Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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, New Living Translation Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, English Standard Version 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, Berean Standard Bible Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, Berean Literal Bible Though the fig tree may not bud, and there be no fruit on the vines; though the work of the olive may fail, and the fields not produce food, though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there herd is in the stalls, King James Bible 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 King James Version 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— New American Standard Bible Even if the fig tree does not blossom, And there is no fruit on the vines, If the yield of the olive fails, And the fields produce no food, Even if the flock disappears from the fold, And there are no cattle in the stalls, NASB 1995 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, NASB 1977 Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, And there be no cattle in the stalls, Legacy Standard Bible Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no produce on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields yield no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Amplified Bible Though the fig tree does not blossom And there is no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fails And the fields produce no food, Though the flock is cut off from the fold And there are no cattle in the stalls, Berean Annotated Bible Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, Christian Standard Bible Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, Holman Christian Standard Bible Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit 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, American Standard Version For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: Contemporary English Version Fig trees may no longer bloom, or vineyards produce grapes; olive trees may be fruitless, and harvest time a failure; sheep pens may be empty, and cattle stalls vacant-- English Revised Version For though 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: GOD'S WORD® Translation Even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes, even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food, even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle- Good News Translation Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, International Standard Version Even though the fig tree does not blossom, and there are no grapes on the vines; even if the olive harvest fails, and the fields produce nothing edible; even if the flock is snatched from the sheepfold, and there is no herd in the stalls— NET Bible 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, New Heart English Bible For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: Webster's Bible Translation Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThough the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, World English Bible For even though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food, the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThough the fig tree does not flourish, "" And there is no produce among vines, "" The work of the olive has failed, "" And fields have not yielded food, "" The flock has been cut off from the fold, "" And there is no herd in the stalls, Berean Literal Bible Though the fig tree may not bud, and there be no fruit on the vines; though the work of the olive may fail, and the fields not produce food, though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there herd is in the stalls, Young's Literal Translation Though the fig-tree doth not flourish, And there is no produce among vines, Failed hath the work of the olive, And fields have not yielded food, Cut off from the fold hath been the flock, And there is no herd in the stalls. Smith's Literal Translation If the fig tree shall not blossom, and no produce in the vines; the work of the olive failed, and the fields made not food; and the sheep being cut off from the fold, and no oxen in the stalls. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor the fig tree shall not blossom: and there shall be no spring in the vines. The labour of the olive tree shall fail: and the fields shall yield no food: the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Catholic Public Domain Version For the fig tree will not flower, and there will be no bud on the vines. The labor of the olive tree will be misleading, and the farmland will produce no food. The sheep will be cut off from the sheepfold, and there will be no herd at the manger. New American Bible For though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit appears on the vine, Though the yield of the olive fails and the terraces produce no nourishment, Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, New Revised Standard Version Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThough the fig tree has not blossomed and there are no leaves on the vine, though the produce of the olive tree has failed, the threshing-floors have not yielded grain, the sheep are cut off from the flocks, and there are no oxen in the herd; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because the fig tree did not bear fruit and there are no leaves in the vine, the fruit of olives failed and the threshing floors made no produce, the sheep from the flock are cut off and there are no bulls in the herds OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For though 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 food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls; Brenton Septuagint Translation For though the fig-tree shall bear no fruit, and there shall be no produce on the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall produce no food: the sheep have failed from the pasture, and there are no oxen at the cribs; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Habakkuk Rejoices17Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, 18yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!