ (hă·ḇin·hā·rîm)
Article, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity

O LORD?
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Was Your wrath
אַפֶּ֔ךָ (’ap·pe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

against the streams?
בַּנְּהָרִים֙ (ban·nə·hā·rîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity

Did You rage
עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ (‘eḇ·rā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5678: Overflow, arrogance, fury

against the sea
בַּיָּ֖ם (bay·yām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

when
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

You rode
תִרְכַּב֙ (ṯir·kaḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7392: To ride, to place upon, to despatch

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Your horses,
סוּסֶ֔יךָ (sū·se·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

on Your chariots
מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ (mar·kə·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4818: A chariot

of salvation?
יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ (yə·šū·‘āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3444: Something saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity


Links
Habakkuk 3:8 NIV
Habakkuk 3:8 NLT
Habakkuk 3:8 ESV
Habakkuk 3:8 NASB
Habakkuk 3:8 KJV

Habakkuk 3:8 BibleApps.com
Habakkuk 3:8 Biblia Paralela
Habakkuk 3:8 Chinese Bible
Habakkuk 3:8 French Bible
Habakkuk 3:8 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Habakkuk 3:8 Was Yahweh displeased with the rivers? Was (Hab Hb)
Habakkuk 3:7
Top of Page
Top of Page