What Does Habakkuk 3:11 Mean in the King James?
The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The sky’s stillness is not inactivity: the sun and moon stand in place, then walk in the lightning-flash of God’s weapons.
THE MEANING
The verse places the sun and moon within the reach of God’s battle-flash: they stand in their dwelling, then go in the light of arrows and spear. Stillness and motion occupy the same scene, and the weapon imagery keeps divine power fierce, not ornamental. The sky above the reader remains part of this living field of divine action.
THE ROOT
בְּרַק
bərāq
GROWS FROM
ברק
To flash or gleam; lightning, a sudden bright flash.
“glittering” in this verse is bərāq. The spear’s “glitter” is expressed through the root of lightning and flashing. Its brightness reads as a forceful burst in the sky, echoing the light of the arrows.
ALSO GROWS
bāraq: Lightning; a flash.
בָּרָק
This noun reveals the lightning image inside the spear’s brightness.
hibrīq: To flash, sparkle, or gleam.
הִבְרִיק
The verb shows that this root carries the action of flashing, not only the appearance of something bright.
יְהַלֵּכוּ
yehalleku
GROWS FROM
הלך
To walk or go; to proceed.
“went” in this verse is yehalleku. The sun and moon are described as walking in the light of the arrows. The verse gives their motion an active, bodily verb, held beside the image of their standing in place.
ALSO GROWS
hālak: To walk or go.
הָלַךְ
This is the basic verb from which the verse’s “they went” form comes.
hōlēkh: One who walks or goes.
הוֹלֵךְ
This participle makes the root’s movement concrete, like the sun and moon proceeding across the sky.
עָמַד
ʿāmad
GROWS FROM
עמד
To stand, take one’s stand, or remain in place.
“stood still” in this verse is ʿāmad. The verse first places the sun and moon in a dwelling, then sets them in motion. Standing and going coexist here rather than canceling each other.
ALSO GROWS
ʿamidah: Standing.
עֲמִידָה
It carries the root’s physical posture of standing.
maʿamad: A station or position.
מַעֲמָד
It connects standing with the place held by the sun and moon in the verse.
THE PATTERN
The created order responds to divine authority: its forces can hold, move, or fall quiet at a word or sign.
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.THE THREAD
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.Habakkuk’s עָמַד (ʿāmad, “stood”) and Joshua’s וַיַּעֲמֹד (wayyaʿamod, “and it stood”) share the root עמד. In both verses, the sun’s standing becomes part of a scene where the familiar motion of the heavens answers to divine power.
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