… Cross References Though the fig tree does not bud Joel 1:12 The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple—all the trees of the orchard—are withered. Surely the joy of mankind has dried up. Joel 1:7 It has laid waste My grapevine and splintered My fig tree. It has stripped off the bark and thrown it away; the branches have turned white. Hosea 2:12 I will destroy her vines and fig trees, which she thinks are the wages paid by her lovers. So I will make them into a thicket, and the beasts of the field will devour them. and no fruit is on the vines, Jeremiah 8:13 I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.” Deuteronomy 28:39 You will plant and cultivate vineyards, but will neither drink the wine nor gather the grapes, because worms will eat them. Isaiah 5:2 He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! though the olive crop fails Deuteronomy 28:40 You will have olive trees throughout your territory but will never anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off. Micah 6:15 You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine. Haggai 1:11 I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.” and the fields produce no food, Haggai 1:10 Therefore, on account of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth has withheld its crops. Joel 1:10 The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails. Leviticus 26:20 and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit. though the sheep are cut off from the fold Ezekiel 34:5-6 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. / My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’ Jeremiah 50:6 My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. Zechariah 10:2 For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd. and no cattle are in the stalls, Joel 1:18 How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. Treasury of Scripture Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor 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: the fig-tree. Deuteronomy 28:15-18,30-41 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: … Jeremiah 14:2-8 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up… Joel 1:10-13,16-18 The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth… fail. Jump to Previous Although Blossom Bud Crop Cut Fail Fails Fields Fig Flocks Flourish Fold Food Fruit Grapes Herd Labor Meat Olive Pen Sheep Stalls Tree Vines YieldJump to Next Although Blossom Bud Crop Cut Fail Fails Fields Fig Flocks Flourish Fold Food Fruit Grapes Herd Labor Meat Olive Pen Sheep Stalls Tree Vines YieldHabakkuk 3 1. Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God's majesty.17. The confidence of his faith. Though the fig tree does not bud This phrase reflects a situation of agricultural barrenness, which would have been devastating in an agrarian society like ancient Judah. The fig tree was a common and important source of food and symbolized prosperity and peace (1 Kings 4:25, Micah 4:4). The absence of buds indicates a lack of future harvest, symbolizing a period of waiting and uncertainty. This can be seen as a test of faith, where reliance on God is necessary despite visible signs of provision. and no fruit is on the vines though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls Persons / Places / Events 1. HabakkukA prophet in the Old Testament who dialogues with God about the suffering and injustice he observes in Judah. His book is a blend of lament, prophecy, and praise. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, facing impending judgment and invasion during Habakkuk's time. The socio-political context includes threats from Babylon. 3. Fig Tree, Vines, Olive Crop, Fields, Sheep, Cattle These elements represent the agricultural and economic staples of ancient Judah, symbolizing prosperity and sustenance. Teaching Points Faith Amidst FamineHabakkuk 3:17 challenges believers to maintain faith even when physical and material signs of God's blessing are absent. The Hebrew word for "fails" (kazab) implies disappointment, yet faith persists. Trust Beyond Circumstances The verse encourages a trust in God that transcends immediate circumstances. It calls for a deeper reliance on God's character rather than visible evidence of His provision. Joy in the Lord The context of Habakkuk 3:17-18 shows a transition from lament to joy, teaching that true joy is found in God Himself, not in material abundance. Spiritual Resilience This passage is a call to spiritual resilience, urging believers to stand firm in faith even when life is barren and challenging. Community Support In times of lack, the community of faith is vital. Believers are encouraged to support one another, reflecting the communal nature of ancient Israelite society. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Habakkuk 3:17?2. How can we maintain faith when circumstances mirror Habakkuk 3:17's challenges? 3. What does Habakkuk 3:17 teach about trusting God despite visible lack? 4. How does Habakkuk 3:17 connect with Philippians 4:12-13 on contentment? 5. In what ways can we rejoice in God during personal trials today? 6. How can Habakkuk 3:17 inspire gratitude in difficult times? 7. How does Habakkuk 3:17 challenge believers to trust God despite dire circumstances? 8. What historical context influenced Habakkuk's message in 3:17? 9. How does Habakkuk 3:17 reflect the theme of faith over sight? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Habakkuk 3? 11. What foods are mentioned in the Bible? 12. What is the main message of Habakkuk? 13. How does the resolution in Job 42 align with other passages that emphasize a just God, when Job’s suffering is never fully justified or explained? 