What is the meaning ofshigionothin Habakkuk?
Answered from the commentary of Morrish Bible Dictionary, Arno Clemens Gaebelein and G. V. Wigram
The meaning of “Shigionoth” is not known with certainty. In Habakkuk’s heading it is understood by some as “variable songs or tunes”; another explanation takes it as the plural of “Shiggaion,” meaning “loud crying” or a “wandering ode.” the plural of “Shiggaion,” meaning “loud crying” a “wandering ode” The explanations differ, and the word’s meaning remains uncertain.
Verses: Habakkuk 3:1, Habakkuk 3:19
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Verses 1-2. Once more we hear the voice of the man of God in prayer. Shigionoth is the plural of Shiggaion, and is found in the superscription of Psalm 7. Its meaning is "loud crying." The connection with the seventh Psalm is interesting. In that Psalm God appeared to David as the God of judgment, the righteous God who must save His righteous people and condemn the wicked. (See Annotations on Psalm 7.) The prophet had listened to the message and penned it as we have it in the preceding chapter. It struck terror to his heart and he trembled. Therefore he pleads for a revival of the Lord's work in the midst of the years. He must have taken a hasty glance over the past history of his people, how God had worked in their behalf in Egypt, redeemed them, led them forth, and the many evidences of the display of His power in behalf of the elect nation. And now, in the midst of years, he asks a revival of this work, the interposition of Jehovah, that He may be known in His power. The text is often quoted in pleading a revival among the dead conditions of Christendom. But it is a revival of the work of the Lord in a very different sense of the word, as we have indicated.
Similarly, Habakkuk begins his concluding prayer on Shigionoth—whichis, literally, a selection of variable tunes on the wind instrument often entailing much effort with little music. How often our prayers are like that! But if they lead us to the result which he reached, our joy will indeed be full. No one could imagine less congenial conditions than those pictured by Habakkuk. Yet he would rejoice in the Lord, and as a result he was caused to walk on high places. His feet would scarcely touch the ground, so great would be his joy. That corresponds to music on the stringed instruments (Hab. 3:19).
Paul and Silas were at Lydia's prayer meeting, but they did not touch the top note of praise until with feet in stocks and bleeding backs they sang praises to God in the darkness of the Philippian dungeon. They had graduated from Shigionoth to Neginoth, from performers on the wind instruments to be experts on the stringed instruments. Years later, the apostle, writing to believers in Philippi, could counsel them to rejoice in the Lord alway.
Hab. 3 is a prayer of the prophet. 'Upon Shigionoth,' reads in the margin "according to variable songs or tunes," which signification seems confirmed by the subscription, "To the chief singer on stringed instruments." The prophet realises the presence of God while he reviews His past dealings against Israel's enemies, and sees in them the pledge of the future salvation. At the close, while faith has to wait for the blessing he rejoices in God, saying, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 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."
is a prayer of the prophet. 'Upon Shigionoth,' reads in the margin "according to variable songs or tunes," which signification seems confirmed by the subscription, "To the chief singer on stringed instruments." The prophet realises the presence of God while he reviews His past dealings against Israel's enemies, and sees in them the pledge of the future salvation. At the close, while faith has to wait for the blessing he rejoices in God, saying, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 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."
I cannot conceive anything greater to a heart that knows union with Christ than to be ever seeking to be in keeping with His pleasure, and though occupied with His glory on the earth you rise, as you see in Habakkuk 3, from "Shigionoth" (variable notes) to "Neginoth" (stringed instruments). J. B. Stoney.
True Christianity involves a heavenly calling, but that has its bearing on earthly relationships, so that we should be walking in all lowliness (as to ourselves) and meekness (as to others), with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:2-3). But we need not be cast down, because God is about to intervene and the enemy will be utterly defeated. Faith connects us with a brighter day, in spite of all around which would seem to cast a blight upon our hope. The conclusion of the prophecy of Habakkuk is a magnificent hymn of praise, consequent on the prayer "O! Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years." He could rejoice in the Lord, in the God of His salvation. His feet were like those of the hind springing forward to the age of glory and joy, although there was complete failure of crops and flocks and everything on which the heart could naturally rest. The prophecy ends on the top note of praise with reference to the chief singer on his stringed instruments (Neginoth) as a contrast to the prayer in the beginning of the chapter upon Shigionoth which was a wind instrument of variable tunes implying a good deal of blowing with little music.
SHIGGAION … Wandering ode.
The word Shiggaion is said to mean a "wandering ode," — perhaps a loud enthusiastic hymn, in which the writer is carried away with his enthusiasm; and this would not be unsuitable to the character of the composition. Of Cush we know historically nothing; with which the descriptive "a Benjamite" agrees, not "the Benjamite," — any noted person. On the other hand, Cush, the "black," or sun-burnt, may be a symbolic name, an enigma to be read through; and so in any wise we must take it. The Benjamite was, as we know, in power in those days of David to which the psalm belongs; and thus far, at least, Cush was connected with the unhappy Saul. In the days to come a darker power will have arisen in Israel, whose words" will be against both God and His people alike. This "wicked one" is to be consumed with the breath of the Lord's mouth and destroyed with the "manifestation of His presence." (2 Thess. 2, Gk.) The fear and the triumph that this psalm expresses, though not confined to him, are such as might well be called forth by the tyranny and overthrow of this antichristian oppressor.
Verses
- Habakkuk 3:1A Prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
- Habakkuk 3:19Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength, And he maketh my feet like hinds' [feet], And he will make me to walk upon my high places. To the chief Musician. On my stringed instruments.