And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
Parallel translations
- WEB His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from his hand, where his power is hidden.
- BSB His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden.
- NKJV His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.
- NASB His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And the hiding of His might is there.
- NLT His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God's appearance is radiant like the sunrise, with rays from His hand veiling His hidden power. It conveys the dazzling glory and concealed might of God.
Overview
The imagery of brilliant light streaming from God's hand depicts His overwhelming splendor and strength. That His power is 'hidden' suggests even this glorious display only hints at the fullness of His might. Such theophany language magnifies God's transcendence, reminding us that the God who comes in saving power is greater than all we can see, fully revealed at last in the face of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
- Isa 60:19–20The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
- Rev 22:5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- Exod 14:20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
- Job 26:14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
- 1 Tim 6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
- Ps 104:2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
- Exod 13:21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
- Neh 9:12Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
- Rev 21:23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
- Prov 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
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Christ at the center
'The righteous shall live by his faith' (2:4) becomes a cornerstone of the gospel in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews — the faith that lays hold of Christ.
How Habakkuk 3:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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