Habakkuk 3:9 You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers;

◄ Habakkuk 3:9 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers;

English Standard Version
You stripped the sheath from your bow, calling for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers.

New American Standard Bible
Your bow was made bare, The rods of chastisement were sworn. Selah. You cleaved the earth with rivers.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You took the sheath from Your bow; the arrows are ready to be used with an oath. Selah You split the earth with rivers.

International Standard Version
Your bow was exposed, and your arrows targeted by command. Interlude You split the earth with rivers.

American Standard Version
Thy bow was made quite bare; The oaths to the tribes were a'sure word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou wilt surely take up thy bow: according to the oaths which thou hast spoken to the tribes. Thou wilt divide the rivers of the earth.

Darby Bible Translation
Thy bow was made naked, The rods of discipline sworn according to thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

Young's Literal Translation
Utterly naked Thou dost make Thy bow, Sworn are the tribes -- saying, 'Pause!' With rivers Thou dost cleave the earth.

Cross References

Psalm 7:12
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.

Psalm 7:13
He has also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordains his arrows against the persecutors.

Psalm 78:16
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

Psalm 105:41
He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.

Habakkuk 3:11
The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of your arrows they went, and at the shining of your glittering spear.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:3-15 God's people, when in distress, and ready to despair, seek help by considering the days of old, and the years of ancient times, and by pleading them with God in prayer. The resemblance between the Babylonish and Egyptian captivities, naturally presents itself to the mind, as well as the possibility of a like deliverance through the power of Jehovah. God appeared in his glory. All the powers of nature are shaken, and the course of nature changed, but all is for the salvation of God's own people. Even what seems least likely, shall be made to work for their salvation. Hereby is given a type and figure of the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ. It is for salvation with thine anointed. Joshua who led the armies of Israel, was a figure of Him whose name he bare, even Jesus, our Joshua. In all the salvations wrought for them, God looked upon Christ the Anointed, and brought deliverances to pass by him. All the wonders done for Israel of old, were nothing to that which was done when the Son of God suffered on the cross for the sins of his people. How glorious his resurrection and ascension! And how much more glorious will be his second coming, to put an end to all that opposes him, and all that causes suffering to his people!

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. bow … made … naked—that is, was drawn forth from its cover, in which bows usually were cased when not in use. Compare Isa 22:6, "Kir uncovered the shield."

according to the oaths of the tribes even thy word—that is, Thy oaths of promise to the tribes of Israel (Ps 77:8; Lu 1:73, 74). Habakkuk shows that God's miraculous interpositions for His people were not limited to one time, but that God's oaths to His people are sure ground for their always expecting them. The mention of the tribes, rather than Abraham or Moses, is in order that they may not doubt that to them belongs this grace of which Abraham was the depository [Calvin and Jerome]. Maurer translates, "The spears were glutted with blood, the triumphal song!" that is, no sooner did Jehovah begin the battle by baring His bow, than the spears were glutted with blood and the triumphal song sung.

Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers—the result of the earthquake caused by God's approach [Maurer]. Grotius refers it to the bringing forth water from the rock (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:10, 11; Ps 78:15, 16; 105:4). But the context implies not the giving of water to His people to drink, but the fearful physical phenomena attending Jehovah's attack on Israel's foes.