God’s Word Translation
Habakkuk 2:17
17The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction done to the animals will terrify you because of the slaughter and violence done to lands, cities, and all their inhabitants.
Habakkuk 2:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
- New International Version (NIV)The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it.
Context of Habakkuk 2:17
15“ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes his neighbor drink from the bowl of God’s rage, making him drunk in order to stare at his nakedness.’ 16You are filled with disgrace rather than glory. Drink! Yes you! And expose yourself as godless. The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction done to the animals will terrify you because of the slaughter and violence done to lands, cities, and all their inhabitants. 18“What benefit is there in a carved idol when its maker has carved it? What benefit is there in a molded statue, a teacher of lies, when its maker has molded it? The one who formed it trusts himself to make worthless idols that cannot speak. 19‘How horrible it will be for the one who says to a piece of wood, “Wake up!” and to a stone that cannot talk, “Get up!” ’ Can that thing teach ⌞anyone⌟? Just look at it! It’s covered with gold and silver, but there’s absolutely no life in it.”
Read all of Habakkuk 2Habakkuk 2:17 word by word
כִּ֣י חֲמַ֤ס לְבָנוֹן֙ יְכַסֶּ֔ךָּ וְשֹׁ֥ד בְּהֵמ֖וֹת יְחִיתַ֑ן מִדְּמֵ֤י אָדָם֙ וַחֲמַס־אֶ֔רֶץ קִרְיָ֖ה וְכָל־יֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For the violenceחָמָסchâmâs · violenceH2555
- of Lebanonלְבָנוֹןlebânôn · LebanonH3844
- shall coverכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
- thee, and the spoilשֹׁדshôd shôd · violenceH7701
- of beastsבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
- made them afraidחָתַתchâthath · to to be dismayedH2865
- because of men’sאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
- of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of the cityקִרְיָהqiryâh · townH7151
- and of all that dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
Cross-references for Habakkuk 2:17
- Zechariah 11:1Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire will be able to burn down your cedars.
- Habakkuk 2:8You have looted many nations. All the rest of the people will loot you because of the slaughter and violence done to lands, cities, and all their inhabitants.
- Psalms 55:23But you, O God, will throw ⌞wicked people⌟ into the deepest pit. Bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I will trust you.
- Psalms 137:8You destructive people of Babylon, blessed is the one who pays you back with the same treatment you gave us.
- Proverbs 28:17A person burdened with the guilt of murder will be a fugitive down to his grave. No one will help him.
- Revelation 18:20“Gloat over it, heaven, God’s people, apostles, and prophets. God has condemned it for you.”
- Jeremiah 50:28Listen! Fugitives and refugees from Babylon are coming to Zion to tell about the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance for his temple.
- Jeremiah 51:24“In your presence I will pay back Babylon and all the people who live in Babylon for all the evil things that they did in Zion,” declares the Lord.
Commentaries on Habakkuk 2:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For the violence of Lebanon - Or, the violence done to Lebanon; to men, to cattle, to Judea, and to Jerusalem. See the note on the parallel place, Habakkuk 2:8; (note). This may be a threatening against Egypt, as the former was against Chaldea.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For the violence of Lebanon - i. e., done to Lebanon, whether the land of Israel of which it was the entrance and the beauty (See Isaiah 37:24, and, as a symbol, Jeremiah 22:6, Jeremiah 22:23; Ezekiel 17:3; but it is used as a symbol of Sennacherib‘s army, Isaiah 10:34, and the king of Asshur is not indeed spoken of under the name as a symbol (in Ezekiel 21:3,) but is compared to it), or the temple (See the note at Zechariah 12:1), both of which…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 A severe woe is pronounced against drunkenness; it is very fearful against all who are guilty of drunkenness at any time, and in any place, from the stately palace to the paltry ale-house. To give one drink who is in want, who is thirsty and poor, or a weary traveller, or ready to perish, is charity; but to give a neighbour drink, that he may expose himself, may disclose secret concerns, or be drawn into a bad bargain, or for any such…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17In the fourth taunt song, the Babylonians face condemnation for their shameful acts against people, animals, and the environment. They are like a man who pretends to be friendly but, after getting his neighbors drunk, takes everything from them. However, the Babylonians will face disgrace after drinking from the cup of the Lord’s judgment (see Jeremiah 25:15–17; compare John 18:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. the violence of Lebanon--thy "violence" against "Lebanon," that is, Jerusalem (Is 37:24; Jr 22:23; Eze 17:3, 12; for Lebanon's cedars were used in building the temple and houses of Jerusalem; and its beauty made it a fit type of the metropolis), shall fall on thine own head. cover--that is, completely overwhelm. the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid--Maurer explains, "the spoiling inflicted on the beasts of Lebanon (that is, on the people of…Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 2:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Habakkuk 2
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries