Habakkuk 2:6-8

6 "Will not all of these ¹take up a taunt-song against him, Even mockery and insinuations against him And say, '²Woe to him who increases what is not his- For how long * - And makes himself rich with loans?'

7 "Will not your creditors ³rise up suddenly, And those who collect from you awaken? Indeed, you will become plunder for them.

8 "Because you have ⁴looted many nations, All the remainder of the peoples will loot you- Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, To the town and all its inhabitants.

Habakkuk 2:6-8 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. Isaiah 14:4-10; Jeremiah 50:13
• 2. Job 20:15-29; Habakkuk 2:12
• 3. Proverbs 29:1
• 4. Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 27:7; Zechariah 2:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "heavy"
• [b]. Lit "those who bite you"
• [c]. Lit "violently shake you"
• [d]. Lit "of the land"