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Selected Verse: Habakkuk 3:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Hab 3:1	Strong Concordance	A prayer [08605] of Habakkuk [02265] the prophet [05030] upon Shigionoth [07692].
	King James	A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
HABAKKUK'S PRAYER TO GOD: GOD'S GLORIOUS REVELATION OF HIMSELF AT SINAI AND AT GIBEON, A PLEDGE OF HIS INTERPOSING AGAIN IN BEHALF OF ISRAEL AGAINST BABYLON, AND ALL OTHER FOES; HENCE THE PROPHET'S CONFIDENCE AMID CALAMITIES. (Hab. 3:1-19) prayer--the only strictly called prayers are in Hab 3:2. But all devotional addresses to God are called "prayers" (Psa 72:20). The Hebrew is from a root "to apply to a judge for a favorable decision." Prayers in which praises to God for deliverance, anticipated in the sure confidence of faith, are especially calculated to enlist Jehovah on His people's side (Ch2 20:20-22, Ch2 20:26). upon Shigionoth--a musical phrase, "after the manner of elegies," or mournful odes, from an Arabic root [LEE]; the phrase is singular in Psa 7:1, title. More simply, from a Hebrew root to "err," "on account of sins of ignorance." Habakkuk thus teaches his countrymen to confess not only their more grievous sins, but also their errors and negligences, into which they were especially likely to fall when in exile away from the Holy Land [CALVIN]. So Vulgate and AQUILA, and SYMMACHUS. "For voluntary transgressors" [JEROME]. Probably the subject would regulate the kind of music. DELITZSCH and HENDERSON translate, "With triumphal music," from the same root "to err," implying its enthusiastic irregularity.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

HABAKKUK'S PRAYER TO GOD: GOD'S GLORIOUS REVELATION OF HIMSELF AT SINAI AND AT GIBEON, A PLEDGE OF HIS INTERPOSING AGAIN IN BEHALF OF ISRAEL AGAINST BABYLON, AND ALL OTHER FOES; HENCE THE PROPHET'S CONFIDENCE AMID CALAMITIES. (Hab. 3:1-19)

prayer--the only strictly called prayers are in Hab 3:2. But all devotional addresses to God are called "prayers" (Psa 72:20). The Hebrew is from a root "to apply to a judge for a favorable decision." Prayers in which praises to God for deliverance, anticipated in the sure confidence of faith, are especially calculated to enlist Jehovah on His people's side (Ch2 20:20-22, Ch2 20:26).

