Habakkuk 3:5

Translations

Modern

Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps.

Traditional

Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

Literal

Before His face went pestilence, and plague came forth at His feet.

Latin

Ante faciem ejus ibit mors, et egredietur diabolus ante pedes ejus.

Original

Hebrew

English

Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps.

Notes

Habakkuk 3:5

Habakkuk speaks of pestilence and plague as if they were people. He describes them as soldiers in God’s army, carrying out God’s purposes (see Deuteronomy 32:24; Exodus 7–12; Amos 4:10).

Habakkuk 3:5–6

God is the divine warrior who helps his people (see Habakkuk 3:8–15; see also Isaiah 63:1–6).

Habakkuk 3:3–15

The prophet praises God's power to save. These two praise sections (Habakkuk 3:3–7 and 3:8–15) poetically reflect on Israel's exodus. Although Habakkuk focuses on God's redemption of his people, his imagery sometimes includes ideas from ancient Near Eastern stories about the gods. For example:

pestilence and plague (Habakkuk 3:5)
river and sea (Habakkuk 3:8)
sun and moon (Habakkuk 3:11)

This imagery reminds Habakkuk's original audience that the Lord alone is the one true God who rules over all these things.

Habakkuk 3:1–19

Habakkuk’s prophecy concludes with a prayer that has the style and language of a psalm (a song of prayer).

Theme notes and profiles

Human Confusion and God’s Purpose The Holy One of Israel

Events

Prophecies of Habakkukc. 607 BC

Related verses

Exodus 12:29–30
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
Nahum 1:2–3
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
Numbers 16:46–49
Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.”
Psalm 78:50–51
He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.
Psalm 18:7–13
Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
Deuteronomy 32:24
They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.
Numbers 14:12
I will strike them with a plague and destroy them—and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.”

Glossary

Book of Habakkuk Habakkuk (Person) Selah Shiggaion, Shigionoth

Topics

Bolt: Fiery God: Glory of Midianites: Terrified at Approach of Israel The Plague or Pestilence: Inflicted by God

Habakkuk 3:5

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics