Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 3:3-15

It has been the usual practice of God's people, when they have been in distress and ready to fall into despair, to help themselves by recollecting their experiences, and reviving them, considering the days of old, and the years of ancient times (Ps. 77:5), and pleading with God in prayer, as he is pleased sometimes to plead them with himself. Isa. 63:11; Then he remembered the days of old. This is that which the prophet does here, and he looks as far back as the first forming of them into a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:4

And his brightness was as the light ,.... Of fire, of devouring fire on the top of the mount, to which the sight of his glory was like, Exodus 24:16 to which Kimchi refers it. Aben Ezra thinks the pillar of fire is intended, in which the Lord went before his people in the wilderness, Exodus 13:21 or as the light and splendour of Bereshith, as the Targum, of that primogenital light which was produced on the first day of the creation; or as the light of the seven days of the creation, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:5

Before him went the pestilence ,.... Either in the land of Egypt, when he marched through that, and slew all their firstborn, Psalm 78:50 or rather which he sent before him, and Israel his people among the nations of the land of Canaan, with other diseases and judgments, and destroyed them to make way for his people, which may be here alluded to, Exodus 23:27 and may point at the judgments of God, and those pestilential diseases which seized upon the persecutors of the Christians, both... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:4

He had horns coming out of his hand - קרנים karnayim , rays. His hand - his power - was manifested in a particular place, by the sudden issuing out of pencils of rays, which diverged in coruscations of light, so as to illuminate the whole hemisphere. Yet "there was the hiding of his power." His Majesty could not be seen, nor any kind of image, because of the insufferable splendor. This may either refer to the lightnings on Mount Sinai or to the brightness which occasionally proceeded... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:5

Before 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 ; Numbers 11:1 ; ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:4

Verse 4 He confirms the declaration which I have explained that God, when he intended his presence to be made known to his people, gave evidences of his wonderful power, capable of awakening the minds of all. He then says, that the brightness was like light. By the word אור, aur, is doubtless meant the light, which diffuses itself through the whole world, and proceeds from the sun. Then he says, that the brightness which appeared on mount Sinai was equal to the light of the sun, capable of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:5

Verse 5 The Prophet repeats here, that God came armed to defend his people, when he went forth from Teman; for he connects with it here the deliverance of the people. He does not indeed speak only of the promulgation of the law, but encourages all the godly to confidence; for God, who had once redeemed their fathers from Egypt, remained ever like himself, and was endued with the same power. And he says, that before God’s face walked the pestilence; this is to be referred to the Egyptians; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 3:3-5

An ideal theophany: 1. The onward march of the Deity. I. HIS PERSON DESIGNATED . 1 . God, or Eloah, the Strong or Powerful One. A name for the Supreme used for the first time by Moses ( Deuteronomy 32:15 ) to portray God as the Creator of Israel, and employed by Habakkuk "to designate God as the Lord and Governor of the whole world" (Keil). Omnipotence an essential attribute of Divinity ( Genesis 17:1 ; Joshua 4:24 ; 1 Chronicles 29:12 ; Job 36:5 ; Job 42:2 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 3:3-15

§ 3. The prophet or the congregation depicts in a majestic theophany the coming of God to judge the world, and its effect symbolically on material nature, and properly on evil men. read more

Group of Brands