Habakkuk 3:19
GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Habakkuk doesn't just say God is his strength; he declares that this strength is personal, "my strength," and that God actively makes him capable. The imagery of "hinds' feet" isn't just about speed, but about God enabling him to navigate treacherous "high places," a metaphor for overcoming immense challenges and reaching secure spiritual heights.
After grappling with the terrifying prospect of God's judgment and seeking understanding, Habakkuk concludes his prayer with an expression of unwavering trust. This final verse isn't a lament or a question, but a bold declaration of faith in God's power to sustain and elevate His people, even after the dire pronouncements. It serves as a triumphant conclusion to the prophet's wrestling, affirming his resolve to praise God regardless of circumstances.
When life's challenges feel insurmountable, where does true strength come from? Habakkuk points us to an incredible source.
Habakkuk begins this verse with a powerful declaration: 'The LORD God is my strength.' This isn't just a casual statement; it's a profound confession of absolute reliance on God. The commentaries highlight that this strength is not our own ability, but God's power working in us and through us. It’s the difference between trying to lift a heavy weight yourself versus having a crane lift it for you. This divine strength enables us to face overwhelming circumstances, not by our own might, but by His.
Ever feel like you're stuck, unable to move past obstacles? Habakkuk's prayer offers a vision of overcoming.
The imagery of 'making my feet like the deer’s' and letting him 'tread on my high places' is striking. It paints a picture of agility, sure-footedness, and the ability to navigate difficult terrain with ease. The commentaries suggest this means being able to overcome enemies, gain victory, and reach places of safety and security that were previously inaccessible. These 'high places' aren't just physical locations but represent spiritual triumphs, freedom from oppression, and a superior position of confidence and peace secured by God's power.
Why does this powerful declaration end with a musical direction? It reveals something about how faith is expressed and passed on.
The phrase 'To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments' is more than just a musical notation; it indicates that this prophetic prayer was intended for public worship. Commentaries suggest it was likely set to music and sung in the temple. This transforms Habakkuk's personal testimony into a communal anthem of faith. It shows that our declarations of trust in God aren't meant to be kept private but shared, celebrated, and passed down through song, strengthening the faith of the entire community. It's a reminder that our highest praises are often offered in collective worship.
Understand the original words
chayil · Hebrew Noun
The inherent power, stability, or refuge that God provides to His people. It is the spiritual enablement that allows a believer to stand firm and move forward despite overwhelming circumstances.
bamah · Hebrew Noun
High or secure elevated places, often representing positions of spiritual victory, safety, or strategic advantage provided by God. It denotes the ability to overcome obstacles and exist above the level of mundane struggles.
Habakkuk's powerful declaration of faith in God's strength, his ability to navigate difficult terrain like a deer, and his ultimate triumph comes at the peak of Judah's despair. It's a defiant cry of hope amidst the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, looking beyond the immediate devastation to eventual restoration and God's ultimate victory.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and deports some of the Jewish nobility, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of profound crisis for Judah.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans to Babylon. This event further devastates Jerusalem and its leadership.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, the heart of Israel's worship and national identity. The majority of the remaining population is exiled to Babylon, leaving Judah in ruins.
c. 539 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. His famous edict allows exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
This passage is directly echoed in Habakkuk 3:19, showing the ancient connection between God's strength and enabling believers to overcome obstacles with agility and security, much like a deer.
Psalm 73:26This verse speaks of God being the strength of the heart, aligning with Habakkuk's declaration that 'God, the Lord, is my strength,' highlighting the internal source of confidence.
Deuteronomy 32:13This verse describes God causing Israel to ride on the high places of the earth, a concept that parallels Habakkuk's imagery of being made to tread on his high places, signifying dominion and security granted by God.
Isaiah 35:8-9This passage speaks of a highway for the redeemed to travel, where no lion or beast shall be found, connecting to the idea of secure and elevated movement in God's provision, even in difficult terrain.
Philippians 4:13This New Testament verse provides a direct parallel to the sentiment of Habakkuk 3:19, stating 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me,' emphasizing that divine strength empowers believers for any challenge.
barnesHabakkuk 3:19: "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments."
The Lord God is my strength - The prophet does not inwardly only exult and triumph in God, but he confesses also in words of praise, that in Him he hath all things, that He is All things in him. And as he had confessed the Father, under the Name whereby He revealed Himself to Moses, and the Son, "the Lord God…
bensonHabakkuk 3:19: "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments."
Habakkuk 3:19 . The Lord God is my strength — He that is the God of our salvation in another world, will be our strength in this world, to carry us on in our journey thither, and help us over the difficulties and oppositions we meet with in our way, even then when provisions are cut off, to make it appear that…
Habakkuk doesn't just say God is his strength; he declares that this strength is personal, "my strength," and that God actively makes him capable. The imagery of "hinds' feet" isn't just about speed, but about God enabling him to navigate treacherous "high places," a metaphor for overcoming immense challenges and reaching secure spiritual heights.
After grappling with the terrifying prospect of God's judgment and seeking understanding, Habakkuk concludes his prayer with an expression of unwavering trust. This final verse isn't a lament or a question, but a bold declaration of faith in God's power to sustain and elevate His people, even after the dire pronouncements. It serves as a triumphant conclusion to the prophet's wrestling, affirming his resolve to praise God regardless of circumstances.
After grappling with the terrifying prospect of God's judgment and seeking understanding, Habakkuk concludes his prayer with an expression of unwavering trust. This final verse isn't a lament or a question, but a bold declaration of faith in God's power to sustain and elevate His people, even after the dire pronouncements. It serves as a triumphant conclusion to the prophet's wrestling, affirming his resolve to praise God regardless of circumstances.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Habakkuk 3:19 is available in the Sola app.
c. 538-516 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Rebuilding
The first wave of Jewish exiles returns to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and begins the arduous task of rebuilding the Temple, facing significant opposition.
"GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments." — Habakkuk doesn't just say God is his strength; he declares that this strength is personal, "my strength," and that God actively *makes* him capable. The imagery of "hinds' feet" isn't just about spee…