upon Shigionoth--a musical phrase, "after the manner of elegies," or mournful odes, from an Arabic root [LEE]; the phrase is singular in Psa 7:1, title. More simply, from a Hebrew root to "err," "on account of sins of ignorance." Habakkuk thus teaches his countrymen to confess not only their more grievous sins, but also their errors and negligences, into which they were especially likely to fall when in exile away from the Holy Land [CALVIN]. So Vulgate and AQUILA, and SYMMACHUS. "For voluntary transgressors" [JEROME]. Probably the subject would regulate the kind of music. DELITZSCH and HENDERSON translate, "With triumphal music," from the same root "to err," implying its enthusiastic irregularity.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
A prayer of Habakkuk - o. The "prayer" of the prophet, in the strictest sense of the word, is contained in the words of Hab 3:2. The rest is, in its form, praise and thanksgiving, chiefly for God's past mercies in the deliverance from Egypt and the entering into the promised land. But thanksgiving is an essential part of prayer, and Hannah is said to have "prayed," whereas the hymn which followed is throughout one thanksgiving . In that also these former deliverances were images of things to come, of every deliverance afterward, and, especially, of that complete divine deliverance which our Lord Jesus Christ performed for us from the power of Satan Co1 10:11, the whole is one prayer: "Do, O Lord, as Thou hast done of old; forsake not Thine own works. Such were Thy deeds once; fulfill them now, all which they shadowed forth." It is then a prayer for the manifestation of God's power, and therewith the destruction of His enemies, thenceforth to the Day of Judgment. Cyril: "Having completed the discourse about Babylon, and having fore-announced most clearly, that those who destroyed the holy city and carried Israel captive shall be severely punished, he passes suitably to the mystery of Christ, and from the redemption which took place partially in one nation, he carries on the discourse to that universal redemption, whereby the remnant of Israel, and no less the whole world has been saved." Upon Shigionoth - The title, "Shiggaion," occurs only once besides Ps. 7. Upon, in the titles of the Psalms, is used with the instrument , the melody , or the first words of the hymn, whose melody has been adopted The two first are mentioned by a Jewish Commentator (Tanchum) with others, "in his delight," or "his errors," in the sense, that God will forgive them. This, which the versions and Jewish commentators mostly adopt, would be a good sense, but is hardly consistent with the Hebrew usage. "Shiggaion of David," as a title of a Psalm, must necessarily describe the Psalm itself, as "Mismor of David," "Michtam of David," "Tephillah of David," "Maschil of David." But "Shiggaion," as a "great error," is not a title: nor does it suit the character of the Psalm, which relates to calumny not to error. It probably, then, means a psalm with music expressive of strong emotion, "erratic" or "dithyrambic." Habakkuk's title, on Shigionoth (plural) then would mean upon, or (as we should say,) "set to" music of psalms of this sort The number "three" remarkably predominates in this psalm (Hab 3:6 has 15 words, in five combinations of three words; Hab 3:3, Hab 3:10 have 12 words, in four 3's: Hab 3:4, Hab 3:9, Hab 3:19 have 9 words in three 3's: Hab 3:5, Hab 3:12, Hab 3:15, Hab 3:18 have 6 words in two 3's: Hab 3:17 is divided into 4-3-3-4-3-3; Hab 3:8 is 3-3-3-3-2; Hab 3:11 is 4-3-3; Hab 3:16 is 3-3-3-2-2-2-3. This forces itself on every reader. Delitzsch quotes the Meor. Enaim, i. 60, "The prayer of Habakkuk goeth on three's") yet so that long measures are succeeded by very short.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Prayer Prayer in the Old Testament is in contrast with prayer in the New Testament in two respects: (1) In the former the basis of prayer is a covenant of God, or an appeal to his revealed character as merciful, gracious, etc. In the latter the basis is relationship: "When ye pray, say, Our Father" (Mat 6:9). (2) A comparison, for example of the prayers of Moses and Paul, will show that one was praying for an earthly people whose dangers and blessings were earthly; the other for a heavenly people whose dangers and blessings were spiritual.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The song has a special heading, after the fashion of the psalms, in which the contents, the author, and the poetical character of the ode are indicated. The contents are called tephillâh, a prayer, like Psa 17:1-15; 86; 90; 102, and Psa 142:1-7, not merely with reference to the fact that it commences with a prayer to God, but because that prayer announces the contents of the ode after the manner of a theme, and the whole of the ode is simply the lyrical unfolding of that prayer. In order, however, to point at the same time to the prophetic character of the prayer, that it may not be regarded as a lyrical effusion of the subjective emotions, wishes, and hopes of a member of the congregation, but may be recognised as a production of the prophets, enlightened by the Spirit of Jehovah, the name of the author is given with the predicate "the prophet;" and to this there is added על שׁגינות, to indicate the poetico-subjective character, through which it is distinguished from prophecy in the narrower sense. The expression "upon Shigionoth" cannot refer to the contents or the object of the ode; for although shiggâyōn, according to its etymon shâgâh = shâgag, to transgress by mistake, to sin, might have the meaning transgression in a moral sense, and consequently might be referred to the sins of transgressors, either of the Judaeans or the Chaldaeans, such an assumption is opposed both to the use of shiggâyōn in the heading to Psalm 7, and also to the analogy between ‛al shigyōnōth, and such headings to the psalms as ‛al haggittı̄th, ‛al negı̄nōth, and other words introduced with ‛al. Whilst shiggâyōn in Psa 7:1 indicates the style of poetry in which the psalm is composed, all the notices in the headings to the psalms that are introduced with ‛al refer either to the melody or style in which the psalms are to be sung, or to the musical accompaniment with which they are to be introduced into the worship of God. This musico-liturgical signification is to be retained here also, since it is evident from the subscription in Hab 3:19, and the repetition of Selah three times (Hab 3:3, Hab 3:9, Hab 3:13), that our hymn was to be used with musical accompaniment. Now, as shâgâh, to err, then to reel to and fro, is applied to the giddiness both of intoxication and of love (Isa 28:7; Pro 20:1; Pro 5:20), shiggâyōn signifies reeling, and in the terminology of poetry a reeling song, i.e., a song delivered in the greatest excitement, or with a rapid change of emotion, dithyrambus (see Clauss on Psa 7:1; Ewald, Delitzsch, and others); hence על שׁגינות, after dithyrambs, or "after the manner of a stormy, martial, and triumphal ode" (Schmieder).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Upon Sigionoth - A musical instrument.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A prayer of Habakkuk - upon Shigionoth - See the note on the title of Psalm 7 (note), where the meaning of Shiggaion is given. The Vulgate has, pro ignorantiis, for ignorances, or sins committed in ignorance; and so it is understood by the Chaldee. The Syriac has nothing but merely, A prayer of Habakkuk. And the Septuagint, instead of Shigionoth, have μετα ῳδης, with a hymn, which is copied by the Arabic. I suspect that the title here given is of a posterior date to the prophecy. It appears to interrupt the connection between this and the termination of the preceding verse. See them together: - Hab 2:20 : "But the Lord is in his holy temple:Be silent before him, all the earth. Hab 3:1 : O Lord, I have heard thy speech:I have feared, O Lord, thy work.As the years approach thou hast shown;As the years approach thou makest known.In wrath thou rememberest mercy." The prophet may here refer to the speech which God had communicated to him, Hab 1:1-11, 2:4-20, and the terror with which he was struck, because of the judgments denounced against Jerusalem. I have followed the version of Apb. Newcome in this first verse. The critical reader may consult his notes, and the various readings of Kennicott and De Rossi.

