Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever. New Living Translation When 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! English Standard Version He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways. Berean Standard Bible He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. Berean Literal Bible He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains were scattered, and the hills of old bowed; the ways of old are unto Him! King James Bible He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. New King James Version He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting. New American Standard Bible He stood and caused the earth to shudder; He looked and caused the nations to jump. Yes, the everlasting mountains were shattered, The ancient hills collapsed. His paths are everlasting. NASB 1995 He stood and surveyed the earth; He looked and startled the nations. Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered, The ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. NASB 1977 He stood and surveyed the earth; He looked and startled the nations. Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered, The ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. Legacy Standard Bible He stood and measured out the earth; He looked and startled the nations. So the perpetual mountains were shattered; The ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. Amplified Bible He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations, Yes, the eternal mountains were shattered, The ancient hills bowed low and collapsed. His ways are eternal. Berean Annotated Bible He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. Christian Standard Bible He stands and shakes the earth; he looks and startles the nations. The age-old mountains break apart; the ancient hills sink down. His pathways are ancient. Holman Christian Standard Bible He stands and shakes the earth; He looks and startles the nations. The age-old mountains break apart; the ancient hills sink down. His pathways are ancient. American Standard Version He stood, and measured the earth; He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; And the eternal mountains were scattered; The everlasting hills did bow; His goings were as of old. Contemporary English Version When you stopped, the earth shook; when you stared, nations trembled; when you walked along your ancient paths, eternal mountains and hills crumbled and collapsed. English Revised Version He stood, and measured the earth; he beheld, and drove asunder the nations: and the eternal mountains were scattered, the everlasting hills did bow; his goings were as of old. GOD'S WORD® Translation He stands and shakes the earth. He casts a glance and startles the nations. The oldest mountains break apart. The ancient hills sink. The ancient paths belong to him. Good News Translation When he stops, the earth shakes; at his glance the nations tremble. The eternal mountains are shattered; the everlasting hills sink down, the hills where he walked in ancient times. International Standard Version He stood up and shook the land; with his stare he startled the nations. The age-old mountains were shattered, and the ancient hilltops bowed down. His ways are eternal. NET Bible He takes his battle position and shakes the earth; with a mere look he frightens the nations. The ancient mountains disintegrate; the primeval hills are flattened. He travels on the ancient roads. New Heart English Bible He stood, and shook the earth. He looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were crumbled. The age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal. Webster's Bible Translation He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. World English Bible He stood, and shook the earth. He looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were crumbled. The age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe has stood, and He measures earth, "" He has seen, and He shakes off nations, "" And mountains of antiquity scatter themselves, "" The hills of old have bowed, "" The ways of old [are] His. Berean Literal Bible He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains were scattered, and the hills of old bowed; the ways of old are unto Him! Young's Literal Translation He hath stood, and He measureth earth, He hath seen, and He shaketh off nations, And scatter themselves do mountains of antiquity, Bowed have the hills of old, The ways of old are His. Smith's Literal Translation He stood, and he will measure the earth: he saw, and he will cause the nations to tremble, and the mountains of eternity will be dispersed, the perpetual hills bowed down: the goings everlasting to him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe stood and measured the earth. He beheld, and melted the nations: and the ancient mountains were crushed to pieces. The hills of the world were bowed down by the journeys of his eternity. Catholic Public Domain Version He stood, and measured the earth. He looked, and dissolved the Gentiles. And the mountains of ages past have been shattered. The hills of the world became curved by the journeys of his eternity. New American Bible He stood and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. Ancient mountains were shattered, the age-old hills bowed low, age-old orbits collapsed. New Revised Standard Version He stopped and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. The eternal mountains were shattered; along his ancient pathways the everlasting hills sank low. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe stood and measured the earth; he beheld and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the eternal hills were brought low; his ways are everlasting. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He arose and he measured the land; he gazed and the nations were false; the mountains were scattered that were from eternity, and the hills that are from eternities were laid low; his are the goings that were from eternity! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He standeth, and shaketh the earth, He beholdeth, and maketh the nations to tremble; And the everlasting mountains are dashed in pieces, The ancient hills do bow; His goings are as of old. Brenton Septuagint Translation the earth stood at his feet and trembled: he beheld, and the nations melted away: the mountains were violently burst through, the everlasting hills melted at his everlasting going forth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Habakkuk's Prayer…5Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps. 6He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. 