English Standard Version
Habakkuk 1:13
13You 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?
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?
- 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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?
Context of Habakkuk 1:13
11Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!" 12Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 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? 14You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. 15He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is 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, and the heavens are not pure in his sight;
- Psalms 5:4For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell 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 man.
- Psalms 34:15The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
- 1 Peter 1:15but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
- Psalms 10:1Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
- Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
- Isaiah 21:2A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.
- Isaiah 33:1Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you.
- Esther 4:14For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
- Psalms 35:22You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
- Psalms 50:3Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.
- Psalms 83:1O God, do not keep silence; 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 destitute.
- Isaiah 64:12Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries