Lexical Summary ur: made, milch Original Word: עוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be made naked A primitive root; to (be) bare -- be made naked. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be exposed or bare NASB Translation bare* (1), made (1), milch (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [עוּר] verb be exposed, bare (akin to עָרָה, ערר; Arabic  = pudenda); — Niph`al Imperfect3feminine singular עֶרְיָה תֵעוֺר קַשְׁתֶּ֑ךְ Habakkuk 3:9 into nakedness (i.e. utterly) is thy bow laid bare, made ready; We proposes עוֺרֵר תְּעוֺרֵר (compare 2 Samuel 23:18, I.עור Po`l.), and so Now [from √ ערר, lay bare] thou layest, etc. Topical Lexicon Scriptural Occurrence Habakkuk 3:9—“You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers.” Hebrew Imagery of Uncovering The verb portrays a warrior removing the bow from its sheath or wrappings, a forceful gesture that signals immediate engagement. It evokes the moment when concealed power becomes openly active, moving from preparation to decisive action. Context in Habakkuk’s Theophany Habakkuk 3 is a prayer-psalm recounting the Lord’s past interventions and pleading for similar action amid Babylon’s rising menace. Within that liturgy, the uncovered bow stands at the center of a sweeping theophany (Habakkuk 3:3-15) that revisits the Exodus, Sinai, and conquest motifs. The single verb concentrates the tension: God is no passive observer; He is the divine warrior stepping forward to defend His covenant people. Theological Significance 1. Readiness for Judgment and Deliverance The exposed bow testifies that the Lord’s justice is never dormant. While patience marks His dealings (2 Peter 3:9), when the appointed time arrives He acts swiftly (Isaiah 42:13). Scripture often speaks of God veiling His glory (Exodus 33:22). Here the veil is lifted, assuring the faithful that what seems hidden is, in truth, poised for their defense (Psalm 121:4). The act recalls earlier promises: “The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 1:30). The prophet anchors present hope in the unchanging character of God. Historical Background Habakkuk likely ministered shortly before Jerusalem’s fall (circa 609-597 B.C.). Judah faced internal corruption and external threat. The image of God baring His bow would resonate with a populace familiar with Assyrian and Babylonian archers; yet it reminded them that the Most High—not earthly empires—commands history’s battlefield. Literary and Prophetic Function • Liturgical Cue: The Selah invites the congregation to pause, envision the unveiled bow, and respond in awe. Ministry Implications • Preaching: Emphasize God’s active readiness; He is neither disinterested nor powerless in the face of injustice. Christological Perspective The warrior motif culminates in the Messiah. At Calvary the divine strategy looked concealed, yet in resurrection the “bow” was fully revealed—death defeated, salvation secured (Colossians 2:15). Revelation 19:11-16 shows the risen Christ riding forth with uncovered weaponry, completing the trajectory initiated in prophetic images like Habakkuk 3:9. Practical Application for Believers • Stand firm in unsettled times, trusting the God who can lay bare His power at the precise moment. Related Biblical Themes Divine Warrior; Judgment and Salvation; God’s Faithfulness; Prophetic Lament and Praise; Hope amid Crisis Forms and Transliterations תֵעוֹר֙ תעור ṯê‘ōwr ṯê·‘ō·wr teOrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Habakkuk 3:9 HEB: עֶרְיָ֤ה תֵעוֹר֙ קַשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ שְׁבֻע֥וֹת NAS: Your bow was made bare, The rods KJV: was made quite naked, [according] to the oaths INT: quite was made your bow were sworn 1 Occurrence |
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