הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃
(Habakkuk 3:8)
Was YHWH angry with the rivers? Was Your wrath against the rivers? Was Your rage against the sea, that You ride upon Your horses, Your chariots of salvation?
Habakkuk 3:8 belongs to the prophet’s grand theophany vision, where the language of ancient Hebrew poetry is stretched to its fullest expressive power. The verse is built on a series of rhetorical questions framed by the particle הֲ and repeated אִם, culminating in a striking image of YHWH riding upon war horses and chariots of salvation. For students of Biblical Hebrew, this passage demonstrates how rhetorical syntax, repetition, and poetic imagery function together in shaping meaning.
The Particle הֲ: Introducing Interrogatives
The verse opens with הֲבִנְהָרִים חָרָה יְהוָה — “Was YHWH angry with the rivers?” Here, the interrogative particle הֲ signals a yes/no question. Unlike narrative Hebrew, which often omits interrogatives, poetry highlights rhetorical emphasis by explicitly marking the question. The form חָרָה (Qal perfect 3ms, “was angry”) follows, giving temporal grounding to the question. By placing יְהוָה at the end of the clause, the poet heightens suspense, withholding the subject until the question’s climax.
The Repetition of אִם: Rhythmic Parallelism
The particle אִם is repeated twice:
- אִם בַּנְּהָרִים אַפֶּךָ — “Was Your anger against the rivers?”
- אִם־בַּיָּם עֶבְרָתֶךָ — “Was Your wrath against the sea?”
This repetition produces a rhythmic, almost liturgical cadence. The nouns אַפֶּךָ (“Your anger”) and עֶבְרָתֶךָ (“Your rage”) are abstract terms personified as divine emotions. The syntax links them with prepositions (בְּ, “against”) and objects (rivers, sea), setting up a triadic crescendo of questions. Grammatically, אִם here does not introduce conditionality (“if”) but interrogative alternatives, functioning like “was it…?” or “was it rather…?”
The Verb תִּרְכַּב: Imagery of Riding
The verse then pivots with כִּי תִּרְכַּב עַל־סוּסֶיךָ — “that You ride upon Your horses.”
- תִּרְכַּב: Qal imperfect 2ms of רָכַב, “to ride.” The imperfect expresses habitual or dramatic action, fitting the epic imagery of divine theophany.
- עַל־סוּסֶיךָ: Prepositional phrase marking the instrument/means, “upon Your horses.” The suffix makes the possession explicit: they are YHWH’s own war horses.
The grammar here envisions not passive anger but active, military motion. Syntax transforms theological imagery into the dynamics of battle.
Chariots of Salvation
The closing phrase מַרְכְּבֹתֶיךָ יְשׁוּעָה is especially striking:
- מַרְכְּבֹתֶיךָ — “Your chariots,” a plural construct with 2ms suffix.
- יְשׁוּעָה — “salvation/deliverance,” functioning here as the genitival complement.
The result is the construct chain “Your chariots of salvation.” In Hebrew, the effect is compact and powerful: YHWH’s chariots are not instruments of mere destruction but vehicles of rescue. The grammar itself links warfare and salvation, collapsing categories into a single construct chain.
The Grammar Table: Key Forms
| Form | Parsing | Literal Sense | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| חָרָה | Qal perfect 3ms of חָרָה | “was angry” | Past action framed as rhetorical question |
| אַפֶּךָ | Noun + 2ms suffix | “Your anger” | Abstract noun personified |
| עֶבְרָתֶךָ | Noun + 2ms suffix | “Your rage/wrath” | Strong intensification of divine fury |
| תִּרְכַּב | Qal imperfect 2ms of רָכַב | “You ride” | Imperfect used in visionary imagery |
| מַרְכְּבֹתֶיךָ יְשׁוּעָה | Construct chain | “Your chariots of salvation” | Poetic fusion of battle and deliverance |
Rhetorical Questions as Theology
In Hebrew poetry, rhetorical questions rarely seek literal answers. Here, the questions highlight what YHWH’s anger is not directed at: not rivers or seas as natural forces, but at nations that oppose His purposes. The grammar of repetition and interrogation thus serves as a vehicle for theology. Syntax dramatizes divine wrath while affirming that creation itself is not the enemy.
Masoretic Accents and Reading Flow
The accents divide the verse into balanced cola, guiding oral recitation: first the triad of questions (חָרָה… אַפֶּךָ… עֶבְרָתֶךָ), then the climactic vision (כִּי תִּרְכַּב… מַרְכְּבֹתֶיךָ). This progression mirrors the logic of the poetry: questions create tension, vision resolves it.
Learning from the Chariots of Salvation
Habakkuk 3:8 shows how Hebrew grammar turns questions into theological drama. The particle הֲ opens inquiry, repeated אִם builds rhythm, construct chains compress profound ideas, and imperfect verbs animate the vision. Syntax, morphology, and poetry converge to declare: YHWH is not merely angry; He rides forth as a warrior of salvation. For the student of Biblical Hebrew, this verse is a vivid reminder that every particle and suffix can thunder with meaning.