Questioning God's Justice and Watching for a Reply
Habakkuk 1:12-2:1
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Hab.1.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הלוא: PART
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- מקדם: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- קדשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- לא: PART_NEG
- נמות: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,_,pl
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- למשפט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמתו: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- וצור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להוכיח: PREP+VERB,hiph,inf
- יסדתו: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 40:28 (verbal): Both passages stress God's eternality ('everlasting'/'from of old') and address the LORD as the eternal, sovereign God, echoing Habakkuk's opening appeal to God's ancient being and holiness.
- Psalm 90:2 (verbal): Psalm language 'from everlasting to everlasting you are God' parallels Habakkuk's claim about God's ancient origin (מקדם), underscoring the same theological assertion of God's timelessness.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 (verbal): Deuteronomy calls God the 'Rock' (צור) and emphasizes his justice and perfection; Habakkuk likewise uses 'צור' and raises the tension of God's justice in relation to the instruments of judgment he has set up.
- Isaiah 10:5-6 (thematic): Isaiah portrays Assyria as 'the rod of my anger' — an instrument God uses to punish other nations. This mirrors Habakkuk's complaint that God has appointed a foreign power as judgment against peoples.
- Jeremiah 25:9 (thematic): Jeremiah announces that God will summon and hand nations to Nebuchadnezzar/Babylon as punishment. The theme of God raising/appointing a conquering power as his instrument closely parallels Habakkuk's observation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Are you not from of old, LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. LORD, you have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, you have established them for reproof.
- Are you not from of old, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have appointed them for judgment; you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.
Hab.1.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- טהור: ADJ,m,sg
- עינים: NOUN,f,du,abs
- מראות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- רע: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- והביט: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- עמל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תוכל: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- למה: ADV
- תביט: VERB,qal,juss,2,m,sg
- בוגדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תחריש: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- בבלע: VERB,qal,ptcp,ms,sg
- רשע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צדיק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Jeremiah 12:1 (verbal): Almost identical complaint—questions why the wicked prosper and why God remains silent toward treacherous, prosperous evildoers.
- Psalm 73:3-12 (thematic): Asaph’s lament over the prosperity and ease of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous echoes Habakkuk’s protest at apparent divine tolerance of injustice.
- Psalm 5:4-6 (thematic): Affirms that God does not delight in wickedness and will not tolerate evildoers—paralleling Habakkuk’s assertion that God’s eyes are too pure to behold evil.
- Psalm 11:4-5 (verbal): Uses similar imagery of God’s eyes and testing of hearts and declares God’s stance toward the wicked, resonating with Habakkuk’s focus on divine holiness and judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Your eyes are too pure to behold evil; you cannot look on wrong. Why do you gaze on treachery and remain silent, while the wicked swallows up a man more righteous than himself?
- You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wrongdoing. Why do you look upon the treacherous and hold your peace when the wicked swallows up one more righteous than he?
Hab.1.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותעשה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כדגי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הים: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
- כרמש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- משל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 13:47-50 (thematic): Parable of the net: people depicted as fish gathered and sorted — similar use of fish imagery to represent human populations under judgment or gathering.
- Jeremiah 16:16 (thematic): God sends 'fishers' and 'hunters' to capture people — related fishing/capture imagery treating people like fish in the sea.
- Amos 4:2 (verbal): Uses the language of hooks and taking away — parallel vocabulary and motif of people as prey like fish to be caught.
- Matthew 4:19 (verbal): Jesus' call 'I will make you fishers of men' — flips the image but uses the same fish/people metaphor, highlighting humans as objects of capture/gathering.
- Psalm 8:6-8 (structural): Contrasting structural theme: Psalm affirms human dominion over creatures (including fish), whereas Habakkuk portrays humans as like fish—powerless and without a ruler.
Alternative generated candidates
- You make people like the fish of the sea, like sea-creatures that have no ruler.
- You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler over them.
Hab.1.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כלה: ADV
- בחכה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- העלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,def
- יגרהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בחרמו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאספהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- במכמרתו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- ישמח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויגיל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 10:5-7 (allusion): God raises a ruthless foreign power (Assyria) as an instrument of judgment; the conqueror’s pride and claim of self-sufficiency echo Habakkuk’s picture of a plundering nation that rejoices in its might.
- Joel 2:1-11 (verbal): The invading force is pictured like a sweeping, devouring swarm/army that moves with irresistible speed and consumes the land—language and imagery parallel Habakkuk’s ‘sweeping’/gathering of spoil.
- Nahum 2:10-13 (thematic): Description of a swift, violent invading army that plunders and rejoices in devastation; Nahum’s portrayal of enemy spoil and derision parallels Habakkuk’s depiction of ruthless conquerors who gather prey and exult.
