Habakkuk 3:2 kjv
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 3:2 nkjv
O LORD, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2 niv
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2 esv
O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2 nlt
I have heard all about you, LORD.
I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger,
remember your mercy.
Habakkuk 3 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hab 3:2 | O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, revive your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in the wrath remember mercy. | Call for God's work and remembrance of mercy |
| Psalm 110:3 | Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, to you belong the dew of your youth. | Prophetic anticipation of God's people's willingness |
| Psalm 85:6 | Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? | Direct plea for spiritual revival |
| Isaiah 45:11 | Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker: "Ask me of things to come; concerning my sons and the work of my hands command me." | God's invitation to seek His works |
| Isaiah 64:8 | But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; we are all the work of your hand. | Affirmation of God as Creator and Father |
| Jeremiah 14:22 | Have you rained upon the earth which is dry, or if there is a rain which is made, but that for a people that know you not, that they may dwell in your cities, in these? | Questioning God's selective judgment/mercy |
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. | The Spirit's role in revealing God's work |
| Acts 2:17 | And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; | Fulfillment of Spirit's pouring, akin to revival |
| Romans 8:19 | For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. | Universal longing for God's manifestation |
| 2 Corinthians 3:3 | And you being made manifest are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. | God's work manifested in believers |
| Philippians 2:13 | For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for his good pleasure. | God's internal work enabling His people |
| Revelation 21:5 | And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." | Ultimate newness and revival |
| Psalm 33:5 | He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. | God's nature which encourages this prayer |
| Psalm 51:12 | Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. | Prayer for restoration of joy and divine enablement |
| Jeremiah 31:3 | The LORD appeared to me from far away, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." | God's unchanging love as a basis for prayer |
| Habakkuk 1:2 | O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you "Violence!", and you will not save? | Previous cry for intervention |
| Habakkuk 1:3 | Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at calamity? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. | The reason for Habakkuk's distress |
| Isaiah 6:3 | And they cried out to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" | Vision of God's glory |
| Psalm 74:2 | Remember your congregation, which you have purchased, which you have redeemed, and the tribe of your inheritance! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. | Plea for God to remember His covenant people |
| Hosea 6:2 | After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. | A promise of revival |
Habakkuk 3 verses
Habakkuk 3 2 Meaning
Habakkuk 3:2 expresses the prophet's fervent prayer to God for revival and intervention in a time of distress and impending judgment. The verse signifies a deep longing for God's presence and power to be manifest in the present, echoing past mighty acts of salvation. It is a plea for a renewed awareness of God's glory and a renewed work of His grace among His people, a cry for hope amidst desolation.
Habakkuk 3 2 Context
This verse comes from the prophet Habakkuk's prayer, recorded in the third chapter of his prophecy. Habakkuk had previously questioned God about the pervasive wickedness and injustice in Judah and why God would use the brutal Babylonian empire to punish His own people (Habakkuk 1). This chapter represents Habakkuk's personal response and prayer to God's subsequent revelations, which confirmed the impending judgment but also offered a glimpse of hope and God's ultimate sovereign plan. The verse itself reflects a shift from questioning to pleading, expressing faith and a desire for God's continued and renewed intervention, remembering His past mighty deeds for His people.
Habakkuk 3 2 Word Analysis
- "O LORD" (אָנָּ֥א יְהוָ֖ה / 'ānā yĕhvâ):
- "אָנָּא" ('ānā): A particle expressing earnest entreaty, often translated as "O," "I pray," or "please." It conveys a deep and heartfelt plea.
- "יְהוָה" (yĕhvâ): The personal covenant name of God, the Tetragrammaton. Its use here signifies a direct address to the covenant-keeping God, acknowledging His identity and relationship with Israel.
- "I have heard" (שָׁמַ֥עְתִּי / šāmaʿtî):
- "שָׁמַ֥ע" (šāmaʿ): To hear, listen, obey. In this context, it's not merely passive hearing but implies he has understood and internalized the report.
- "-תִּי" (-tî): First person singular suffix, indicating "I."
- "the report of you" (שִׁמְעַ֥תְּךָ / šîmʿātəkā):
- "שִׁמְעָה" (šîmʿāh): Hearing, report, news.
- "-תְּךָ" (-təkā): Second person masculine singular suffix, "of you." It refers to the news or account of God's power and actions.
- "and your work" (וּמַעֲשֶׂ֙יךָ֙ / ûmaʿăśêḵā):
- "וּ" (û): A conjunction meaning "and."
- "מַעֲשֶׂה" (maʿăśēh): Work, deed, action. Here, it points to God's mighty acts and His ongoing creative or redemptive operations.
- "-ךָ" (-ḵā): Second person masculine singular suffix, "your."
- "O LORD," (יְהוָ֔ה / yĕhvâ):
- Repeated address of God's name for emphasis.
- "revive" (חַיֵּ֖הוּ / ḥayyêhû):
- "חָיָה" (ḥāyâ): To live, revive, make alive. This is a direct imperative, calling for God to make His work, or His people through His work, alive again. The "hu" suffix can refer to "it" (the work) or implicitly to "us" or "your people."
- "your work" (פָּ֣עֳלֶךָ֙ / pōʿlĕḵā):
- "פָּעַל" (pāʿal): To do, work, accomplish. Similar to "maʿaseh," it refers to deeds or actions, emphasizing the active performing of work.
- "-ךָ" (-ḵā): Your.
- "in the midst of the years" (בְּקֶ֣רֶב שָׁנִ֑ים / bĕqereḇ šānîm):
- "בְּ" (bĕ): In, at.
- "קֶ֣רֶב" (qereḇ): Middle, midst, inside. Suggests a point within time.
- "שָׁנִים" (šānîm): Years. Could refer to specific past eras of God's deliverance, or the current critical period, or the entirety of time from God's perspective.
- "make it known" (הוֹדַ֖ע / hôdaʿ):
- "יָDַע" (yāDʿ): To know, make known. This is a Hiphil imperative, meaning "cause to be known" or "make manifest." It calls for God to reveal His presence and power.
- "in the wrath" (בְּאַ֖ף / bě’ap̄):
- "בְּ" (bĕ): In.
- "אַף" (’ap̄): Nose, nostril, anger, wrath. Refers to God's displeasure and judgment.
- "remember mercy" (רַחֵ֣ם / raḥêm):
- "רַחַם" (raḥam): To have compassion, show mercy. This is a Hiphil imperative. It's not just remembering intellectually, but acting with compassion.
Words-group analysis:
- "revive your work in the midst of the years": This is a call for divine intervention and restoration. The phrase "in the midst of the years" can be understood as "in the years of our trouble," or as a prayer for God to remember and act in specific, significant periods of His past redemptive work. It's a hope that God's power, seen in previous deliverances (like the Exodus), will be made manifest again.
- "in the midst of the years make it known; in the wrath remember mercy": This pairing highlights the tension between God's impending judgment (wrath) and the prophet's hope in His unfailing love (mercy). It's a plea to blend justice with grace, to temper judgment with compassion, and to demonstrate His power not just in destruction, but in restoration and faithfulness to His covenant promises.
Habakkuk 3 2 Bonus Section
This verse reflects a recurring theme in the Psalms and prophetic literature, where God's people call for Him to act according to His past mighty deeds. It emphasizes that God's "work" is not static but can be revived and renewed. The prayer acknowledges that God's "wrath" is real and justified by sin, but it trusts in His character of mercy and faithfulness, a covenantal love that supersedes His judgment. The phrasing suggests that the people recognize God's power and deeds as the source of life and deliverance, and therefore turn to Him in their lowest ebb, expecting Him to be the author of their renewed hope.
Habakkuk 3 2 Commentary
Habakkuk 3:2 is a pivotal prayer, a shift from complaint to petition after hearing God's response about judgment. The prophet pleads for God to bring His powerful work (referencing past redemptive acts, especially the Exodus and conquest of Canaan) to life again in the current dire times. He asks that this revival of God's work would be made evident amidst the ongoing historical periods ("in the midst of the years"), implying that God's power should be seen repeatedly throughout history, and particularly in their present era. The final phrase, "in the wrath remember mercy," is a profound expression of faith. It's a plea for God to temper His righteous judgment with His inherent compassion, remembering His covenant love for His people even when He is dealing with their sin. It is a declaration that even in severe judgment, the memory and application of mercy are paramount for true revival.