Habakkuk 3 · Verse 5

Habakkuk 3:5

Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
Habakkuk 3:5, King James Version

Habakkuk 3:5 in other translations

BSBPlague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps.
WEBPlague went before him, and pestilence followed his feet.
ASVBefore him went the pestilence, And fiery bolts went forth at his feet.
YLTBefore Him goeth pestilence, And a burning flame goeth forth at His feet.
DARBYBefore him went the pestilence, And a burning flame went forth at his feet.
BBEBefore him went disease, and flames went out at his feet.
WebsterBefore him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

What does Habakkuk 3:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. pestilence--to destroy His people's foes (1Sa 5:9, 11). As Jehovah's advent is glorious to His people, so it is terrible to His foes. burning coals--Psa 18:8 favors English Version. But the parallelism requires, as the Margin translates, "burning disease" (compare De 32:24; Psa 91:6). went ... at his feet--that is, after Him, as His attendants (Jud 4:10).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Before him went the pestilence - This plague was several times inflicted on the disobedient Israelites in the wilderness; see Num 11:33; Num 14:37; Num 16:46; and was always the proof that the just God was then manifesting his power among them. Burning coals event forth at his feet - Newcome translates, "And flashes of fire went forth after him." The disobedient Israelites were consumed by a fire that went out from Jehovah; see Lev 10:2; Num 11:1; Num 16:35. And the burnt-offering was consumed by a fire which came out from before Jehovah, Lev 11:24.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Habakkuk 3:3-15

God's people, when in distress, and ready to despair, seek help by considering the days of old, and the years of ancient times, and by pleading them with God in prayer. The resemblance between the Babylonish and Egyptian captivities, naturally presents itself to the mind, as well as the possibility of a like deliverance through the power of Jehovah. God appeared in his glory. All the powers of nature are shaken, and…

Read the full comment on Habakkuk 3:3-15 →

Habakkuk 3:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.Nav<to> before himH6440
יֵ֣לֶךְYe.lekhit goesH1980
דָּ֑בֶרDa.verpestilenceH1698
וְיֵצֵ֥אve.ye.Tze'so it may go outH3318
רֶ֖שֶׁףRe.sheflightningH7565
לְרַגְלָֽיו\׃le.rag.Lavto feet hisH7272

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Habakkuk 3:5

  • Exodus 12:29-30

    And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

  • Nahum 1:2-3

    God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

  • Numbers 16:46-49

    And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

  • Numbers 14:12

    I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

  • Psalms 78:50-51

    He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

  • Psalms 18:7-13

    Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. …

  • Deuteronomy 32:24

    They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
went.
Ex 12:29,30; Nu 14:12; 16:46-49; Ps 78:50,51; Na 1:2,3
and.
Ps 18:7-13
burning coals. or, burning diseases.
De 32:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Habakkuk 3:4

    And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

  • Habakkuk 3:5

    Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

  • Habakkuk 3:6

    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.

Read all of Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk 3:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Delante de su rostro iba mortandad, y á sus pies salían carbones encendidos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
La peste marchait devant lui, et une flamme ardente sortait sous ses pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Vor ihm her geht die Pest, und die Seuche zieht aus, seinen Füßen nach.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ante faciem ejus ibit mors, et egredietur diabolus ante pedes ejus.