Habakkuk 2:8

8 You have plundered the people of many nations, but now those who have survived will plunder you because of the murders you have committed and because of your violence against the people of the world and its cities.

Habakkuk 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

Habakkuk 2:8

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of
the people shall spoil thee
Those that survived the persecutions of the Roman emperors; those that were left of the great numbers put to death by them; those under Constantine rose up, and by just retaliation spoiled them of all their power and wealth: because of men's blood;
the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, of those under the altar, whose blood cried for vengeance, ( Revelation 6:9 Revelation 6:10 ) , which was shed under the ten bloody persecutions: or, "because of the blood of a man": of Adam F6, as it may be rendered; the blood of Christ the second Adam, which, though shed at the instance of the Jews, yet by the order of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor: and [for] the violence of the land, and of the city, and of all that
dwell therein:
that is, for the violence and injuries done to the land of Israel and city of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants thereof, as the Targum, and so Jarchi; and which were done by the Romans to those places and people, under Titus Vespasian, when he invaded the country of Judea, and made it desolate; besieged and took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire; destroyed great numbers of its inhabitants, and carried them captive, and sent great multitudes of them to the mines; as well as for what were done to the Christians in every country and city where they dwelt; and to the city of the living God, the church, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the citizens of it, who were used by them in a very cruel and inhuman manner, and for which vengeance would be, and was, taken upon them.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mda ymdm) "propter sanguinem hominis", i. e. "Christi, qui est secundus Adam", Cocceius, Van Till.

Habakkuk 2:8 In-Context

6 The conquered people will taunt their conquerors and show their scorn for them. They will say, "You take what isn't yours, but you are doomed! How long will you go on getting rich by forcing your debtors to pay up?"
7 But before you know it, you that have conquered others will be in debt yourselves and be forced to pay interest. Enemies will come and make you tremble. They will plunder you!
8 You have plundered the people of many nations, but now those who have survived will plunder you because of the murders you have committed and because of your violence against the people of the world and its cities.
9 You are doomed! You have made your family rich with what you took by violence, and have tried to make your own home safe from harm and danger!
10 But your schemes have brought shame on your family; by destroying many nations you have only brought ruin on yourself.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. the people . . . cities; [or] the land, the city, and those who live in it.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.