New English Translation
Habakkuk 3:17
17When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce, and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls,
Habakkuk 3:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
- New International Version (NIV)Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—
Context of Habakkuk 3:17
15But you trample on the sea with your horses, on the surging, raging waters. 16I listened and my stomach churned; the sound made my lips quiver. My frame went limp, as if my bones were decaying, and I shook as I tried to walk. I long for the day of distress to come upon the people who attack us. When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce, and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls, 18I will rejoice because of the Lord; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me! 19The sovereign Lord is my source of strength. He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. (This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Read all of Habakkuk 3Habakkuk 3:17 word by word
כִּֽי־תְאֵנָ֣ה לֹֽא־תִפְרָ֗ח וְאֵ֤ין יְבוּל֙ בַּגְּפָנִ֔ים כִּחֵשׁ֙ מַעֲשֵׂה־זַ֔יִת וּשְׁדֵמ֖וֹת לֹא־עָ֣שָׂה אֹ֑כֶל גָּזַ֤ר מִמִּכְלָה֙ צֹ֔אן וְאֵ֥ין בָּקָ֖ר בָּרְפָתִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Although the fig treeתְּאֵנָהte'ên te'ênâh · figH8384
- shall not blossomפָּרַחpârach · to sproutH6524
- fruitיְבוּלyebûl · cropsH2981
- in the vinesגֶּ֫פֶןgephen · vineH1612
- the labourמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
- of the oliveזַ֫יִתzayith · oliveH2132
- shall failכָּחַשׁkâchash · to deceiveH3584
- and the fieldsשְׁדֵמָהshedêmâh · fieldH7709
- shall yieldעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- no meatאֹ֫כֶל'ôkel · foodH400
- the flockצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
- shall be cut offגָּזַרgâzar · to cutH1504
- from the foldמִכְלָהmiklâ'âh miklâh · foldH4356
- no herdבָּקָרbâqâr · cattleH1241
- in the stallsרֶ֫פֶתrepheth · stallH7517
Cross-references for Habakkuk 3:17
- Deuteronomy 28:15“But if you ignore the Lord your God and are not careful to keep all his commandments and statutes I am giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you in full force:
- Jeremiah 14:2“The people of Judah are in mourning. The people in her cities are pining away. They lie on the ground expressing their sorrow. Cries of distress come up to me from Jerusalem.
- Joel 1:10The crops of the fields have been destroyed. The ground is in mourning because the grain has perished. The fresh wine has dried up; the olive oil languishes.
- Amos 4:6“But surely I gave you no food to eat in any of your cities; you lacked food everywhere you live. Still you did not come back to me.” The Lord is speaking!
- Haggai 2:16From that time when one came expecting a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures from it, there were only twenty.
Commentaries on Habakkuk 3:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Although the fig tree shall not blossom - תפרח tiphrach, "shall not flourish," shall not put forth its young figs, for the fig tree does not blossom. The young figs appear as soon as the old ones are ripe, as I have often had occasion to observe. This verse most nervously paints the desolate state of the land of Judea during the captivity. In its hemistich form, it may be translated thus: - For the fig tree shall not flourish, And there shall be no fruit…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Although - literally, For The fig tree shall not blossom - The prophet repeats his confidence in God, premising his knowledge that all human hopes should fail. I know, he says, all stay and support shall fail; he numbers from the least to the greatest, the fruits of trees, the fig, vine and olive, for sweetness, gladness, cheerfulness Psalm 104:15. whereof the well-being of the vine and fig tree furnishes the proverbial picture of peace and rest. These…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-19Verses 16-19 When we see a day of trouble approach, it concerns us to prepare. A good hope through grace is founded in holy fear. The prophet looked back upon the experiences of the church in former ages, and observed what great things God had done for them, and so was not only recovered, but filled with holy joy. He resolved to delight and triumph in the Lord; for when all is gone, his God is not gone. Destroy the vines and the fig-trees, and you make…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-19After recounting God’s powerful acts of redemption (Habakkuk 3:2–15) and pausing to reflect on them (3:16), Habakkuk reaffirms his trust in God as he ends his prayer. Though … yet I will exult: Even if God never gives material blessings to his people again, he is still worthy of all their trust and praise. No matter what happens, the prophet could rejoice, knowing that the Lord is not only Israel’s Redeemer but also the source of his own salvation.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Destroy the "vines" and "fig trees" of the carnal heart, and his mirth ceases. But those who when full enjoyed God in all, when emptied can enjoy all in God. They can sit down upon the heap of ruined creature comforts, and rejoice in Him as the "God of their salvation." Running in the way of His commandments, we outrun our troubles. Thus Habakkuk, beginning his prayer with trembling, ends it with a song of triumph (Job 13:15; Psa 4:7; 43:3, 5). labour…Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 3:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Habakkuk 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries