Habakkuk 3:5
“Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As God advances, plague goes before Him and burning judgment follows at His feet.
What Does Habakkuk 3:5 Mean?
The portrait of God's coming continues in fearsome terms. Before Him goes pestilence; at His feet, burning coals or fever go forth. These are the attendants of the divine Warrior advancing in judgment — the forces of nature marshaled in His train as He comes to set things right.
Such imagery underscores that God's coming is not to be taken lightly; His approach shakes creation and overturns the powers of evil. Yet for Habakkuk, this terrifying advance is good news, for it means God is on the move against the violence that grieved him. The same coming that judges the wicked delivers the oppressed. The believer who fears the Lord need not fear His judgment as an enemy; for those who trust Him, the marching of God is the marching of their Defender.