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?
• 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?
• 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 past like the wind and go on— guilty people, whose own strength is their god.” 12Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. 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? 14You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. 15The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.

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 5:4For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.
• Psalms 11:4The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.
• Psalms 34:15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
• 1 Peter 1:15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
• Psalms 10:1Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
• Psalms 73:3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
• Jeremiah 12:1You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
• Isaiah 21:2A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
• Isaiah 33:1Woe to you, destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, betrayer, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.
• Esther 4:14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
• Psalms 35:22Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord.
• Psalms 50:3Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
• Psalms 83:1O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.
• Proverbs 31:8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
• Isaiah 64:12After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?

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