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¹ Shiggaion [07692] of David [01732], which he sang [07891] unto the LORD [03068], concerning the words [01697] of Cush [03568] the Benjamite [01121] [01145]. O LORD [03068] my God [0430], in thee do I put my trust [02620]: save [03467] me from all them that persecute [07291] me, and deliver [05337] me:

²⁶ And on the fourth [07243] day [03117] they assembled [06950] themselves in the valley [06010] of Berachah [01294]; for there they blessed [01288] the LORD [03068]: therefore the name [08034] of the same place [04725] was called [07121], The valley [06010] of Berachah [01294], unto this day [03117].

²⁰ And they rose early [07925] in the morning [01242], and went forth [03318] into the wilderness [04057] of Tekoa [08620]: and as they went forth [03318], Jehoshaphat [03092] stood [05975] and said [0559], Hear [08085] me, O Judah [03063], and ye inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389]; Believe [0539] in the LORD [03068] your God [0430], so shall ye be established [0539]; believe [0539] his prophets [05030], so shall ye prosper [06743].
²¹ And when he had consulted [03289] with the people [05971], he appointed [05975] singers [07891] unto the LORD [03068], and that should praise [01984] the beauty [01927] of holiness [06944], as they went out [03318] before [06440] the army [02502], and to say [0559], Praise [03034] the LORD [03068]; for his mercy [02617] endureth for ever [05769].
²² And when [06256] they began [02490] to sing [07440] and to praise [08416], the LORD [03068] set [05414] ambushments [0693] against the children [01121] of Ammon [05983], Moab [04124], and mount [02022] Seir [08165], which were come [0935] against Judah [03063]; and they were smitten [05062].

