Habakkuk 1:6-7 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:5-11

The Divine working against evil and its doers. We have expressed here God's response to the impassioned appeal addressed to him by his servant. There is much that is suggestive in these words as bearing upon the Divine working against those who practise sin and who persist in its commission. Note— I. THAT GOD IS NOT INDIFFERENT WITH RESPECT TO PREVAILING UNGODLINESS . The seer had asked, "How long?" ( Habakkuk 1:2 ). He was impatient of delay. But whilst there is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:6

The executors of the Divine vengeance are now plainly announced. I raise up. God does it; he uses the power and passion of men to work out his designs ( 1 Kings 11:14 , 1 Kings 11:23 ; Amos 6:14 ). The Chaldeans ; Kasidim. By this appellation the prophets signify the soldiers or inhabitants of Babylon, which won its independence and commenced its wonderfully rapid career of conquest after the tall of Nineveh, between B.C. 626 and 608. At the time when Habakkuk wrote the Chaldeans... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:7

They . The Hebrew is singular throughout. The disposition of the people, as of one man, is depicted. Terrible ; exciting terror, as Song of Solomon 6:4 , Song of Solomon 6:10 . Their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves; his judgment and his eminence are from himself. The LXX . translates the two nouns κρίμα and λῆμμα : Vulgate, judicium and onus . The meaning is that the Chaldeans own no master, have no rule of right but their own will, attribute... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Habakkuk 1:6

For 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 end of covetousness or pride. But there... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Habakkuk 1:7

They are terrible - איום 'âyôm occurs here only and Song of Solomon 6:4, Song of Solomon 6:10, compared with the “bannered host,” but the root is common in אימה 'ēymâh.And dreadful - He describes them, first in themselves, then in act. They are terrible, and strike fear through their very being, their known character, before they put it forth in act.Their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. - Judgment had gone forth in God’s people wrested Habakkuk 1:4; now shall it go... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Habakkuk 1:6

Habakkuk 1:6. For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans This is spoken of as a matter of great wonder and astonishment, because the Chaldeans, in the times of Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah, were allies of the Jewish nation, and seemed linked to them in the greatest friendship; so that they had no fear on that side, but all their fear was from the Egyptians. Therefore the coming of the Chaldeans into the country is spoken of here as a thing entirely new, and as if that people had been called into... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Habakkuk 1:7-9

Habakkuk 1:7-9. Their judgment, &c., shall proceed of themselves They will judge themselves of what they shall do, without paying regard to any thing but their own will, and shall have power to put in execution whatever they resolve upon. Their horses also are swifter than the leopards “Leopards tamed and taught to hunt are, it is said, made use of [in Palestine] for hunting, and seize the prey with surprising agility. When the leopard leaps, he throws himself seventeen or eighteen... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:1-11

1:1-2:5 HABAKKUK COMPLAINS AND GOD ANSWERSFirst complaint and answer (1:1-11)Despite Habakkuk’s zealous preaching and fervent prayer, Judah shows no sign of improvement. All around him the prophet sees violence, lawlessness, injustice and all sorts of other social evils. Knowing God is holy and just, he asks God how long will he allow this wickedness to go unpunished (1:1-4).God replies that he is preparing the Babylonians (Chaldeans) to punish Judah. God has not told the Judeans about this,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Habakkuk 1:6

I raise up, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:49 , Deuteronomy 28:5 ). App-92 . theirs. Hebrew his; and so throughout this chapter. read more