14. What does "Though He slay me, yet will I trust" mean? What Does Habakkuk 3:17 Mean Though the fig tree does not bud• Figs were a staple food and a symbol of peace and prosperity in Israel (1 Kings 4:25). • A tree that never buds pictures a complete lack of future provision; nothing is even starting to grow. • Habakkuk envisions a scenario in which every visible sign of hope is gone, echoing the prophetic warnings of crop failure in Deuteronomy 28:39–40 and Joel 1:7, 12. • The prophet is preparing the reader to face real, not hypothetical, scarcity. and no fruit is on the vines • Grapevines provided wine for joy and worship (Psalm 104:15). Their barrenness signals both economic and celebratory emptiness. • Israel had been likened to a vine meant to bear fruit for God (Isaiah 5:1–7). The absence of fruit is a reminder of national unfaithfulness and its consequences. • John 15:5–6 complements this picture: without abiding in God, fruitlessness follows. Habakkuk’s imagined crisis presses the question of trust when life is joyless. though the olive crop fails • Olives produced oil for light, cooking, medicine, and anointing—essentials for daily life and worship (Exodus 27:20; James 5:14). • A failed olive harvest means darkness in lamps and emptiness in cupboards. Amos 4:9 foretold such blight as divine discipline, so Habakkuk recognizes God’s sovereignty even over agricultural loss. • The verse invites believers to stand firm when essential resources disappear. and the fields produce no food • Here the devastation widens from specific trees to the entire agricultural landscape. Leviticus 26:20 warned that disobedience would “consume your strength in vain, for your land will not yield its produce.” • Habakkuk echoes this covenant language to acknowledge that God remains just if He withholds harvests. • Matthew 6:25–34 reminds believers that life is more than food; the Lord who feeds birds will care for His own even when fields stand empty. though the sheep are cut off from the fold • Sheep represented wealth, clothing, sacrifices, and daily sustenance (2 Samuel 12:2–3). To be “cut off” suggests sudden loss—disease, theft, or warfare. • Micah 4:6–7 promises God will gather the lame and scattered. Habakkuk highlights loss to set up confidence in that future gathering. • The shepherd image anticipates Christ, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), who remains faithful when earthly flocks vanish. and no cattle are in the stalls • Oxen and cattle powered plowing and provided meat. Empty stalls declare that production, transportation, and protein sources have collapsed. • Proverbs 14:4 observes, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.” Habakkuk pictures the first half of that proverb—absolute barrenness. • Even then, the righteous live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4), trusting God beyond visible means. summary Habakkuk stacks images of complete agricultural and economic ruin to prove a single point: faith rejoices in God when every physical prop is knocked away. The verse does not minimize hardship; it catalogs it. Yet immediately after, the prophet declares, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in the God of my salvation” (3:18). Scripture calls believers to unwavering trust, confident that the God who sometimes withholds visible blessings is still the unfailing source of salvation, strength, and eternal provision. (17) Although.--Better, For. The conjunction connects this verse with what precedes, and explains Habakkuk's affliction more fully. With the sword shall come famine, invasion as usual producing desolation.Verse 17. - The prophet depicts the effects of the hostile invasion, which are such as to make the natural heart despair. Although the fig tree shall not blossom. The devastations of the enemy leave the country bare and uncultivated. The Chaldeans, like the Assyrians and Egyptians, cut down and burnt the fruit-bearing trees of the countries which they invaded (comp. Deuteronomy 20:19; Isaiah 9:10; Isaiah 37:24; Jeremiah 6:6). The trees most useful and abundant in Palestine are mentioned (comp. Deuteronomy 6:11; Hosea 2:12; Joel 1:7; Micah 4:4; Micah 6:15, etc.). The labour of the olive shall fail; literally, shall lie. The "labour" is the produce, the fruit. Though the yield shall disappoint all expectation. The use of the verb "to lie" in this sense is found elsewhere; e.g. Isaiah 58:11; Hosea 9:2. So Horace, 'Carm.,' 3:1, 30, "Fundus mendax;" and ' Epist.,' 1:7. 87, "Spem mentita seges." The fields; the cornfields (Isaiah 16:8). The flock shall be cut off from the fold. There shall be no flocks in the fold, all having perished for lack of food. "Omnia haec," says St. Jerome, "auferentur a populo, quia inique egit in Deum creatorem suum."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Thoughכִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the fig tree תְאֵנָ֣ה (ṯə·’ê·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8384: Of foreign derivation, the fig does not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no bud תִפְרָ֗ח (ṯip̄·rāḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 6524: To break forth as a, bud, bloom, to spread, to fly, to flourish and no וְאֵ֤ין (wə·’ên) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle fruit יְבוּל֙ (yə·ḇūl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2981: Produce, a crop, wealth [is] on the vines, בַּגְּפָנִ֔ים (bag·gə·p̄ā·nîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common plural Strong's 1612: A vine, the grape though the olive זַ֔יִת (za·yiṯ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2132: An olive, the tree, the branch, the berry crop מַעֲשֵׂה־ (ma·‘ă·śêh-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property fails כִּחֵשׁ֙ (ki·ḥêš) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3584: To disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean and the fields וּשְׁדֵמ֖וֹת (ū·šə·ḏê·mō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 7709: A cultivated field produce עָ֣שָׂה (‘ā·śāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make no לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no food, אֹ֑כֶל (’ō·ḵel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 400: Food though the sheep צֹ֔אן (ṣōn) Noun - common singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock are cut off גָּזַ֤ר (gā·zar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1504: To cut down, off, to destroy, divide, exclude, decide from the fold מִמִּכְלָה֙ (mim·miḵ·lāh) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4356: An enclosure, fold and no וְאֵ֥ין (wə·’ên) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle cattle בָּקָ֖ר (bā·qār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd [are] in the stalls, בָּרְפָתִֽים׃ (bā·rə·p̄ā·ṯîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 7517: A stall for, cattle Links Habakkuk 3:17 NIVHabakkuk 3:17 NLT Habakkuk 3:17 ESV Habakkuk 3:17 NASB Habakkuk 3:17 KJV Habakkuk 3:17 BibleApps.com Habakkuk 3:17 Biblia Paralela Habakkuk 3:17 Chinese Bible Habakkuk 3:17 French Bible Habakkuk 3:17 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Habakkuk 3:17 For though the fig tree doesn't flourish (Hab Hb) |
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