Keraia
Habakkuk 2

Habakkuk 2:12

Woe to the Chaldeans · Habakkuk 2:6–20
Read Habakkuk 2

Translations

Modern
Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity!
Traditional
Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
Literal
Woe to the one building a city with bloodshed, and who establishes a town by injustice!
Latin
Væ qui ædificat civitatem in sanguinibus, et præparat urbem in iniquitate!

Original

Hebrew
English
Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity!

Notes

Habakkuk 2:12–14

  • In the third taunt song, the Babylonians face condemnation for their murder and corruption, which they used to gain wealth and build their cities. God will turn their apparent gain into a total loss.

  • Earth will be filled: Unlike violence and stolen wealth, the awareness of the Lord's glory will spread as widely as water in the ocean (Isaiah 11:9).

Habakkuk 2:6–20

Five taunt songs describe God's future judgment on the Babylonians and others who act violently and unjustly (Habakkuk 2:6–8, 9–11, 12–14, 15–17, 18–20). God lets them bring about their own destruction. Those who suffer will repeat these taunts when the wicked face judgment (see Habakkuk 1:14–17). Each taunt includes:

  • a statement of sorrow,

  • a judgment, and

  • the reason for God's judgment.

Habakkuk 2:2–20

God answers Habakkuk's second complaint (Habakkuk 1:12–2:1) but does not explain why he chose the Babylonians. Instead, he assures Habakkuk that he will punish all violence and injustice.

Theme notes and profiles

Human Confusion and God’s Purpose

Events

Glossary

Bloodguilt Book of Habakkuk

Topics

Ambition: Connected With: Cruelty Blood of Oppression and Cruelty Blood: (Building With) of Oppression and Cruelty Cities: Often Founded and Enlarged by Blood and Rapine Homicide: Felonious, or Murder Rulers: Wicked