Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 1:7
They [are] terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
7. terrible and dreadful ] The first word occurs again only Son 6:4; Son 6:10 “terrible as an army with banners.” The noun is frequently used of the terror inspired by the sight of an object, Job 39:20; Job 41:14; of the terror caused by the manifestation of the Almighty, Job 9:34; Job 13:21, and of the terrors of death, Psa 55:4. The second word is that usually rendered “terrible” in A.V., meaning, to be feared.
Their judgment and their dignity ] from himself proceedeth his Judgment and his dignity. The words carry on the idea of “terrible and dreadful,” and describe the Chaldean’s manner of bearing himself among the nations, though it may be uncertain whether “his judgment” be that which regulates his own conduct or that which he imposes on the nations. The former sense is the more vigorous. The Chaldean’s own sense of himself corresponds to the dread he inspires. He is imperious and autocratic, allows no considerations from without to modify his action, his own haughty mind alone determines his procedure. Similarly his “dignity” or majesty is the supremacy and sovereignty which he assumes and exercises.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They are terrible – ‘ayom occurs here only and Son 6:4, Son 6:10, compared with the bannered host, but the root is common in ‘eymah.
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 Gods people wrested Hab 1:4; now shall it go forth against them at the mere will of their master, who shall own no other rule or Lord or source of his power. His own will shall be his only law for himself and others. His elevation is too is, in his own thought, from himself. He is self-sufficing; he holds from no other, neither from God nor man. His dignity is self-sustained; His judgment is irresponsible, as if there were none Ecc 5:8 higher than he. He has, like all great world-powers, a real dignity and majesty. He infuses awe. The dignity is real but faulty, as being held independently of God. This is a character of antichrist Dan 11:36; 2Th 2:4, a lawless insolence, a lifting up of himself.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. Their judgment – shall proceed of themselves.] By revolting from the Assyrians, they have become a great nation. Thus, their judgment and excellence were the result of their own valour. Other meanings are given to this passage.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They are terrible and dreadful: to affect the incredulous Jews with greater fear, it is doubled, they are of all nations most terrible; in the fierceness wherewith they assault, and cruelty with which they use their captives. Their judgment, the law they observe, is their own will, and what they please you must submit unto, nor complain of wrong done, forasmuch as they do it.
Their dignity; their authority and superiority, for which you must reverence them; the lordliness of their deportment toward you, or the right they assume to send you captives; all is from themselves, without respect to any other law or rule whatever. How miserable are you like to be, when enslaved to such a barbarous cruelty, and unbounded pride!
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. their judgment and . . . dignity. . . proceed of themselvesthat is, they recognize no judgesave themselves, and they get for themselves and keep their own”dignity” without needing others’ help. It will be vain forthe Jews to complain of their tyrannical judgments; forwhatever the Chaldeans decree they will do according to their ownwill, they will not brook anyone attempting to interfere.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They [are] terrible and dreadful,…. For the fierceness of their countenances; the number and valour of their troops; the splendour of their armour; the victories they had obtained, and the cruelty they had exercised; the fame of all which spread terror wherever they came:
their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves; they will not be directed and governed by any laws of God and man, but by their own; they will do according to their will and pleasure, and none will be able to gainsay and resist them; they will hear no reason or argument; their decrees and determinations they make of themselves shall be put into execution, and there will be no opposing their tyrannical measures; they will usurp a power, and take upon them an authority over others of themselves, which all must submit unto; no mercy and pity: no goodness and humanity, are to be expected from such lawless and imperious enemies.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By saying that the Chaldeans would be terrible and dreadful, he praises not their virtues; but, as I have already reminded you, he shows that they would be prepared to do his service by executing his vengeance: and he so regulated his judgement, that he used their cruelty for a good purpose. Thus we see that the worst of men are in God’s hand, as Satan is, who is their head; and yet that God is not implicated in their wickedness, as some insane men maintain; for they say—That if God governs the world by his providence, he becomes thus the author of sin, and men’s sins are to be ascribed to him. But Scripture teaches us far otherwise,—that the wicked are led here and there by the hidden power of God, and that yet the fault is in them, when they do anything in a deceitful and cruel manner, and that God ever remains just, whatever use he may make of instruments, yea, the very worst.
