God's Answer: Judgment by the Chaldeans
Habakkuk 1:5-11
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Hab.1.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ראו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- בגוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והביטו: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,imp,2,m,pl
- והתמהו: VERB,hitpael,imp,2,m,pl
- תמהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- פעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- פעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בימיכם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:2,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- תאמינו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- יספר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Acts 13:41 (quotation): Paul (quoting the prophet) cites Hab 1:5 verbatim to warn scoffers to 'behold and wonder'—direct New Testament citation of the same language and theme.
- Psalm 46:8 (verbal): Uses the imperative 'Come, behold' (הביטו/ראו) to call attention to the mighty works of the LORD among the nations—verbal and thematic echo of beholding God's astonishing acts.
- Habakkuk 1:6 (structural): Immediate continuation within the same passage: v.6 specifies the surprising work announced in v.5 (the raising of the Chaldeans), showing the theme moves from proclamation to explanation.
- Isaiah 64:4 (thematic): Speaks of unprecedented acts of God that no one has imagined or seen before—parallel theme of God doing an astonishing, almost unbelievable work in history.
Alternative generated candidates
- Look among the nations and behold; be astonished, be amazed! For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if it were told you.
- See among the nations and look; be amazed, be utterly astonished—for I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if it were told.
Hab.1.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- הנני: PRT+PRON,1,sg
- מקים: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הכשדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- הגוי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- המר: ADJ,m,sg,def
- והנמהר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,def
- ההולך: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg,def
- למרחבי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לרשת: VERB,qal,inf
- משכנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 10:5-7 (thematic): Like Habakkuk, Isaiah portrays God as raising a foreign power as his instrument of judgment (here Assyria); both emphasize a proud, aggressive nation sent to subdue others.
- Jeremiah 25:9 (allusion): God declares he will summon Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon (the Chaldeans) to execute judgment—directly parallels Habakkuk's identification of the Chaldeans as God's punitive instrument.
- 2 Kings 24:2 (structural): Historical notice that the king of Babylon/Chaldeans came up against Judah and took possession—corresponds to Habakkuk's depiction of the Chaldeans marching through the land to seize dwellings not their own.
- Isaiah 13:17 (thematic): Isaiah prophesies God stirring up a distant people (the Medes) to punish Babylon; parallels the motif of God raising a swift, ruthless foreign nation to overrun lands and take possessions.
Alternative generated candidates
- For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—a bitter and swift people, who march through the breadth of the earth to possess dwelling-places not theirs.
- For behold, I am rousing up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous people, who march over the breadth of the earth to take dwellings not their own.
Hab.1.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אים: PART,interr
- ונורא: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- משפטו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ושאתו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+POSS:3,m,sg
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 28:49 (verbal): Like Hab 1:7, Deut 28:49 depicts a distant nation coming as a terrible, fierce judgment on Israel — similar language of a terrifying foreign army sent as punishment.
- Isaiah 13:5–6 (verbal): Isaiah's oracle against Babylon/Medes uses virtually the same idea and diction: a force from afar that is “terrible and dreadful,” emphasizing the invading power’s terrifying character.
- Isaiah 10:5–7 (thematic): Assyria is portrayed as God’s instrument of judgment yet boasts in its own strength and origin; thematically parallels Habakkuk’s point that the conquering nation claims its own authority and dignity.
- Nahum 1:6 (thematic): Nahum emphasizes the overwhelming terror and irresistible power of God’s instrument of judgment (or of the invading force), echoing Habakkuk’s description of the invaders as dreadful and fearsome.
Alternative generated candidates
- Terrible and dreadful is he; his judgment and his dignity proceed from himself.
- They are dreaded and fearsome; their judgment and authority proceed from themselves.
Hab.1.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וקלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- מנמרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- סוסיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3ms
- וחדו: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- מזאבי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ערב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ופשו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- פרשיו: NOUN,m,pl,suff3ms
- ופרשיו: NOUN,m,pl,poss,3,m,sg
- מרחוק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- יעפו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- כנשר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאכול: VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 28:49 (verbal): Describes an enemy coming 'from far' and compares it to an eagle—verbal and thematic echo of Habakkuk's 'from afar' and 'as an eagle' imagery of a swift invading force.
- Isaiah 5:26 (verbal): Speaks of a signal raised 'from far' and nations coming quickly at the sound—parallels the motif of foreign troops summoned from a distance and arriving swiftly.
- Joel 2:4-5 (verbal): Portrays an advancing army with swift, fearsome horsemen and consuming force—closely parallels Habakkuk's language about the speed, fierceness, and devouring motion of cavalry.
- Nahum 2:4-6 (thematic): Provides a vivid picture of chariots and horsemen charging with speed and fury; thematically parallels Habakkuk's emphasis on rapid, relentless mounted warriors.
