Christian Standard Bible
Habakkuk 1:6
6Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter, impetuous nation that marches across the earth’s open spaces to seize territories not its own.
Habakkuk 1:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
- New International Version (NIV)I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
Context of Habakkuk 1:6
4This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. 5Look at the nations and observe — be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it. Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter, impetuous nation that marches across the earth’s open spaces to seize territories not its own. 7They are fierce and terrifying; their views of justice and sovereignty stem from themselves. 8Their horses are swifter than leopards and more fierce than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead; their horsemen come from distant lands. They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.
Read all of Habakkuk 1Habakkuk 1:6 word by word
כִּֽי־הִנְנִ֤י מֵקִים֙ אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים הַגּ֖וֹי הַמַּ֣ר וְהַנִּמְהָ֑ר הַֽהוֹלֵךְ֙ לְמֶרְחֲבֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ לָרֶ֖שֶׁת מִשְׁכָּנ֥וֹת לֹּא־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For, lo, I raise upקוּםqûm · to arise: raiseH6965
- the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיםkaώdîy kaώdîymâh · ChaldeaH3778
- bitterמַרmar mârâh · bitterH4751
- and hastyמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
- nationגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- which shall marchהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
- through the breadthמֶרְחָבmerchâb · broadH4800
- of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- to possessיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
- the dwellingplacesמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
Cross-references for Habakkuk 1:6
- Deuteronomy 28:49The Lord will bring a nation from far away, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down on you like an eagle, a nation whose language you won’t understand,
- 2 Kings 24:2The Lord sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim. He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through his servants the prophets.
- 2 Chronicles 36:6Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him and bound him in bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
- Isaiah 23:13Look at the land of the Chaldeans — a people who no longer exist. Assyria destined it for desert creatures. They set up their siege towers and stripped its palaces. They made it a ruin.
- Isaiah 39:6‘Look, the days are coming when everything in your palace and all that your predecessors have stored up until today will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 1:15Indeed, I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north.” This is the Lord’s declaration. They will come, and each king will set up his throne at the entrance to Jerusalem’s gates. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.
- Jeremiah 4:6Lift up a signal flag toward Zion. Run for cover! Don’t stand still! For I am bringing disaster from the north — a crushing blow.
- Jeremiah 5:15I am about to bring a nation from far away against you, house of Israel. This is the Lord’s declaration. It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.
- Jeremiah 6:22This is what the Lord says: Look, an army is coming from a northern land; a great nation will be stirred up from the remote regions of the earth.
- Jeremiah 21:4‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to repel the weapons of war in your hands, those you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall, and I will bring them into the center of this city.
- Jeremiah 25:9I am going to send for all the families of the north’ — this is the Lord’s declaration — ‘and send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land, against its residents, and against all these surrounding nations, and I will completely destroy them and make them an example of horror and scorn, and ruins forever.
Commentaries on Habakkuk 1:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6That bitter and hasty nation - Cruel and oppressive in their disposition; and prompt and speedy in their assaults and conquests.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6For lo - So God announces a future, in which His Hand shall be greatly visible, whether more or less distant. In His sight it is present. I raise up - God uses the free will and evil passions of people or devils to His own ends; and so He is said to “raise up” those whom He allows to be stirred up against His people, since the events which His Providence permits, favor their designs, and it rests with Him to withhold them. They lift themselves up for some…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-11God's answer to Habakkuk's question is surprising. God would send a violent group (the Babylonians) to address the violence in Judah. The Babylonian army, well-trained and experienced in battle, was unstoppable.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. I raise up--not referring to God's having brought the Chaldeans from their original seats to Babylonia (see on Is 23:13), for they had already been upwards of twenty years (since Nabopolassar's era) in political power there; but to His being about now to raise them up as the instruments of God's "work" of judgment on the Jews (2Ch 36:6). The Hebrew is future, "I will raise up." bitter--that is, cruel (Jr 50:42; compare Jud 18:25, Margin; 2Sa 17:8)…Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 1:6
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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