Habakkuk 2:4-12

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness^[a] —

5 indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.

6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, “ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’

7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.

8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!

10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!

Habakkuk 2:4-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 2

This chapter contains an answer from the Lord to the expostulations, pleadings, and reasonings of the prophet, in the name of the people. The preparation of the prophet to receive this answer is described, Hab 2:1 then follows the answer itself, in which he is bid to write and make plain the vision he had, that it might be easily read, Hab 2:2 and a promise is made, that vision should still be continued to the appointed time, at which time the Messiah would come; and this the righteous man, in opposition to the vain and proud man, is encouraged to live in the faith of, Hab 2:3,4 and then the destruction of the enemies of the people of God is threatened for their pride, ambition, covetousness, oppression, and murder, Hab 2:5-12 which would be unavoidable, Hab 2:13 and issue in the spread of the knowledge of the glory of God in the world, Hab 2:14 and also the ruin of other enemies is threatened, for drawing men into apostasy, and for their violence and idolatry, Hab 2:15-19 upon which would follow an universal silence in the earth, Hab 2:20.

Cross References

• 1. S Ezekiel 18:9
• 2. Romans 1:17*; Galatians 3:11*; Hebrews 10:37-38*
• 3. S Proverbs 20:1
• 4. S Isaiah 2:11
• 5. S Proverbs 27:20; S Proverbs 30:15-16
• 6. Habakkuk 1:9
• 7. S Isaiah 14:4
• 8. Amos 2:8
• 9. S Proverbs 29:1
• 10. Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 50:17-18; S Obadiah 1:15; Zechariah 2:8-9
• 11. ver 17
• 12. S Ezekiel 39:10
• 13. S Jeremiah 22:13
• 14. S Jeremiah 51:13
• 15. S Job 39:27; S Isaiah 10:14
• 16. Jeremiah 26:19
• 17. ver 16; S Nahum 3:6
• 18. S Joshua 24:27; Zechariah 5:4; Luke 19:40
• 19. S Ezekiel 22:2; S Micah 3:10

Footnotes

• [a] Or "faith"