Habakkuk 3:16
New International Version
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.

New Living Translation
I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.

English Standard Version
I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.

Berean Standard Bible
I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.

King James Bible
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

New King James Version
When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.

New American Standard Bible
I heard, and my inner parts trembled; At the sound, my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble; Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will attack us.

NASB 1995
I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us.

NASB 1977
I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us.

Legacy Standard Bible
I heard, and my inward parts trembled; At the sound my lips tingled. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us.

Amplified Bible
I heard and my whole inner self trembled; My lips quivered at the sound. Decay and rottenness enter my bones, And I tremble in my place. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade and attack us.

Christian Standard Bible
I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us.

American Standard Version
I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us.

Contemporary English Version
When I heard this message, I felt weak from fear, and my lips quivered. My bones seemed to melt, and I stumbled around. But I will patiently wait. Someday those vicious enemies will be struck by disaster.

English Revised Version
I heard, and my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice; rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in my place: that I should rest in the day of trouble, when it cometh up against the people which invadeth him in troops.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have heard, so there's trembling within me. At the report my lips quivered. A rotten feeling has entered me. I tremble where I stand. I wait for the day of trouble to come to the people who will attack us.

Good News Translation
I hear all this, and I tremble; my lips quiver with fear. My body goes limp, and my feet stumble beneath me. I will quietly wait for the time to come when God will punish those who attack us.

International Standard Version
I heard and I trembled within. My lips quivered at the noise. My legs gave way beneath me, and I trembled. Nevertheless, I await the day of distress that will dawn on our invaders.

Majority Standard Bible
I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.

NET Bible
I 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.

New Heart English Bible
I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place, because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us.

Webster's Bible Translation
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up to the people, he will invade them with his troops.

World English Bible
I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I have heard, and my belly trembles, "" At the noise have my lips quivered, "" Rottenness comes into my bones, "" And in my place I tremble, "" That I rest for a day of distress, "" At the coming up of the people, he overcomes it.

Young's Literal Translation
I have heard, and my belly trembleth, At the noise have my lips quivered, Rottenness doth come into my bones, And in my place I do tremble, That I rest for a day of distress, At the coming up of the people, he overcometh it.

Smith's Literal Translation
I heard and my belly will tremble; at the voice my lips quivered: rottenness will come into my bones, and I shall tremble under me that I shall rest at the day of straits: to come up to the people he will invade him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have heard and my bowels were troubled: my lips trembled at the voice. Let rottenness enter into my bones, and swarm under me. That I may rest in the day of tribulation: that I may go up to our people that are girded.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I heard, and my stomach became troubled. My lips trembled at the voice. Let decay enter into my bones and gush forth from within me. Then I may rest in the day of tribulation, so that I may ascend to our people well-prepared.

New American Bible
I hear, and my body trembles; at the sound, my lips quiver. Decay invades my bones, my legs tremble beneath me. I await the day of distress that will come upon the people who attack us.

New Revised Standard Version
I hear, and I tremble within; my lips quiver at the sound. Rottenness enters into my bones, and my steps tremble beneath me. I wait quietly for the day of calamity to come upon the people who attack us.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When I heard it, my body trembled, confusing the words of my mouth; fear entered into my bones and my knees trembled, for he searched me out and declared to me the day of trouble that comes upon the people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I heard and my gut was shaken against the speech of my lips, because of the trembling in my bones, and my knees shook because he searched me and he showed me the day of trouble that comes upon the people
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When I heard, mine inward parts trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, And I tremble where I stand; That I should wait for the day of trouble, When he cometh up against the people that he invadeth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I watched, and my belly trembled at the sound of the prayer of my lips, and trembling entered into my bones, and my frame was troubled within me; I will rest in the day of affliction, from going up to the people of my sojourning.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Habakkuk's Prayer
15You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters. 16I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.

Cross References
Psalm 77:16-19
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 21:3-4
Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see. / My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I desired has turned to horror.

Jeremiah 4:19-21
My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle. / Disaster after disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant, my curtains in a moment. / How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn?

Zephaniah 1:14-16
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

Joel 2:1-2
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— / a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.

Nahum 1:5-6
The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers. / Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.

Exodus 15:14-16
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia. / Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away, / and terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone until Your people pass by, O LORD, until the people You have bought pass by.

