New Living Translation
Habakkuk 3:5
5Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind.
Habakkuk 3:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
- New International Version (NIV)Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Before Him went pestilence, And fever followed at His feet.
Context of Habakkuk 3:5
3I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise. 4His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden. Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. 6When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One! 7I see the people of Cushan in distress, and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
Read all of Habakkuk 3Habakkuk 3:5 word by word
לְפָנָ֖יו יֵ֣לֶךְ דָּ֑בֶר וְיֵצֵ֥א רֶ֖שֶׁף לְרַגְלָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Habakkuk 3:5
- Exodus 12:29And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.
- Numbers 14:12I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”
- Numbers 16:46And Moses said to Aaron, “Quick, take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar. Lay incense on it, and carry it out among the people to purify them and make them right with the Lord. The Lord’s anger is blazing against them—the plague has already begun.”
- Psalms 78:50He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague.
- Nahum 1:2The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies!
- Psalms 18:7Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger.
- Deuteronomy 32:24I will weaken them with famine, burning fever, and deadly disease. I will send the fangs of wild beasts and poisonous snakes that glide in the dust.
Commentaries on Habakkuk 3:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Before him went the pestilence - This plague was several times inflicted on the disobedient Israelites in the wilderness; see Numbers 11:33; Numbers 14:37; Numbers 16:46; and was always the proof that the just God was then manifesting his power among them. Burning coals event forth at his feet - Newcome translates, "And flashes of fire went forth after him." The disobedient Israelites were consumed by a fire that went out from Jehovah; see Leviticus 10:2…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Before Him went (goeth) the pestilence - then to consume His enemies. Exodus 23:27: “I will send My fear before thee, and will destroy all the people, to whom thou shalt come,” and the lightnings are a token that, Psalm 68:1-2, “they which hate Him, flee before Him, and the wicked perish at the Presence of God.” So, on His Ascension, Herod and Pilate were smitten by Him, and Elymas and Simon Magus before His apostles, and whatsoever hath lifted itself up…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-15Verses 3-15 God's people, when in distress, and ready to despair, seek help by considering the days of old, and the years of ancient times, and by pleading them with God in prayer. The resemblance between the Babylonish and Egyptian captivities, naturally presents itself to the mind, as well as the possibility of a like deliverance through the power of Jehovah. God appeared in his glory. All the powers of nature are shaken, and the course of nature…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Habakkuk 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).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. pestilence--to destroy His people's foes (1Sa 5:9, 11). As Jehovah's advent is glorious to His people, so it is terrible to His foes. burning coals--Psa 18:8 favors English Version. But the parallelism requires, as the Margin translates, "burning disease" (compare De 32:24; Psa 91:6). went ... at his feet--that is, after Him, as His attendants (Jud 4:10).Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 3:5
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
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