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Habakkuk’s Prayer
Habakkuk 3:1–16 is a prayer that moves from awe and mercy to powerful images of Yahweh’s rule, then ends with the prophet trembling and waiting quietly for trouble to come.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The passage identifies itself as a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to music. Habakkuk speaks directly to Yahweh, recalls his fame and deeds, asks him to renew his work and remember mercy, describes his overwhelming power, and ends with his own fearful waiting.
Habakkuk 3:1–16Main takeaway
Habakkuk prays by remembering Yahweh’s mighty deeds, asking for mercy, and waiting quietly even while danger is still ahead.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A prayer that asks for mercyThe passage begins by naming itself as a prayer and saying it is set to victorious music. Habakkuk says he has heard Yahweh’s fame and stands in awe of his deeds.
Explanation
The passage begins by naming itself as a prayer and saying it is set to victorious music. Habakkuk says he has heard Yahweh’s fame and stands in awe of his deeds. He asks Yahweh to renew his work and make it known, and in wrath to remember mercy.
02Yahweh’s coming fills earth with splendourHabakkuk describes God coming from Teman and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covers the heavens and his praise fills the earth.
Explanation
Habakkuk describes God coming from Teman and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covers the heavens and his praise fills the earth. His splendour is like sunrise, yet his power is hidden in rays from his hand. Plague and pestilence go before him, and nations and hills shake before him.
03Creation responds to his powerThe prayer asks whether Yahweh’s anger was against rivers or the sea, then speaks of his horses and chariots of salvation.
Explanation
The prayer asks whether Yahweh’s anger was against rivers or the sea, then speaks of his horses and chariots of salvation. His bow is uncovered and the earth is split with rivers. Mountains fear, the deep roars, and even the sun and moon stand still at the light of his weapons.
04Wrath, salvation, and trembling waitingHabakkuk says Yahweh marches through the land in wrath and threshes nations in anger, yet he also goes out for the salvation of his people and his anointed.
Explanation
Habakkuk says Yahweh marches through the land in wrath and threshes nations in anger, yet he also goes out for the salvation of his people and his anointed. After these images, Habakkuk himself trembles and says he must wait quietly for the day of trouble and for invading people to come.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Habakkuk ask Yahweh to do in this prayer, and what does he ask Yahweh to remember?
Look for the repeated request about Yahweh’s work and the final plea about mercy in Habakkuk 3:2.
02Which parts of the prayer show creation responding to Yahweh’s presence?
Notice the rivers and sea in Habakkuk 3:8, the earth and rivers in Habakkuk 3:9, the mountains and deep in Habakkuk 3:10, and the sun and moon in Habakkuk 3:11.
03How does Habakkuk 3:16 show both fear and waiting?
List the body words that show trembling, then note the line that says, 'I must wait quietly' in Habakkuk 3:16.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Habakkuk 3:1–16
1A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music.
2Yahweh, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, Yahweh. Renew your work in the middle of the years. In the middle of the years make it known. In wrath, you remember mercy.
3God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and his praise filled the earth.
4His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from his hand, where his power is hidden.
5Plague went before him, and pestilence followed his feet.
6He stood, and shook the earth. He looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were crumbled. The age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal.
7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction. The dwellings of the land of Midian trembled.
8Was 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?
9You uncovered your bow. You called for your sworn arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers.
10The mountains saw you, and were afraid. The storm of waters passed by. The deep roared and lifted up its hands on high.
11The sun and moon stood still in the sky at the light of your arrows as they went, at the shining of your glittering spear.
12You marched through the land in wrath. You threshed the nations in anger.
13You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the land of wickedness. You stripped them head to foot. Selah.
14You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears. They came as a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret.
15You trampled the sea with your horses, churning mighty waters.
16I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us.