Discovery BoxHabakkuk 1:5
Context1:5 “Look at the nations and pay attention! 1
You will be shocked and amazed! 2
For I will do something in your lifetime 3
that you will not believe even though you are forewarned. 4
Habakkuk 1:13
Context1:13 You are too just 5 to tolerate 6 evil;
you are unable to condone 7 wrongdoing.
So why do you put up with such treacherous people? 8
Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour 9 those more righteous than they are? 10
Habakkuk 2:1
Context2:1 I will stand at my watch post;
I will remain stationed on the city wall. 11
I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me
and can know 12 how I should answer
when he counters my argument. 13
Habakkuk 3:6
Context3:6 He takes his battle position 14 and shakes 15 the earth;
with a mere look he frightens 16 the nations.
The ancient mountains disintegrate; 17
the primeval hills are flattened.
He travels on the ancient roads. 18
[1:5] 1 tn Or “look among the nations and observe.” The imperatival forms in v. 5 are plural, indicating that the Lord’s message is for the whole nation, not just the prophet.
[1:5] 2 tn The Hebrew text combines the Hitpael and Qal imperatival forms of the verb תָּמַה (tamah, “be amazed”). A literal translation might read, “Shock yourselves and be shocked!” The repetition of sounds draws attention to the statement. The imperatives here have the force of an emphatic assertion. On this use of the imperative in Hebrew, see GKC 324 §110.c and IBHS 572-73 §34.4c.
[1:5] 3 tc Heb “for a work working in your days.” Following the LXX reading, some supply a first person singular pronoun with the participle פֹּעֵל (po’el). Ellipsis of a first singular pronoun before participles is relatively rare (see GKC 360 §116.s); perhaps an original אֲנֹכִי (’anoki; or אֲנִי, ’aniy) followed the initial כִּי (ki) and was omitted by homoioteleuton.
[1:5] 4 tn Heb “you will not believe when it is told.” In this context the force of כִּי (ki) may be “when,” “if,” or “even though.”
[1:13] 5 tn Heb “[you] are too pure of eyes.” God’s “eyes” here signify what he looks at with approval. His “eyes” are “pure” in that he refuses to tolerate any wrongdoing in his presence.
[1:13] 6 tn Heb “to see.” Here “see” is figurative for “tolerate,” “put up with.”
[1:13] 7 tn Heb “to look at.” Cf. NEB “who canst not countenance wrongdoing”; NASB “You can not look on wickedness with favor.”
[1:13] 8 tn Heb “Why do you look at treacherous ones?” The verb בָּגַד (bagad, “be treacherous”) is often used of those who are disloyal or who violate agreements. See S. Erlandsson, TDOT 1:470-73.
[1:13] 10 tn Heb “more innocent than themselves.”
[2:1] 9 sn Habakkuk compares himself to a watchman stationed on the city wall who keeps his eyes open for approaching messengers or danger.
[2:1] 10 tn The word “know” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[2:1] 11 tn Heb “concerning my correction [or, “reproof”].”
[3:6] 14 tn This verb has been traditionally understood as “measure” (from מוּד, mud), but the immediately following context (vv. 6b-7) favors the meaning “shake” from מָוד (mavd; see HALOT 555 s.v.).
[3:6] 15 tn Heb “makes [the nations] jump [in fear].”
[3:6] 16 tn Or “crumbled,” broke into pieces.”
[3:6] 17 tn Heb “ancient ways [or, “doings”] are his.” The meaning of this line is unclear. Traditionally it has been translated, “his ways are eternal.” However, in this context (see vv. 3, 7) it is more likely that the line speaks of the