Alternative generated candidates
- His horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than evening wolves; his horsemen spread themselves out—his cavalry comes from afar; they fly like eagles to devour.
- Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than evening wolves; their horsemen spread out—their horsemen come from afar; they fly like eagles to devour.
Hab.1.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כלה: ADV
- לחמס: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יבוא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מגמת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- קדימה: ADV
- ויאסף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כחול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
Parallels
- Habakkuk 1:6 (structural): Same oracle introducing the Chaldeans as God’s instrument of judgment; 1:6 sets the context for 1:9’s description of the invaders.
- Habakkuk 1:11 (verbal): Continues and echoes the vivid imagery of 1:9 (swift, violent invaders); 1:11 explicitly compares their advance to the wind and their worship of strength.
- Isaiah 10:5-6 (thematic): Assyria portrayed as the rod/agent of God’s anger sent against nations—parallel theme of a foreign power raised by God to execute judgment.
- Jeremiah 50:9 (thematic): God summons nations from the north to execute judgment on Babylon/Babylonians—parallels Habakkuk’s picture of a northern military power used to punish Israel.
- Nahum 2:3-4 (thematic): Graphic military imagery of swift chariots, horsemen, and devastating advance—parallels Habakkuk’s depiction of an unstoppable, violent invading force.
Alternative generated candidates
- All of them come for violence; their faces are set like the east wind; they gather captives like sand.
- All of them come for plunder; their faces are set forward—onward; they gather captives like sand.
Hab.1.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- במלכים: PREP+NOUN,pl,m,abs
- יתקלס: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,sg
- ורזנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- משחק: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- לכל: PREP
- מבצר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישחק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויצבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עפר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וילכדה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 2:4 (thematic): Both verses use the image of laughing in relation to kings and power—Habakkuk depicts the invader laughing at kings/fortresses, Psalm 2 depicts the One above who 'laughs' at earthly rulers who conspire.
- Isaiah 36:4, 36:18-20 (thematic): Rabshakeh's taunts against Jerusalem echo Habakkuk's picture of a conquering power scorning kings and fortifications—mocking reliance on walls and false gods and boasting over captured cities.
- Isaiah 10:5-12 (verbal): Assyria is portrayed as God's instrument yet arrogant and contemptuous toward kings and nations; the passage parallels Habakkuk's depiction of a proud invading power that treats rulers with scorn and seizes fortified places.
- Nahum 3:10-13 (structural): Nahum's description of Nineveh's siege and humiliation (open gates, captured strongholds, derision of defenders) parallels Habakkuk's image of a victor laughing at fortresses and taking them by siege.
Alternative generated candidates
- He scoffs at kings and makes a mockery of rulers; he laughs at every fortress, heaps up earth, and takes it.
- He scoffs at kings and makes princes a derision; he laughs at every fortress—he heaps up earth and seizes it.
Hab.1.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- חלף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ואשם: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- זו: PRON,dem,f,sg
- כחו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF:3,m,sg
- לאלהו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cons+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 20:7 (verbal): Contrasts reliance on chariots and horses (military strength) with reliance on Yahweh—parallels Hab 1:11's critique that the enemy's 'strength is their god.'
- Psalm 33:16-17 (thematic): Affirms the theme that a king or warrior is not saved by great numbers or strength, echoing Habakkuk's judgment on trusting in human power.
- Isaiah 31:3 (thematic): Denounces trust in Egypt and horses as flesh rather than God—similar warning against reliance on military might as ultimate power (cf. 'their strength is their god').
- Isaiah 14:13-14 (thematic): The Babylonian/kingly boast of self-exaltation and claiming ultimate power parallels Habakkuk's depiction of the oppressor whose might functions as its god.
- Habakkuk 2:18-19 (structural): Within the book itself: a critique of idols and misplaced devotion—develops the same idea that what people trust as power (or god) is ultimately worthless.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then he will sweep by like the wind and pass on—guilty are they; their own strength is their god.
- Then he will sweep by like the wind and pass on—guilty; his power is his god.
Look among the nations and see; gaze and be amazed, be utterly astonished. For behold—I am doing a deed, a deed in your days that you would not believe if it were told.
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous people, who march through the breadths of the earth to take possession of dwelling-places not their own.
They are a feared and dreadful people; their judgment and their glory go forth from themselves.
Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than evening wolves. Their cavalry spreads out; their horsemen come from afar—they swoop like eagles to devour.
All come for violence; their faces are set to advance—they collect captives like sand.
He scorns kings and mocks princes; to him every fortress is a jest—he piles up earth and takes it.
Then he will sweep by like the wind and pass on; guilt will cling to him—his power is his god.