Habakkuk 1:13

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

11They sweep by like the wind and pass on. But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty.” 12Lord, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. Lord, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment. You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are? 14You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler. 15The Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net. When he catches them in his dragnet, he is very happy.

Habakkuk 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 15:15If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
• Psalms 5:4Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you.
• Psalms 11:4The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his eyes examine all people.
• Psalms 34:15The Lord pays attention to the godly and hears their cry for help.
• 1 Peter 1:15but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,
• Psalms 10:1Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?
• Psalms 73:3For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
• Jeremiah 12:1Lord, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?
• Isaiah 21:2I have received a distressing message: “The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning!”
• Isaiah 33:1The destroyer is as good as dead, you who have not been destroyed! The deceitful one is as good as dead, the one whom others have not deceived! When you are through destroying, you will be destroyed; when you finish deceiving, others will deceive you!
• Esther 4:14“Don’t imagine that because you are part of the king’s household you will be the one Jew who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source, while you and your father’s household perish. It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!”
• Psalms 35:22But you take notice, Lord! O Lord, do not remain far away from me!
• Psalms 50:3Our God approaches and is not silent; consuming fire goes ahead of him and all around him a storm rages.
• Psalms 83:1O God, do not be silent! Do not ignore us! Do not be inactive, O God!
• Proverbs 31:8Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.
• Isaiah 64:12In light of all this, how can you still hold back, Lord? How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?

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

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Anthropomorphisms
• Eye
• God Continued...
• Happiness
• Persecution
• Sin
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Possess
• Pure
• Scoff
• Wrong
• Grievance
• Habakkuk
• Justice
• Peace

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