Habakkuk 1

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 1 of 3

1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw:

2 O Jehovah, until when shall I cry out, and You will not hear? I cry out to You, Violence! But You do not save.

3 Why do You make me see iniquity, and You look upon trouble? For violence and injustice are before me; and there is strife and contention rising up.

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Chapter Summary

To Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land, is shown the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans.

Key Hebrew Words

מַשָּׂא burden, oracle H4853 · TWOT 1421e
חָמָס violence H2555 · TWOT 678a
מִשְׁפָּט judgment, justice H4941 · TWOT 2443c
רָשָׁע wicked one H7563 · TWOT 2222b
צַדִּיק righteous one H6662 · TWOT 1879c
צוּר Rock H6697 · TWOT 1901a

People & Context

Habakkuk

The prophet who sees the burden and cries out to Jehovah over the violence and perverted judgment in the land.

Jehovah

The Holy One and Rock who answers, declaring He is raising up the Chaldeans for judgment.

Chaldeans

The bitter, impetuous nation God raises up, terrible and swift, who seize dwellings and gather captives like sand.

Timeline

Habakkuk's Cry for Justice

Habakkuk cries out to Jehovah regarding unchecked violence, strife, and injustice, lamenting that the law is benumbed and the wicked surround the righteous.

Habakkuk 1:1-4
Raising of the Chaldeans

God responds by declaring He is raising up the bitter, swift, and impetuous Chaldeans as a fearful instrument of judgment who will sweep across the land for violence, though they mistakenly credit their power to their own god.

Habakkuk 1:5-11
Questioning Divine Silence

Habakkuk acknowledges God appointed the Chaldeans for correction, but questions why a pure God remains silent while the wicked swallow up those who are more righteous, treating people like fish caught endlessly in a net [3-5].

Habakkuk 1:12-17

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