²⁰ The prayers [08605] of David [01732] the son [01121] of Jesse [03448] are ended [03615].

² O LORD [03068], I have heard [08085] thy speech [08088], and was afraid [03372]: O LORD [03068], revive [02421] thy work [06467] in the midst [07130] of the years [08141], in the midst [07130] of the years [08141] make known [03045]; in wrath [07267] remember [02142] mercy [07355].

¹⁶ When I heard [08085], my belly [0990] trembled [07264]; my lips [08193] quivered [06750] at the voice [06963]: rottenness [07538] entered [0935] into my bones [06106], and I trembled [07264] in myself, that I might rest [05117] in the day [03117] of trouble [06869]: when he cometh up [05927] unto the people [05971], he will invade them with his troops [01464].

¹¹ The sun [08121] and moon [03394] stood still [05975] in their habitation [02073]: at the light [0216] of thine arrows [02671] they went [01980], and at the shining [05051] of thy glittering [01300] spear [02595].

⁸ Was the LORD [03068] displeased [02734] against the rivers [05104]? was thine anger [0639] against the rivers [05104]? was thy wrath [05678] against the sea [03220], that thou didst ride [07392] upon thine horses [05483] and thy chariots [04818] of salvation [03444]?

¹⁷ Although the fig tree [08384] shall not blossom [06524], neither shall fruit [02981] be in the vines [01612]; the labour [04639] of the olive [02132] shall fail [03584], and the fields [07709] shall yield [06213] no meat [0400]; the flock [06629] shall be cut off [01504] from the fold [04356], and there shall be no herd [01241] in the stalls [07517]:

¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice [05937] in the LORD [03068], I will joy [01523] in the God [0430] of my salvation [03468].

¹⁵ Thou didst walk [01869] through the sea [03220] with thine horses [05483], through the heap [02563] of great [07227] waters [04325].

¹² Thou didst march through [06805] the land [0776] in indignation [02195], thou didst thresh [01758] the heathen [01471] in anger [0639].

⁵ Before [06440] him went [03212] the pestilence [01698], and burning coals [07565] went forth [03318] at his feet [07272].

¹⁹ The LORD [03069] God [0136] is my strength [02428], and he will make [07760] my feet [07272] like hinds [0355]' feet, and he will make me to walk [01869] upon mine high places [01116]. To the chief singer [05329] on my stringed instruments [05058].

⁹ Thy bow [07198] was made quite [06181] naked [05783], according to the oaths [07621] of the tribes [04294], even thy word [0562]. Selah [05542]. Thou didst cleave [01234] the earth [0776] with rivers [05104].

⁴ And his brightness [05051] was as the light [0216]; he had horns [07161] coming out of his hand [03027]: and there was the hiding [02253] of his power [05797].

¹⁰ The mountains [02022] saw [07200] thee, and they trembled [02342]: the overflowing [02230] of the water [04325] passed by [05674]: the deep [08415] uttered [05414] his voice [06963], and lifted up [05375] his hands [03027] on high [07315].

³ God [0433] came [0935] from Teman [08487], and the Holy One [06918] from mount [02022] Paran [06290]. Selah [05542]. His glory [01935] covered [03680] the heavens [08064], and the earth [0776] was full [04390] of his praise [08416].

⁶ He stood [05975], and measured [04128] the earth [0776]: he beheld [07200], and drove asunder [05425] the nations [01471]; and the everlasting [05703] mountains [02042] were scattered [06327], the perpetual [05769] hills [01389] did bow [07817]: his ways [01979] are everlasting [05769].

¹¹ Now [1161] all [3956] these things [5023] happened [4819] unto them [1565] for ensamples [5179]: and [1161] they are written [1125] for [4314] our [2257] admonition [3559], upon [1519] whom [3739] the ends [5056] of the world [165] are come [2658].

