Habakuk 3:6

3:6 He takes his battle position ¹  and shakes ²  the earth;

with a mere look he frightens ³  the nations.

The ancient mountains disintegrate; ⁴ 

the primeval hills are flattened.

He travels on the ancient roads. ⁵ 

Habakuk 3:8

3:8 Is the Lord mad at the rivers?

Are you angry with the rivers?

Are you enraged at the sea? ⁶ 

Is this why ⁷  you climb into your horse-drawn chariots, ⁸ 

your victorious chariots? ⁹ 

[3:6]  ¹ tn Heb “he stands.”

[3:6]  ² tn This verb has been traditionally understood as “measure” (from מוּד, mud), but the immediately following context (vv. 6b-7) favors the meaning “shake” from מָוד (mavd; see HALOT 555 s.v.).

[3:6]  ³ tn Heb “makes [the nations] jump [in fear].”

[3:6]  ⁴ tn Or “crumbled,” broke into pieces.”

[3:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “ancient ways [or, “doings”] are his.” The meaning of this line is unclear. Traditionally it has been translated, “his ways are eternal.” However, in this context (see vv. 3, 7) it is more likely that the line speaks of the Lord taking the same route as in the days of Moses and Deborah (see Deut 33:2; Judg 5:4). See J. J. M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (OTL), 154.

[3:8]  ⁶ sn The following context suggests these questions should be answered, “Yes.” The rivers and the sea, symbolizing here the hostile nations (v. 12), are objects of the Lord’s anger (vv. 10, 15).

[3:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “so that.” Here כִּי (ki) is resultative. See the note on the phrase “make it” in 2:18.

[3:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “you mount your horses.” As the next line makes clear, the Lord is pictured here as a charioteer, not a cavalryman. Note NRSV here, “when you drove your horses, // your chariots to victory.”

[3:8]  ⁹ tn Or “chariots of deliverance.”