7I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of Midian were trembling.… Cross References He stood and measured the earth; Job 38:4-6 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. / Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? / On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? He looked and startled the nations; Habakkuk 1:5 “Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you. Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation. Psalm 104:32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder. the ancient mountains crumbled; Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers. Micah 1:4 The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. the perpetual hills collapsed. Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Jeremiah 4:24 I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. Psalm 46:2-3 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas, / though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah His ways are everlasting. Habakkuk 1:12 Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, You have established them for correction. Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out. Psalm 77:16-18 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. Psalm 114:3-7 The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back; / the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. / Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, … Treasury of Scripture He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. and measured. Exodus 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. Exodus 21:31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. Numbers 34:1-29 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, … and drove. Joshua 10:42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. Joshua 11:18-23 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings… Nehemiah 9:22-24 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan… the everlasting. Habakkuk 3:10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. Genesis 49:26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Deuteronomy 33:15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, his. Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; Isaiah 51:6,8 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished… Jump to Previous Age-Old Ancient Asunder Beheld Beholdeth Bent Bow Broken Collapsed Crumbled Dashed Discomfited Drove Earth Eternal Everlasting High Hills Looked Maketh Measured Mountains Moved Nations Perpetual Pieces Sank Scattered Shaketh Shaking Shook Standeth Startled Stood Suddenly Tremble Unchanging WaysJump to Next Age-Old Ancient Asunder Beheld Beholdeth Bent Bow Broken Collapsed Crumbled Dashed Discomfited Drove Earth Eternal Everlasting High Hills Looked Maketh Measured Mountains Moved Nations Perpetual Pieces Sank Scattered Shaketh Shaking Shook Standeth Startled Stood Suddenly Tremble Unchanging WaysHabakkuk 3 1. Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God's majesty.17. The confidence of his faith. He stood and measured the earth; This phrase suggests God's sovereignty and authority over creation. The imagery of God standing and measuring the earth evokes the idea of a divine surveyor, emphasizing His control and understanding of the world. This can be connected to passages like Isaiah 40:12, where God is described as measuring the waters and heavens, highlighting His omnipotence. The act of measuring also implies judgment, as seen in Amos 7:7-9, where a plumb line is used to assess Israel. He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. Persons / Places / Events 1. HabakkukA prophet in the Old Testament who dialogues with God about the justice and sovereignty of God amidst the apparent triumph of evil. 2. Nations Refers to the various peoples and kingdoms of the earth that are startled by God's power and presence. 3. Ancient Mountains and Perpetual Hills Symbolic of the enduring and seemingly unchangeable aspects of creation that are subject to God's authority. 4. God's Everlasting Ways Highlights the eternal nature and unchanging character of God's plans and purposes. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over CreationThe imagery of God measuring the earth and causing mountains to crumble underscores His supreme authority over all creation. Believers can find comfort in knowing that nothing in creation is beyond God's control. The Transience of Earthly Powers The nations are startled, and the ancient mountains crumble, reminding us that earthly powers and seemingly permanent structures are temporary before God's eternal ways. The Eternal Nature of God's Ways God's ways are everlasting, providing believers with assurance that His plans and purposes are unchanging and reliable, even when the world seems unstable. Reverence and Awe for God's Power The response of creation to God's presence should inspire a sense of reverence and awe in believers, leading to worship and trust in His mighty power. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Habakkuk 3:6?2. How does Habakkuk 3:6 reveal God's power over creation and nations? 3. What does "eternal mountains were shattered" teach about God's sovereignty? 4. How can we trust God's unchanging ways in our current challenges? 5. Connect Habakkuk 3:6 with another scripture about God's authority over the earth. 6. How should God's eternal power in Habakkuk 3:6 influence our daily faith walk? 7. What does Habakkuk 3:6 reveal about God's power over creation and nations? 8. How does Habakkuk 3:6 demonstrate God's eternal nature and authority? 9. What historical events might Habakkuk 3:6 be referencing? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Habakkuk 3? 11. What does 'from everlasting to everlasting' mean? 12. How can the depiction of the earth “giving way” (Psalm 46:2) be reconciled with scientific evidence for stable geological processes? 13. Psalm 30:11-12: If mourning is truly turned to dancing, why do faithful believers throughout history often remain in prolonged suffering? 