⁹ After this manner [3779] therefore [3767] pray [4336] ye [5210]: Our [2257] Father [3962] which [3588] art in [1722] heaven [3772], Hallowed be [37] thy [4675] name [3686].

²⁰ And why wilt thou, my son [01121], be ravished [07686] with a strange woman [02114], and embrace [02263] the bosom [02436] of a stranger [05237]?

¹ Wine [03196] is a mocker [03887], strong drink [07941] is raging [01993]: and whosoever is deceived [07686] thereby is not wise [02449].

⁷ But they [0428] also have erred [07686] through wine [03196], and through strong drink [07941] are out of the way [08582]; the priest [03548] and the prophet [05030] have erred [07686] through strong drink [07941], they are swallowed up [01104] of [04480] wine [03196], they are out of the way [08582] through strong drink [07941]; they err [07686] in vision [07203], they stumble [06328] in judgment [06417].

¹³ Thou wentest forth [03318] for the salvation [03468] of thy people [05971], even for salvation [03468] with thine anointed [04899]; thou woundedst [04272] the head [07218] out of the house [01004] of the wicked [07563], by discovering [06168] the foundation [03247] unto the neck [06677]. Selah [05542].

¹ Maschil [04905] of David [01732]; A Prayer [08605] when he was in the cave [04631]. I cried [02199] unto the LORD [03068] with my voice [06963]; with my voice [06963] unto the LORD [03068] did I make my supplication [02603].
² I poured out [08210] my complaint [07879] before [06440] him; I shewed [05046] before [06440] him my trouble [06869].
³ When my spirit [07307] was overwhelmed [05848] within me, then thou knewest [03045] my path [05410]. In the way [0734] wherein [02098] I walked [01980] have they privily laid [02934] a snare [06341] for me.
⁴ I looked [05027] on my right hand [03225], and beheld [07200], but there was no man that would know [05234] me: refuge [04498] failed [06] me; no man cared [01875] for my soul [05315].
⁵ I cried [02199] unto thee, O LORD [03068]: I said [0559], Thou art my refuge [04268] and my portion [02506] in the land [0776] of the living [02416].
⁶ Attend [07181] unto my cry [07440]; for I am brought [01809] very [03966] low [01809]: deliver [05337] me from my persecutors [07291]; for they are stronger [0553] than I.
⁷ Bring [03318] my soul [05315] out of prison [04525], that I may praise [03034] thy name [08034]: the righteous [06662] shall compass me about [03803]; for thou shalt deal bountifully [01580] with me.

