Introduction

The Book of Habakkuk is the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible. It is attributed to the prophet Habakkuk, and was probably composed in the late 7th century BC.

Contents

The book consists of three chapters and the book is neatly divided into three different genres:

1. Chapter 1:  A discussion between God and Habakkuk

2. Chapter 2:  An Oracle of Woe

3. Chapter 3:  A Psalm

The rest of this comprehensive Wikipedia article on the book can be read here.

An extract from BHFA Volume 5

Habakkuk 3:17a

 כִּי־       תְאֵנָה      לֹא־          תִפְרָח

she will blossom     not     a fig tree     when

• KJB Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

• NASB Though the fig tree should not blossom

• ESV Though the fig tree should not blossom,

• NLT Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

• NIV Though the fig tree does not bud  

There are two footnotes here. The first note suggests that this whole verse was added later.

The second note mentions that the Septuagint has καρποφορήσει meaning, "to bear fruit."

תִפְרָח

Qal impf. 3fs of the verb פָּרַח meaning, "to bud, sprout, shoot."

The alternative Hebrew pointing suggested in the second footnote, does not alter the meaning.

An extract from BHFA Volume 5

Habakkuk 3:19b

וְעַל             בָּמוֹתַי                    יַדְרִכֵנִי

he will make me walk      my high places        and on 

• KJB and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

• NASB And makes me walk on my high places.

• ESV he makes me tread on my high places.

• NLT able to tread upon the heights.

• NIV he enables me to tread on the heights.      

We find a footnote in the BHS text at בָּמוֹתַי. The footnote suggests that the Greek Septuagint does not reflect the final yod. The Septuagint does indeed have τα υψηλά meaning, "high places."

In the MT the f. pl. form of the noun בָּמָה seems to be used, but the yod at the end changes it to be the f. pl. noun + 1cs pronominal suffix, with the meaning, "my high places."

As this does not make sense in this context, the footnote correctly suggests that this is a case of dittography (the accidental duplication of a letter, word, or phrase by a copyist).