But when the Prophet adds, that its judgement would be from the nation itself, he means that the Chaldeans would act according to their own will. When any one indeed obeys laws, and willingly submits to them, he will freely allow either judges or umpires in case of a dispute; but he who will have all things done according to his own purpose repudiates all judges. The Prophet therefore means, that the Chaldeans would be their own judges, so that the Jews or others would complain in vain for any wrongs done to them. “They shall be,” he says, “their own judges, and shall execute judgement, for they will not accept any arbitrators.” The word judgement, taken in a good sense, is put here for law ( jus); as though he said, “Whatever the Chaldeans will claim for themselves, theirs shall it be; for no one will dare to interfere, and they will not submit to the will of others; but their power shall be for law, and their sword for a tribunal.” We now understand the Prophet’s meaning; and we must ever bear in mind what I have already said,—That God had no participation in these vices; but it was necessary that the stubbornness of an irreclaimable people should be thus corrected, or at least broken down. The Lord in the meantime could use such instruments in such a way as to preserve some moderation in his judgements. It follows—
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Their judgment . . .Their judgment means their claim to adjudge the affairs of mankind. It proceeds from themselves, as irresponsible, recognising no Supreme Being as the source of justice.
Their dignity, in like manner, proceeds from themselves, because self-sustained, unsanctioned by the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Hab 1:7. Their judgment, &c. They give to themselves their own judgments, and their own auguries. The meaning is, that the Chaldeans plunder whatever they deem in their own judgments proper to be theirs, and esteem their own will in the place of auguries and omens. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Hab 1:7 They [are] terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
Ver. 7. They are terrible and dreadful ] Or horrible, such as were those giants called Emims, Deu 2:10-11 Gen 14:5 , and far more formidable than that disputant at Paris, who would needs be styled horribilis Sophista, the horrible Sophister, non minorem eam appellationem ratus (saith Vires) quam Africani aut Asiatici, taking it for as great an honour as to be a conqueror.
Their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
They = It.
judgment = decision.
dignity = elevation. themselves = itself. Compare Isa 10:8-11, Isa 10:13, Isa 10:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
their judgment: etc. or, from them shall proceed the judgment of these and the captivity of these, Jer 39:5-9, Jer 52:9-11, Jer 52:25-27, Deu 5:19, Deu 5:27
Reciprocal: Deu 28:49 – bring a nation Isa 29:20 – the terrible Eze 32:12 – the terrible Dan 2:31 – terrible
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Hab 1:7. Dreadful is from the same original word as “reverend” in Psa 111:9 where it is applied to the name of God. It shows us therefore that many words in the Bible are to be interpreted according to the connection In which they are used. Shall proceed of themselves means the Chaldeans were independent in disposition and followed their own inclination regardless of all others.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Hab 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 feet at a time. Harmer, 2:438. And are more fierce than the evening wolves Which, having fasted in the day, were wont to come forth in the evening fierce and ravenous. And their horsemen shall spread themselves Namely, all over the land; that is, they shall be very numerous. They shall come all for violence To enrich themselves by making a prey of all. Their faces shall sup up as the east wind They shall destroy every thing where they march, as the east wind blasts the fruits of the earth. And they shall gather the captivity [or, captives] as the sand Not only in Judea, but in all the neighbouring countries which they conquer. Houbigant renders the clause, A burning wind goes before them, and gathers captives as the sand. They shall carry desolation, destruction, and fire, everywhere before them. The winds which blew from Arabia the Desert were extremely hot, and very dangerous, not only on account of their own heat, but on account of the dust and sand which they brought with them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:7 They [are] terrible and dreadful: {e} their judgment and their dignity shall proceed from themselves.
(e) They themselves will be your judges in this cause, and none will have authority over them to control them.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Many nations feared the Babylonians, who were a law unto themselves. They lived by rules that they made rather than those that were customary at the time. Similarly the Third Reich called error truth and right wrong to suit its own purposes.
"If God’s people refuse to fear him, they will ultimately be compelled to fear those less worthy of fear (cf. Deu 28:47-48; [sic] 58-68; Jer 5:15-22)." [Note: Armerding, p. 503.]
The Jews of Habakkuk’s day did not believe that God would allow the Gentiles to overrun their nation (cf. Jer 5:12; Jer 6:14; Jer 7:1-34; Jer 8:11; Lam 4:12; Amos 6). Yet their law and their prophets warned them that this could happen (cf. Deu 28:49-50; 1Ki 11:14; 1Ki 11:23; Jeremiah 4; Jer 5:14-17; Jer 6:22-30; Amo 6:14).