Daniel 10:8-9
So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. / I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

Psalm 18:7-10
Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger. / Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth. / He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. ...

Isaiah 13:6-8
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. / Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. / Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.

Revelation 6:12-17
And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, / and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. / The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. ...

Matthew 24:29-31
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. / And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, ...

Revelation 1:17
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,


Treasury of Scripture

When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops.

I heard.

Habakkuk 3:2
O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 1:5-11
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you

my belly.

Psalm 119:120
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Jeremiah 23:9
Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.

Ezekiel 3:14
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

that I.

Psalm 91:15
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Psalm 94:12,13
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; …

Isaiah 26:20,21
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast…

he will.

Habakkuk 1:6
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

Deuteronomy 28:49-52
The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; …

2 Kings 24:1,2
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him…

invade them.

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Belly Body Bones Entered Entereth Enters Heard Invade Inward Lips Parts Quietly Rest Rottenness Sound Stand Tremble Trembled Troops Trouble Voice Wait
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Belly Body Bones Entered Entereth Enters Heard Invade Inward Lips Parts Quietly Rest Rottenness Sound Stand Tremble Trembled Troops Trouble Voice Wait
Habakkuk 3
1. Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God's majesty.
17. The confidence of his faith.














I heard
The Hebrew word for "heard" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just the act of hearing but also understanding and obeying. In the context of Habakkuk, this hearing is profound, as it involves receiving a divine revelation. The prophet is deeply affected by the message from God, indicating a spiritual sensitivity and readiness to respond to God's voice.

my heart pounded
The phrase "my heart pounded" reflects an intense emotional and physical reaction. The Hebrew word "רָגַז" (ragaz) can mean to quake or tremble. This suggests that Habakkuk's entire being is shaken by the gravity of the vision he has received. It is a visceral response to the impending judgment and the power of God's word.

my lips quivered
The quivering of lips signifies fear and awe. The Hebrew "צָפַף" (tsaphaph) conveys a sense of trembling or fluttering. This reaction is not just physical but also emotional, as the prophet grapples with the overwhelming nature of God's revelation. It underscores the human frailty in the face of divine majesty.

at the sound
The "sound" here refers to the voice of God or the message delivered. In Hebrew, "קוֹל" (qol) can mean voice, sound, or noise. This emphasizes the authority and power of God's communication, which is so potent that it causes a physical reaction in the prophet. It is a reminder of the weight and seriousness of divine pronouncements.

Decay crept into my bones
The imagery of decay in the bones, "רָקַב" (raqab), suggests a deep-seated fear and weakness. Bones are often symbolic of strength and structure, so their decay indicates a profound internal collapse. This metaphor highlights the prophet's vulnerability and the consuming nature of his dread regarding the coming judgment.

I trembled where I stood
"Trembled" is from the Hebrew "רָעַד" (raad), meaning to quake or shake. This trembling is a physical manifestation of fear and reverence. It shows Habakkuk's recognition of his own helplessness and the awesome power of God. Standing in this context implies being in a position of readiness, yet overwhelmed by the divine revelation.

Yet I must wait quietly
The phrase "wait quietly" is significant. "חָכָה" (chakah) means to wait or tarry, and "שָׁקַט" (shaqat) means to be quiet or at peace. Despite the turmoil within, Habakkuk resolves to wait patiently and trust in God's timing. This reflects a deep faith and submission to God's will, even amidst impending distress.

for the day of distress
The "day of distress" refers to a time of trouble or calamity. The Hebrew "צָרָה" (tsarah) indicates a period of anguish or adversity. This is a prophetic acknowledgment of the coming judgment upon the nation. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance and reliance on God's mercy.

to come upon the people who invade us
This phrase points to the Babylonians, who were the instrument of God's judgment. The Hebrew "עָבַר" (abar) means to pass over or invade. It highlights the historical context of the Babylonian invasion and serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over nations. Despite the impending invasion, there is an underlying assurance that God is in control and will ultimately deliver His people.

(16-19) Habakkuk now reverts abruptly to the Divine sentence of Habakkuk 1:5 et seq., and describes with what emotion he meditates on the coming disasters, and on his own inability to prevent them. His anxiety is, however, swept aside by a joyful and overpowering confidence in God. These verses are a kind of appendix to the preceding poem.

