Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither, shall fruit be in the vines. Destroy the "vines" and "fig trees" of the carnal heart, and his mirth ceases. But those who, when full, enjoyed God in all, when emptied, can enjoy all in God. They can sit down upon the heap of ruined creature-comforts, and rejoice in Him as the "God of their salvation." Running in the way of His commandments, we outrun our troubles. Thus Habakkuk, beginning his prayer with trembling, ends it with a song of triumph (Job 13:15; Psalms 4:7; Psalms 43:3; Psalms 43:5). The labour of the olive - i:e, the fruit expected from the olive; not the labour bestowed upon the olive.
Shall fail - literally, lie; i:e., disappoint the hope (margin, Isaiah 58:11, "a spring ... whose waters fail not" - lie not).
And the fields, [shªdeemowt] - from a Hebrew root meaning to burn х shaadap (H7710)], 'to be yellow;' such as they look at harvest-time.
Shall yield no meat - food, grain.
The flock shall be cut off - i:e., cease.