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? Berean Literal Bible Against the rivers did it burn, O YHWH—Your anger against the rivers? Or was Your wrath against the sea, when You rode on Your horses, 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? Berean Annotated Bible Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD {YHWH}? Was Your wrath against the streams? Did You rage against the sea when 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. 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? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWere 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? 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 VersionHas 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. Berean Literal Bible Against the rivers did it burn, O YHWH—Your anger against the rivers? Or was Your wrath against the sea, when You rode 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 BibleWast 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 BibleWas 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 1917Is 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 (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) 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 Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD? Nahum 1:4 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. Isaiah 50:2 Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. Was Your wrath against the streams? 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, … Psalm 114:3-5 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, Did You rage against the sea Exodus 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. 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. … Isaiah 51:10-11 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? / So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee. when You rode on Your horses, 2 Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. Deuteronomy 33:26-27 “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, and the clouds in His majesty. / The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’ on Your chariots of salvation? Psalm 68:17-19 The chariots of God are tens of thousands—thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai. / You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. / Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah Exodus 15:2-3 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. 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. … 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? 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. 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 WrathfulJump to Next Anger Angry Burning Chariot Chariots Displeased Horses Indignation Kindled Rage Ride Rivers Rode Salvation Sea Streams Victorious Victory War-Carriages Wrath WrathfulHabakkuk 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? God’s actions against the waters were not acts of uncontrolled anger but displays of His authority over creation. Rivers that sustained life could also become barriers before His people, as when the Jordan stopped so Israel could enter the land. Nam 1:4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers… Was Your wrath against the streams? The Lord used the waters in judgment against those who opposed Him, as He did in Egypt when the Nile was turned to blood. No natural force or nation can resist His purposes. Jos 3:13-17 When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD… Did You rage against the sea The sea, often associated with danger and chaos, stood under God’s command. At the Red Sea He opened a path for Israel and brought judgment on Pharaoh’s army. Exo 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,… when You rode on Your horses, Habakkuk portrays the Lord as the divine warrior coming swiftly and powerfully to act for His people. 2Ki 6:17 Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes.”… on Your chariots of salvation? God’s warfare brings deliverance for those He has chosen. His victory over Israel’s enemies revealed both His judgment against evil and His faithfulness to save His people. Psa 68:17-19 The chariots of God are tens of thousands… Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is depicted as a divine warrior in this passage. 2. Rivers and Streams Symbolic of natural elements that God controls and uses to demonstrate His power. 3. The Sea Often represents chaos and opposition in biblical literature, which God subdues. 4. Horses and Chariots of Salvation Metaphorical imagery representing God's might and deliverance. 5. Habakkuk The prophet who is having a dialogue with God, expressing awe and seeking understanding of God's actions. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over NatureGod is sovereign over all creation, including the natural elements. This passage reminds us that nothing is beyond His control. Divine Warrior Imagery The imagery of God as a warrior riding on horses and chariots emphasizes His power to save and deliver His people. We can trust in His strength and protection. Symbolism of Water Water often symbolizes chaos and opposition. God's control over rivers, streams, and the sea illustrates His ability to bring order and peace into our lives. God's Righteous Anger The rhetorical questions about God's anger highlight His righteous judgment against sin and evil. We should reflect on our own lives and seek to align with His will. Trust in God's Deliverance Just as God delivered Israel through mighty acts, we can have confidence in His ability to deliver us from our own trials and challenges. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Habakkuk 3:8?2. How does Habakkuk 3:8 illustrate God's power over nature and nations? 3. What emotions does Habakkuk express about God's actions in 3:8? 4. How can Habakkuk 3:8 inspire trust in God's justice today? 5. Connect Habakkuk 3:8 with other biblical instances of God's wrath against nations. 6. How should believers respond to God's might as depicted in Habakkuk 3:8? 7. What is the significance of God's anger against rivers in Habakkuk 3:8? 8. How does Habakkuk 3:8 reflect God's power over nature? 9. Why does Habakkuk question God's wrath in Habakkuk 3:8? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Habakkuk 3? (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. Habakkuk stacks rhetorical questions to spotlight God’s past interventions over rivers, streams, and seas, revealing that nature itself bows to His sovereign will. These waters never suffered divine whim; they became stage props for salvation and judgment. The Lord who once rode His chariots through the Red Sea remains the same today—unthreatened by chaos, passionately committed to deliver His people, and certain to triumph over every force that opposes His righteous purposes.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Were You angryחָרָ֣ה (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 Additonal Resources Habakkuk 3:8 Blue Letter BibleHabakkuk 3:8 Bible Gateway Habakkuk 3:8 Bible.com Habakkuk 3:8 NIV |
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