¹ A Prayer [08605] of David [01732]. Hear [08085] the right [06664], O LORD [03068], attend [07181] unto my cry [07440], give ear [0238] unto my prayer [08605], that goeth not [03808] out of feigned [04820] lips [08193].
² Let my sentence [04941] come forth [03318] from thy presence [06440]; let thine eyes [05869] behold [02372] the things that are equal [04339].
³ Thou hast proved [0974] mine heart [03820]; thou hast visited [06485] me in the night [03915]; thou hast tried [06884] me, and shalt find [04672] nothing; I am purposed [02161] that my mouth [06310] shall not transgress [05674].
⁴ Concerning the works [06468] of men [0120], by the word [01697] of thy lips [08193] I have kept [08104] me from the paths [0734] of the destroyer [06530].
⁵ Hold up [08551] my goings [0838] in thy paths [04570], that my footsteps [06471] slip [04131] not.
⁶ I have called [07121] upon thee, for thou wilt hear [06030] me, O God [0410]: incline [05186] thine ear [0241] unto me, and hear [08085] my speech [0565].
⁷ Shew thy marvellous [06395] lovingkindness [02617], O thou that savest [03467] by thy right hand [03225] them which put their trust [02620] in thee from those that rise up [06965] against them.
⁸ Keep [08104] me as the apple [0380] of the eye [01323] [05869], hide [05641] me under the shadow [06738] of thy wings [03671],
⁹ From [06440] the wicked [07563] that [02098] oppress [07703] me, from my deadly [05315] enemies [0341], who compass me about [05362].
¹⁰ They are inclosed [05462] in their own fat [02459]: with their mouth [06310] they speak [01696] proudly [01348].
¹¹ They have now compassed [05437] us in our steps [0838]: they have set [07896] their eyes [05869] bowing down [05186] to the earth [0776];
¹² Like [01825] as a lion [0738] that is greedy [03700] of his prey [02963], and as it were a young lion [03715] lurking [03427] in secret places [04565].
¹³ Arise [06965], O LORD [03068], disappoint [06923] him [06440], cast him down [03766]: deliver [06403] my soul [05315] from the wicked [07563], which is thy sword [02719]:
¹⁴ From men [04962] which are thy hand [03027], O LORD [03068], from men [04962] of the world [02465], which have their portion [02506] in this life [02416], and whose belly [0990] thou fillest [04390] with thy hid [06840] treasure: they are full [07646] of children [01121], and leave [03240] the rest [03499] of their substance to their babes [05768].
¹⁵ As for me, I will behold [02372] thy face [06440] in righteousness [06664]: I shall be satisfied [07646], when I awake [06974], with thy likeness [08544].

¹ The burden [04853] which Habakkuk [02265] the prophet [05030] did see [02372].
² O LORD [03068], how long shall I cry [07768], and thou wilt not hear [08085] ! even cry out [02199] unto thee of violence [02555], and thou wilt not save [03467] !
³ Why dost thou shew [07200] me iniquity [0205], and cause me to behold [05027] grievance [05999]? for spoiling [07701] and violence [02555] are before me: and there are that raise up [05375] strife [07379] and contention [04066].
⁴ Therefore the law [08451] is slacked [06313], and judgment [04941] doth never [05331] go forth [03318]: for the wicked [07563] doth compass [03803] about the righteous [06662]; therefore wrong [06127] judgment [04941] proceedeth [03318].
⁵ Behold [07200] ye among the heathen [01471], and regard [05027], and wonder [08539] marvellously [08539]: for I will work [06466] a work [06467] in your days [03117], which ye will not believe [0539], though it be told [05608] you.
⁶ For, lo, I raise up [06965] the Chaldeans [03778], that bitter [04751] and hasty [04116] nation [01471], which shall march [01980] through the breadth [04800] of the land [0776], to possess [03423] the dwellingplaces [04908] that are not theirs.
⁷ They are terrible [0366] and dreadful [03372]: their judgment [04941] and their dignity [07613] shall proceed [03318] of themselves.
⁸ Their horses [05483] also are swifter [07043] than the leopards [05246], and are more fierce [02300] than the evening [06153] wolves [02061]: and their horsemen [06571] shall spread [06335] themselves, and their horsemen [06571] shall come [0935] from far [07350]; they shall fly [05774] as the eagle [05404] that hasteth [02363] to eat [0398].
⁹ They shall come [0935] all for violence [02555]: their faces [06440] shall sup up [04041] as the east wind [06921], and they shall gather [0622] the captivity [07628] as the sand [02344].
¹⁰ And they shall scoff [07046] at the kings [04428], and the princes [07336] shall be a scorn [04890] unto them: they shall deride [07832] every strong hold [04013]; for they shall heap [06651] dust [06083], and take [03920] it.
¹¹ Then shall his mind [07307] change [02498], and he shall pass over [05674], and offend [0816], imputing this [02098] his power [03581] unto his god [0433].

¹ A prayer [08605] of Habakkuk [02265] the prophet [05030] upon Shigionoth [07692].

²⁰ But the LORD [03068] is in his holy [06944] temple [01964]: let all the earth [0776] keep silence [02013] before [06440] him.