Habakkuk 1:1

1 This is the prophecy which Havakuk the prophet saw:

Habakkuk 1:1 Meaning and Commentary

Habakkuk 1:1

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
] This prophecy is called a "burden", or something took up and carried, being what the prophet received from the Lord, and went with to the people of the Jews, and was a heavy burdensome prophecy to them; declaring the calamities that should come upon them by the Chaldeans, who would invade their land, and carry them captive; and Habakkuk, that brought this account, is called a "prophet", to give the greater sanction to it; and it was what he had in vision from the Lord represented unto him, and therefore should be credited. Abarbinel inquires why Habakkuk should be called a prophet, when none of the lesser prophets are, excepting Haggai and Zechariah; and thinks the reason of it is, to give weight to his prophecy, since it might be suspected by some whether he was one; there being none of those phrases to be met with in this prophecy as in others, as "the word of the Lord came" or "thus saith the Lord".

Habakkuk 1:1 In-Context

1 This is the prophecy which Havakuk the prophet saw:

2 ADONAI, how long must I cry without your hearing? "Violence!" I cry to you, but you don't save.

3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing, why do you permit oppression? Pillage and cruelty confront me, so that strife and discord prevail.

4 Therefore Torah is not followed; justice never gets rendered, because the wicked fence in the righteous. This is why justice comes out perverted.

5 "Look around among the nations! What you see will completely astound you! For what is going to be done in your days you will not believe, even when you are told.