(16) That I might rest . . .--Better, that I should be resting quiet in the day of trouble, when he cometh up against the people who is to oppress them.

Verses 16, 17. - § 4. The contemplation of the Divine judgments produces in the people of God at first, fear and trembling at the prospect of chastisement Verse 16. - When I heard. "When" is better omitted. "I heard" the report of thee (vex. 2). The LXX. refers to Habakkuk 2:1, rendering, "I watched." If the former part is the paean of the congregation, the present is the prophet's own utterance expressive of his dismay at the prospect before him. My belly trembled. My inmost part, my inward self, trembled with fear (comp. Isaiah 16:11). My lips quivered at the voice. My lips quivered with fear at the voice of God that sounded in me (Habakkuk 2:1), proclaiming these awful judgments. The word rendered" quivered" (tsalal) is applied to the tingling of the ears (1 Samuel 3:11; 2 Kings 21:12), and implies that the prophet's lips so trembled that he was scarcely able to utter speech. The LXX. renders, "from the voice of the prayers of my lips." Rottenness entered into my bones. This is an hyperbolical expression, denoting that the firmest, strongest parts of his body were relaxed and weakened with utter fear, as if his very bones were cankered and corrupted, and there was no marrow in them. And I trembled in myself. The last word (tachtai) is rendered variously: "under me," according to the Greek and Latin Versions, i.e. in my knees and feet, so that I reeled and stumbled; or, "in my place," on the spot where I stand (as Exodus 16:29). That I might rest in the day of trouble; better, I who shall rest in the day of tribulation. The prophet suddenly expresses his confidence that he shall have rest in this affliction; amid this terror and awe he is sure that there remaineth a rest for the people of God. This sentiment leads naturally to the beautiful expression of hope in the concluding paragraph (ver. 17, etc.). Keil and others render, "tremble that I am to wait quietly for the day of tribulation;" that I am to sit still and await the day of affliction. But Pusey denies that the verb (nuach) ever means "to wait patiently for," or "to be silent about;" its uniform signification is "to rest" from labour or from trouble. Thus the Septuagint, Ἀναπαύσομαι ἐν ἡμέρα θλίψεως, "I will rest in the day of affliction;" Vulgate, Ut requiescam in die tribulationis. When he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. This should be, When he that invades with bands comes up against the people; i.e. in the day when the Chaldeans attack the Israelites (comp. 2 Kings 24:2, where the word "bands" is also used). Septuagint, Τοῦ ἀναβῆναι εἰς λαὸν παροικίας μου: "To go up against the people of my sojourning;" Vulgate, Ut ascendam ad populum aecinctum nostrum, which is thus explained: "I will bear all things patiently, even death itself, that I may attain to the happy company of those blessed heroes who fought for their country and their God." It is obvious to remark that this is a gloss, not on the original text, but on the erroneous version.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I heard
שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי ׀ (šā·ma‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

and trembled
וַתִּרְגַּ֣ז (wat·tir·gaz)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7264: To be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

within;
בִּטְנִ֗י (biṭ·nî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

my lips
שְׂפָתַ֔י (śə·p̄ā·ṯay)
Noun - fdc | first person common singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

quivered
צָלֲל֣וּ (ṣā·lă·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6750: To tinkle, rattle together

at the sound.
לְקוֹל֙ (lə·qō·wl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

Decay
רָקָ֛ב (rā·qāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7538: Rottenness, decay

entered
יָב֥וֹא (yā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

my bones;
בַּעֲצָמַ֖י (ba·‘ă·ṣā·may)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame

I trembled
אֶרְגָּ֑ז (’er·gāz)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7264: To be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

where I stood.
וְתַחְתַּ֣י (wə·ṯaḥ·tay)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

Yet I must wait patiently
אָנ֙וּחַ֙ (’ā·nū·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5117: To rest, settle down

for the day
לְי֣וֹם (lə·yō·wm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of distress
צָרָ֔ה (ṣā·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6869: Tightness, a female rival

to come upon
לַעֲל֖וֹת (la·‘ă·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

the people
לְעַ֥ם (lə·‘am)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

who invade us.
יְגוּדֶֽנּוּ׃ (yə·ḡū·ḏen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 1464: To crowd upon, attack


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OT Prophets: Habakkuk 3:16 I heard and my body trembled (Hab Hb)
Habakkuk 3:15
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