Tag Archives: Habakkuk 3:8

The Use of Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew (Habakkuk 3:8)

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Habakkuk 3:8 in Hebrew הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ Introduction to Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism Habakkuk 3:8 presents a vivid poetic description of God’s power, employing rhetorical questions and parallelism to emphasize divine action. The verse asks: הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה – “Was the LORD angry with the rivers?” אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ – “Was Your wrath against the rivers?” אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ – “Was Your fury against the sea?” These rhetorical questions emphasize that God’s actions are not arbitrary but part of His divine plan.… Learn Hebrew
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Rhetorical Questions and Poetic Syntax in Habakkuk 3:8

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Advanced Hebrew Grammar
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.… Learn Hebrew
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Divine Anger and Salvation: Rhetorical Questions and Poetic Syntax in Habakkuk 3:8

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew
Habakkuk 3:8 הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ Opening Rhetorical Question: הֲבִנְהָרִים חָרָה יְהוָה הֲבִנְהָרִים (“was it against the rivers?”) uses the interrogative particle הֲ attached to the noun נְהָרִים (“rivers”). חָרָה is a Qal perfect 3ms of ח־ר־ה (“to burn, be angry”), with יְהוָה (“YHWH”) as subject. The question implies: Was YHWH’s anger directed at inanimate creation (the rivers)? The structure initiates a poetic and theological reflection on divine action. Parallel Question: אִם בַּנְּהָרִים אַפֶּךָ אִם (“or”) introduces an alternative.… Learn Hebrew
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