Amplified Bible
Habakkuk 1:13
13Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look favorably on wickedness. Why then do You look favorably On those who act treacherously? Why are you silent when the wicked (Chaldean oppressors) destroy Those more righteous than they?
Habakkuk 1:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
- New International Version (NIV)Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
- English Standard Version (ESV)You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
- New King James Version (NKJV)You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
Context of Habakkuk 1:13
11Then they will sweep by like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They [and all men] whose own power and strength is their god.” 12Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, My Holy One? We will not die. O Lord, You have appointed the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon] to execute [Your] judgment, And You, O Rock, have established them to correct and chastise. Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look favorably on wickedness. Why then do You look favorably On those who act treacherously? Why are you silent when the wicked (Chaldean oppressors) destroy Those more righteous than they? 14Why do You make men like the fish of the sea, Like reptiles and creeping things that have no ruler [and are helpless against their enemies]? 15The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook, And drag them away with a net, And gather them together in their fishing net; So they rejoice and are glad.
Read all of Habakkuk 1Habakkuk 1:13 word by word
טְה֤וֹר עֵינַ֙יִם֙ מֵרְא֣וֹת רָ֔ע וְהַבִּ֥יט אֶל־עָמָ֖ל לֹ֣א תוּכָ֑ל לָ֤מָּה תַבִּיט֙ בּֽוֹגְדִ֔ים תַּחֲרִ֕ישׁ בְּבַלַּ֥ע רָשָׁ֖ע צַדִּ֥יק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- of purerטָהוֹרţâhôr ţâhôr · pureH2889
- eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- than to beholdרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- and canstיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- not lookנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
- on iniquityעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
- thou upon them that deal treacherouslyבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898
- holdest thy tongueחָרֵשׁchârash · be quietH2790
- when the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- devourethבָּלַעbâla‛ · to swallow upH1104
- more righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
Cross-references for Habakkuk 1:13
- Job 15:15Behold, God puts no trust in His holy ones (angels); Indeed, the heavens are not pure in His sight—
- Psalms 5:4For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil [person] dwells with You.
- Psalms 11:4The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of men.
- Psalms 34:15The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous [those with moral courage and spiritual integrity] And His ears are open to their cry.
- 1 Peter 1:15But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage];
- Psalms 10:1Why do You stand far away, O Lord? Why do You hide [Yourself, veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble?
- Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Jeremiah 12:1You, O Lord are [uncompromisingly] righteous and consistently just when I plead my case with You; Yet let me discuss issues of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are those who deal in treachery (deceit) at ease and thriving?
- Isaiah 21:2A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam! Lay siege, Media! All the groaning [caused by Babylon’s ruthless oppressions] I [the Lord] have brought to an end.
- Isaiah 33:1Woe (judgment is coming) to you, O destroyer, You who were not destroyed, And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you stop dealing treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.
- Esther 4:14For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?”
- Psalms 35:22You have seen this, O Lord; do not keep silent. O Lord, do not be far from me.
- Psalms 50:3May our God come and not keep silent; Fire devours before Him, And around Him a mighty tempest rages.
- Psalms 83:1Do not keep silent, O God; Do not hold Your peace or be still, O God.
- Proverbs 31:8Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all who are unfortunate and defenseless;
- Isaiah 64:12Considering these [tragedies], will You restrain Yourself, O Lord [and not help us]? Will You keep silent and humiliate and oppress us beyond measure?
Commentaries on Habakkuk 1:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Thou art of purer eyes - Seeing thou art so pure, and canst not look on iniquity - it is so abominable - how canst thou bear with them who "deal treacherously, and hold thy tongue when the wicked devour the righteous?" All such questions are easily solved by a consideration of God's ineffable mercy, which leads him to suffer long and be kind. He has no pleasure in the death of a sinner.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil - The prophet repeats his complaint (as troubling thoughts are accustomed to come back, after they have been repelled,), in order to answer it more strongly. All sin is hateful in God‘s sight, and in His Holy Wisdom He cannot endure to “look toward iniquity.” As man turns away from sickening sights, so God‘s abhorrence of wrong is pictured by His not being able to “look toward it.” If He looked toward them, they…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 However matters may be, yet God is the Lord our God, our Holy One. We are an offending people, he is an offended God, yet we will not entertain hard thoughts of him, or of his service. It is great comfort that, whatever mischief men design, the Lord designs good, and we are sure that his counsel shall stand. Though wickedness may prosper a while, yet God is holy, and does not approve the wickedness. As he cannot do iniquity himself, so he is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-17Habakkuk struggled to understand how God's answer in Habakkuk 1:5–11 fit with God's character. How could a holy and just God punish Judah using a people more unrighteous than they were?Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. purer ... than to behold evil--without being displeased at it. canst not look on iniquity--unjust injuries done to Thy people. The prophet checks himself from being carried too far in his expostulatory complaint, by putting before himself honorable sentiments of God. them that deal treacherously--the Chaldeans, once allies of the Jews, but now their violent oppressors. Compare "treacherous dealers," (Is 21:2; 24:16). Instead of speaking evil against…Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 1:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Habakkuk 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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