14. If Psalm 11:7 affirms God's love of righteousness, why does the broader biblical narrative allow for continued injustice and suffering? What Does Habakkuk 3:6 Mean He stood and measured the earth“He stood and measured the earth” paints a vivid picture of the Lord taking His place over creation. • Measuring implies ownership and precise sovereignty—like a builder setting boundaries (Job 38:5; Isaiah 40:12). • The scene recalls the Lord “standing” to judge (Amos 9:1) and to defend His people (Psalm 76:9). • Every inch of the planet is under His jurisdiction; nothing is random or outside His plans (Proverbs 16:4). He looked and startled the nations “He looked and startled the nations” shows that His mere glance causes global upheaval. • Psalm 46:6 echoes the response: “The nations rage, the kingdoms crumble; He lifts His voice, the earth melts.” • When God “looks,” He evaluates and intervenes (2 Chronicles 16:9). Nations may scheme, but one look from the Almighty brings them to silence (Psalm 2:4-5; Isaiah 40:17). • This reassures believers that international turmoil is never out of His sight or control. The ancient mountains crumbled “The ancient mountains crumbled” highlights power over the oldest, strongest parts of creation. • Mountains often symbolize permanence, yet they melt before Him (Nahum 1:5-6; Psalm 97:5). • What seems immovable in human eyes collapses at His command, reminding us that only God is truly unshakable (Hebrews 12:26-27). The perpetual hills collapsed “The perpetual hills collapsed” reinforces the same truth in parallel form. • Hills that have “always” been there are temporary compared to Him (Isaiah 42:15; Micah 1:4). • Even the small but enduring obstacles in life must yield to His authority (Mark 11:23). His ways are everlasting “His ways are everlasting” gives the reason behind all the upheaval. • While mountains and nations pass, His purposes stand forever (Psalm 33:11; Psalm 90:2). • Revelation 15:3 calls them “great and marvelous are Your works… righteous and true are Your ways.” • Because His ways do not change (Malachi 3:6), believers can trust Him completely amid instability. summary Habakkuk 3:6 sweeps from the Lord’s stance over creation to the collapse of what humans deem unchangeable, all to show that His eternal ways govern every realm. The earth’s boundaries, the fate of nations, the mightiest mountains, and the longest-standing hills all yield to Him. Therefore, our confidence rests not in earthly permanence but in the everlasting God whose sovereign gaze directs history. (6) He stood, and measured the earth . . .--Better, He has taken His stand and measured the earth, He has looked and made the heathen tremble; and the primeval mountains are broken up, the ancient hills sink down; His goings are as of old; i.e., His proceedings are the same as of old time, when He brought up Israel from Egypt. God measures or parcels out the earth; and the usurping invader is put to confusion. The mountains are convulsed, as was Sinai of old. (Comp. Judges 5:5, Psalm 68:8.)Verse 6. - He stood, and measured the earth. God takes his stand, and surveys the earth which he is visiting in judgment. As his glory filled the heavens, so now he with his presence paces the earth, measuring it, as it were, with his foot. He considers, too, all the doings of the children of men, and requites them accordingly. Vulgate, Stetit, et mensus est terram. So the Syriac. On the other hand, the LXX. gives, Αστη καὶ ἐσαλέυθη ἡ γῆ, "The earth stood and quaked." Thus the Chaldee, and many modern commentators, "rocketh the earth." This rendering seems to anticipate what follows, and is not so suitable as the other, though it is quite admissible. Drove asunder. Dispersed and scattered. Septuagint, διετάκη ἔθνη, "nations melted away." Others translate, "made to tremble" (Exodus 15:15, etc.). The everlasting mountains. Mountains that have lasted as long as creation, and are emblems of stability and permanence (Deuteronomy 33:15). Were scattered; or, were shattered (comp. Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:5). His ways are everlasting. This is best taken alone, not as connected grammatically with the preceding clause, and epexegetical of the "hills and mountains," which are called God's "ways," i.e. his chief creative acts, as Job 40:19; Proverbs 8:22; but it means that, as God acted of old, so he acts now; "The ancient ways of acting are his" (Proverbs 31:27). "He reneweth his progresses of old time" (Delitzsch). The eternal, unchangeable purpose and operation of God are contrasted with the disruption of "the everlasting hills." The Greek and Latin Versions connect the words with what precedes. Septuagint, Ἐτάκησαν βουνοὶ αἰώνιοι πορείας αἰωνίας, "The everlasting hills melted at his everlasting goings;" Vulgate, Incurvati sunt colles mundi ab itineribus aeternitatis ejus, where the idea seems to be that the high places of the earth are God's paths when he visits the world.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He stoodעָמַ֣ד ׀ (‘ā·maḏ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations and measured וַיְמֹ֣דֶד (way·mō·ḏeḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4058: To stretch, to measure, to be extended the earth; אֶ֗רֶץ (’e·reṣ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land He looked רָאָה֙ (rā·’āh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see and startled וַיַּתֵּ֣ר (way·yat·têr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5425: To jump, be violently agitated, to terrify, shake off, untie the nations; גּוֹיִ֔ם (gō·w·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts the ancient עַ֔ד (‘aḏ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5703: A, terminus, duration, advance, perpetuity mountains הַרְרֵי־ (har·rê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 2042: Hill, mountain were scattered; וַיִּתְפֹּֽצְצוּ֙ (way·yiṯ·pō·ṣə·ṣū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered the perpetual עוֹלָ֑ם (‘ō·w·lām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always hills גִּבְע֣וֹת (giḇ·‘ō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 1389: A hillock bowed. שַׁח֖וּ (ša·ḥū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7817: To bow, be bowed down, crouch His לֽוֹ׃ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew ways [are] הֲלִיכ֥וֹת (hă·lî·ḵō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 1979: A walking, a procession, march, a caravan everlasting. עוֹלָ֖ם (‘ō·w·lām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always Links Habakkuk 3:6 NIVHabakkuk 3:6 NLT Habakkuk 3:6 ESV Habakkuk 3:6 NASB Habakkuk 3:6 KJV Habakkuk 3:6 BibleApps.com Habakkuk 3:6 Biblia Paralela Habakkuk 3:6 Chinese Bible Habakkuk 3:6 French Bible Habakkuk 3:6 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Habakkuk 3:6 He stood and shook the earth (Hab Hb) |
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