- Micah 2:1-2 (thematic): Condemns those who plan violence, seize fields and houses, and rejoice over ill-gotten gain—themewise link to the moral character and rejoicing of the plundering power in Habakkuk 1:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- He brings them in with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; therefore he rejoices and exults.
- He lifts them up in his net; he gathers them in his seine; therefore he rejoices and is glad.
Hab.1.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- יזבח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לחרמו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויקטר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- למכמרתו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- בהמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שמן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חלקו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ומאכלו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בראה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 44:9-20 (verbal): Extended critique of idol-makers who fashion objects of wood/metal, burn part and worship what their hands have made—parallels Habakkuk's rebuke of sacrificing to nets and burners of incense to their drag (worship of means of gain).
- Jeremiah 10:3-5 (thematic): Condemns the customs of nations that cut a tree, carve it, and then worship it—echoes the folly of worshipping created instruments rather than God, like sacrificing to nets.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (thematic): Contrasts living God with powerless idols that have mouths but cannot speak—used similarly to condemn devotion to lifeless objects/means (here: nets and traps) that are relied on for prosperity.
- Isaiah 65:11 (thematic): Speaks of preparing a table for Fortune and filling cups for Destiny—parallels the idea of worshipping or sacrificing to powers/means believed to secure one's portion and plenty.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore he sacrifices to his net and offers incense to his dragnet; for by these his portion is fat, his food rich.
- Therefore he sacrifices to his net and offers incense to his dragnet, for by these his portion is fat and his food is rich.
Hab.1.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- העל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כן: ADV
- יריק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- חרמו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ותמיד: CONJ+ADV
- להרג: VERB,qal,infc
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יחמול: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Habakkuk 1:6 (structural): Immediate context: introduces the Chaldeans as God's instrument of judgment—sets up the same theme of ruthless, unpitying destruction continued in 1:17.
- Habakkuk 1:11 (verbal): Uses similar imagery of unstoppable, violent invaders ('they gather captives like a net'; swift horses) emphasizing the relentless, unforgiving character of the oppressors.
- Nahum 1:2–3 (thematic): Portrays the LORD as avenging and wrathful who executes judgment without pity—parallels the theme of uncompromising destruction and lack of mercy toward nations.
- Jeremiah 46:10 (thematic): Declares a day of the LORD's vengeance when the sword devours and spares not—resonates with the motif of merciless judgment against nations.
- Ezekiel 25:6 (allusion): Speaks of executing great vengeance on surrounding nations so they know God's judgment—echoes the idea that nations will be destroyed without pity.
Alternative generated candidates
- Will he therefore empty his net and continually slay nations without pity?
- Therefore he will empty his net; he will continually slaughter nations and show them no pity.
Hab.2.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- על: PREP
- משמרתי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- אעמדה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- ואתיצבה: CONJ+VERB,hithpael,impf,1,sg
- על: PREP
- מצור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואצפה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- לראות: VERB,qal,inf
- מה: PRON,int
- ידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ומה: CONJ+PRON,int
- אשיב: VERB,hiphil,impf,1,sg
- על: PREP
- תוכחתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
Parallels
- Isaiah 21:8 (verbal): Image of a watchman on a tower calling out; closely parallels Habakkuk’s language of standing on the watch/tower and watching for a message.
- Ezekiel 33:7 (structural): God appoints the prophet as a watchman who must stand, hear God’s word and warn Israel—parallels Habakkuk’s posture of waiting to hear what will be said and how to answer.
- Jeremiah 6:17 (verbal): “I set watchmen over you” theme and the assigned role of watchmen to listen for and sound warning parallels Habakkuk’s self-positioning as a watcher awaiting a divine word and response to reproach.
- Isaiah 62:6 (thematic): “I have set watchmen upon thy walls” — the motif of appointed sentinels who keep vigil and announce coming messages echoes Habakkuk’s watchful expectation for revelation and instruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will take my stand at my watchpost; I will station myself on the tower and keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what answer I shall make concerning my complaint.
- I will stand at my watch; I will station myself on the rampart and keep watch to see what he will say to me and what I shall answer concerning my complaint.
Are you not from of old, O LORD my God, my Holy One? You do not die, O LORD. For judgment you have appointed them, and, O Rock, you have established them for correction.
You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wrongdoing. Why do you look upon treacherous men and hold your tongue when the wicked swallows up one more righteous than he?
You make people like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.
He takes them up with a hook, drags them in his net; he gathers them in his dragnet—therefore he rejoices and exults.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet; for by these things his portion is fat, and his food is plentiful.
Therefore he will empty his net, and continually will slaughter nations; he will show no mercy.
I will stand at my watch, I will station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint.