Bible Commentary

Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it. 19. Woe unto him Awake ] 1Ki 18:27, “he (Baal) sleepeth and must be awaked.” The term … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:19”

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 18 20. Fifth woe: the irrational idolatries of the Chaldean. Isa 19:1; Isa 21:9 18. What profiteth the graven image? ] The idea … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:18”

For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, [which] made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 17. violence of Lebanon ] i.e. done to Lebanon. Lebanon is not a figure for the holy land, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:17”

Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing [shall be] on thy glory. 16. filled with shame for glory ] with shame and not with glory, the construction as Hos 6:6, “mercy … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:16”

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to [him], and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 15 17. Fourth woe: his contemptuous humiliation of prostrate potentates and nations 15. The helplessness of the nations before the power or the craft of the Chaldean and his … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:15”

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 14. As the waters cover ] Or, like the waters which cover the (bed of the) sea. The knowledge shall be not only universal but deep. Isa 11:9. The verse explains the preceding. The … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:14”

Behold, [is it] not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? 13. people in the very fire ] peoples shall labour for the fire. Those great cities of the heathen world on which the peoples labour are destined to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:13”

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity! 12 14. Third woe: his oppression of the peoples to gratify his architectural pride 12. buildeth a town with blood ] The meaning appears to be that the means of building the city are acquired through bloodshed, conquest and slaughter … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:12”

For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 11. stone shall cry out of the wall ] For the stone out of the wall shall cry out. The Chaldean gains evil gains to build his nest on high; the materials he uses, the stones … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:11”

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned [against] thy soul. 10. consulted shame to thy house ] The next words explain that what he consulted or purposed was to cut off many nations; but this purpose shall turn out to be to the confusion of his house; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 2:10”