Habakkuk 1:3

Habakkuk 1:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
• New International Version (NIV)Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.

Context of Habakkuk 1:3

1The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet: 2How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not intervene! Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. 4For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted. 5“Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.

Habakkuk 1:3 word by word

לָ֣מָּה תַרְאֵ֤נִי אָ֙וֶן֙ וְעָמָ֣ל תַּבִּ֔יט וְשֹׁ֥ד וְחָמָ֖ס לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וַיְהִ֧י רִ֦יב וּמָד֖וֹן יִשָּֽׂא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Why dost thou shewרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• me iniquityאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• to beholdנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
• grievanceעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
• for spoilingשֹׁדshôd shôd · violenceH7701
• and violenceחָמָסchâmâs · violenceH2555
• raise upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• strifeרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
• and contentionמָדוֹןmâdôn · strifeH4066

Cross-references for Habakkuk 1:3

• Psalms 12:1Deliver, Lord! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.
• Psalms 55:9Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city.
• Psalms 73:3For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
• Psalms 120:5How miserable I am! For I have lived temporarily in Meshech; I have resided among the tents of Kedar.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.
• Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!
• Jeremiah 9:2(9:1) I wish I had a lodging place in the desert where I could spend some time like a weary traveler. Then I would desert my people and walk away from them because they are all unfaithful to God, a congregation of people that has been disloyal to him.
• Ezekiel 2:6But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words – even though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions – do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house!
• Micah 7:1I am depressed! Indeed, it is as if the summer fruit has been gathered, and the grapes have been harvested. There is no grape cluster to eat, no fresh figs that I crave so much.
• Matthew 10:16“I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
• 2 Peter 2:8(for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)

Commentaries on Habakkuk 1:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And cause me to behold grievance - עמל amal, labor, toil, distress, misery, etc., the common fruits of sin.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Why dost Thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold - , or rather, “Why beholdest Thou grievance?” God seemed to reverse what He had said by Balaam Numbers 23:21, “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, and hath not seen grievousness in Israel”; and in the Psalms Psalm 10:14, “Thou hast seen, for thou (emphatic) beholdest grievousness and wrong, to put it in Thy hand,” i. e., Thou layest it up in Thy hand, to cast it back on the head of the evildoer…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3In Habakkuk’s time, destruction and violence were widespread in Judean society (see Habakkuk Book Introduction, “Setting”).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-32-3. violence ... Why dost thou show me iniquity?--Similar language is used of the Chaldeans (Ha 1:9, 13), as here is used of the Jews: implying, that as the Jews sinned by violence and injustice, so they should be punished by violence and injustice (Pr 1:31). Jehoiakim's reign was marked by injustice, treachery, and bloodshed (Jr 22:3, 13-17). Therefore the Chaldeans should be sent to deal with him and his nobles according to their dealings with others…Read the comment

Topics related to Habakkuk 1:3

• God Continued...
• Minister, Christian
• Punishment
• Strife
• Wicked (People)
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Possess
• Pure
• Scoff
• Wrong
• Grievance
• Habakkuk
• strife, disputes, quarrel, arguing, conflict

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