His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And the hiding of His might is there.
Parallel translations
- WEB His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from his hand, where his power is hidden.
- KJV And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
- 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.
- 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 17:2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
- Isa 60:19–20The sun will be no more your light by day; nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
- Rev 22:5There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
- Exod 14:20It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and one didn’t come near the other all night.
- Job 26:14Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”
- 1 Tim 6:16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
- Ps 104:2He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
- Exod 13:21Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:
- Neh 9:12Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.
- Rev 21:23The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
- Prov 18:10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.