English Standard Version
Habakkuk 1:6
6For 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people. They will march across the world and conquer other lands.
Context of Habakkuk 1:6
4So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. 5"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 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. 7They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. 8Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift 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 against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,
- 2 Kings 24:2And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servants the prophets.
- 2 Chronicles 36:6Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.
- Isaiah 23:13Behold the land of the Chaldeans! This is the people that was not; Assyria destined it for wild beasts. They erected their siege towers, they stripped her palaces bare, they made her a ruin.
- Isaiah 39:6Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 1:15For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah.
- Jeremiah 4:6Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from the north, and great destruction.
- Jeremiah 5:15Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the Lord. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.
- Jeremiah 6:22Thus says the Lord: "Behold, a people is coming from the north country, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
- Jeremiah 21:4'Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city.
- Jeremiah 25:9behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries