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Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk 2:1
I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the watchtower
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Possible meanings are 1) Habakkuk went to an actual post in the watchtower or 2) this is a metaphor in which Habakkuk speaks of waiting eagerly for Yahweh's response as if he were a watchman waiting at his post for the arrival of a messenger. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
to see what he will say to me
"to see what Yahweh will say to me" or "to hear what Yahweh will say to me"
how I should turn from my complaint
Here the word "turn" refers to returning an answer. Habakkuk considers what answer he will give concerning the things that he has said. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Habakkuk 2:2
General Information:
Yahweh answers Habakkuk.
Record this vision, and write plainly on the tablets
Both of these phrases are saying the same thing in two different ways. Alternate translation: "Write this vision clearly on the tablets" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
tablets
These are flat pieces of stone or clay that were used for writing.
so that the one reading them might run
Possible meanings are 1) that the message is easy enough to read that a messenger can read it as he runs from place to place proclaiming the message. Alternate translation: "so that the one reading the tablets might be able to run as he reads" or 2) this is a metaphor in which Yahweh speaks of reading something very quickly as if the person who reads it is running. Alternate translation: "so that the one reading the tablets might be able to read quickly" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Habakkuk 2:3
the vision ... will testify
Yahweh speaks of the events in the vision happening as if the vision were a person who speaks. Alternate translation: "the vision ... will finally happen" or "the vision ... will finally come true" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
will testify
Some translations read, "will reach its goal," and others read, "will finally speak."
Though it delays, wait for it. For it will surely come and will not tarry
Yahweh speaks of the events of the vision taking a long time to happen as if the vision were a person who does not arrive soon at his destination. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
will not tarry
Possible meanings are 1) "will not be late" or 2) "will not come slowly"
Habakkuk 2:4
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk. Here he speaks of the Chaldeans as if they were one prideful, drunken man who can never have enough. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Look!
The word "Look!" here adds emphasis to what follows.
is puffed up
Yahweh speaks of the person who is prideful as if the person were "puffed up." Alternate translation: "is very prideful" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Habakkuk 2:5
as wine is treacherous, even so an arrogant man does not stay at home
Yahweh speaks of how drinking too much wine impairs a person's judgment as if the wine itself were a person who is treacherous and deceives the one who drinks it. Yahweh compares the treachery of an arrogant man to the treachery of wine. Alternate translation: "Just as wine harms people, the arrogant man also goes out to harm people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
wine
Some versions read, "wealth."
He has made his throat as wide as Sheol; and like death, he is never satisfied
God speaks of the arrogant person being greedy as if the person made his throat extremely wide so he could eat far more than he needed. Because no one can escape death and Sheol, people thought of Sheol and death as being like a hungry person who is never satisfied. Yahweh used this images to show how extremly greedy the the arrogant person is. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
He has gathered together all the nations, and he has assembled to himself all the people
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Yahweh speaks of the arrogant man conquering nations and capturing the people as if he were gathering nations and peoples to himself. Alternate translation: "He conquers for himself the people of every nation" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Habakkuk 2:6
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk and to speak of the Chaldeans as if they were one man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Will all these not take up ... saying, 'Woe ... taken?'
The words "all these" refer to the nations and peoples from Habakkuk 2:5. This negative rhetorical question emphasizes the positive answer. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "All of these nations and peoples will certainly take up ... saying,'Woe ... taken.'" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
take up a proverb and mockery, riddles
They will use the words later in the verse to mock him.
riddles
This is a question to which the one who asks knows the answer but hides it with figures of speech so that the other person needs to work hard to think of it.
Woe to the one increasing what is not his
It is implicit that he is increasing his possession of things that do not belong to him. Alternate translation: "Woe to the one who claims for himself more and more things that do not belong to him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
For how long will you increase the weight of the pledges you have taken?
The word "pledges" refers to objects that people give to others from whom they have borrowed money as a guarantee that they will repay their debt. As the man collects more and more pledges, the total weight of the pledges that he carries increases.
For how long will you increase the weight of the pledges you have taken?
The Chaldeans robbing the people of the nations of their wealth is spoken of as if the Chaldeans were a person who forces others to give him pledges and to pay him what they do not owe. Alternate translation: "For how long will you make yourself rich by extorting others?" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Habakkuk 2:7
Will the ones biting at you not rise up suddenly, and the ones terrifying you awaken?
This negative rhetorical question emphasizes the positive answer. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "The ones biting at you will certainly rise up suddenly, and the ones terrifying you will awaken." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
the ones biting at you
The Hebrew word translated here as "the ones biting" can also mean "the ones paying interest" or "debtors." In this context, the word probably has both meanings. The phrase is a metaphor in which those whom the man has oppressed and made debtors by forcing them to give him pledges will now oppress him, which is spoken of as if they were biting him. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the ones terrifying you
This refers to the same debtors. They will terrify the Chaldeans by attacking them in revenge for the pledges that they were forced to give.
rise up ... awaken
The people of the nations beginning to act against the Chaldeans is spoken of as if they were to "rise up" and to "awaken" from sleep. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Habakkuk 2:8
plunder
to rob or take things by force
you have shed human blood
The idiom "to shed blood" means "to murder." Alternate translation: "you have murdered people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Habakkuk 2:9
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk and to speak of the Chaldeans as if they were one man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the one who gets evil gains for his house
Possible meanings are 1) the word "house" is a metaphor in which the Babylonian empire is spoken of as if it were a house that the man builds by means of profits that he gained through violence. Alternate translation: "the one who builds his house with riches that he gained through violence" or 2) the word "house" is a metonym for "family" and the man has made his family rich through violence. Alternate translation: "the one who makes his family rich by violent means" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
so he can set his nest on high to deliver himself from the hand of evil
The person who builds his house is spoken of as if he were a bird that builds its nest in a high place. The man thinks that his house is secure and free from danger, just as predators are unable to reach the nest. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
from the hand of evil
Here the word "hand" is a metonym for power, and the word "evil" is a metonym for people who do evil things. Alternate translation: "from the power of evil" or "from people who will harm him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Habakkuk 2:10
You have devised shame for your house
Here to "devise shame" means that the plans that the man devised have resulted in shame. One possible meaning is that the word "house" is a metaphor in which the Babylonian empire is spoken of as if it were a house that the man has built. Alternate translation: "By your plans, you have brought shame on the house that you have built" Another possibility is that the word "house" is a metonym for "family." Alternate translation: "By your plans, you have brought shame on your family" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
cutting off many people
Killing many people is spoken of as if it were cutting those people off, like one would cut a branch from a tree. Alternate translation: "killing many people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
have sinned against your life
This idiom means that the person has done things that will result in his own death or destruction. Alternate translation: "have caused your own ruin" or "have brought about your own death" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Habakkuk 2:11
For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters of timber will answer them
Here the materials with which the man has built his house are personified as witnesses of the crimes that he has committed. If your culture uses different materials to build houses, you can consider using those materials here. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
cry out
"cry out against you" or "cry out to accuse you"
will answer them
"will agree with the stones"
Habakkuk 2:12
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk and to speak of the Chaldeans as if they were one man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Woe to the one who builds a city with blood, and who establishes a town in iniquity
These two phrases are saying the same thing in different ways. Alternate translation: "A warning to the Chaldeans who built their cities with what they have stolen from the people they have killed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
the one who builds a city with blood
Here the word "blood" is a metonym for murder. It is implicit that the person builds a city by means of the goods that he stole from those whom he has killed. Alternate translation: "the one who kills people and steals their goods in order to build a city" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
who establishes a town in iniquity
It is implicit that the person builds a city by means of the goods that he stole from those whom he has killed. Here the word "establishes" means "to begin." Alternate translation: "who starts a town by means of the profit that he has acquired through evil behavior" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Habakkuk 2:13
Is it not from Yahweh of hosts that peoples labor for fire, and nations weary themselves in vain?
This negative rhetorical question emphasizes the positive answer that it anticipates. The two clauses share similar meanings that the work that people do will not last. The question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Yahweh is the one who has determined that the things that people work hard to build will be destroyed by fire and result in nothing." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
peoples labor for fire
This means that the people labor to build things that will go into the fire before the people can use them. Alternate translation: "peoples labor to build things that the fire will burn up" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Habakkuk 2:14
the land will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea
This simile compares the way in which people everywhere will know of Yahweh's glory with how water fills every part of the sea. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
the land will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh
The word "knowledge" can be translated with a verbal phrase. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "people throughout the land will know the glory of Yahweh" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Habakkuk 2:15
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk and to speak of the Chaldeans as if they were one man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the one who forces his neighbors to drink ... you make them drunk
The way that the Chaldeans cruelly treated other nations is spoken of as if they were a man who forces his neighbors to become drunk so that he can humiliate them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the one who forces his neighbors to drink
It is implied that he makes his neighbor drink wine. Alternate translation: "the one who forces his neighbors to drink wine" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
in order to look at their nakedness
"so you can look at them when they are naked." This refers to the practice of publicly humiliating people by stripping them naked in front of others. Alternate translation: "so that you can humiliate them publicly by stripping them naked" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Habakkuk 2:16
You will be filled with shame instead of glory
The Chaldeans passionately pursuing their own glory is spoken of as if they were eating or drinking it greedily and excessively. Instead of attaining glory, they will find only shame. Alternate translation: "You will bring shame upon yourself instead of the glory that you seek" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Drink
Others treating the Chaldeans the way that the Chaldeans had treated others is spoken of as if the Chaldeans were to drink the wine that they had forced others to drink. Alternate translation: "Drink from the cup" or "Drink the wine" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
you will expose your uncircumcised foreskin
This phrase is similar to the Chaldeans forcing others to strip naked so that they could look at their nakedness. Here the words "uncircumcised foreskin" indicate that they will be humiliated not just by being naked, but because their uncircumcision proves that they do not belong to Yahweh's people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
The cup in Yahweh's right hand is coming around to you
Yahweh punishing the Chaldeans is spoken of as if he were forcing them to drink wine from a cup that he holds in his hand. Yahweh's right hand represents his power. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
The cup in Yahweh's right hand
"The cup that Yahweh holds in his right hand" or "The cup that Yahweh is holding"
is coming around to you
"will come to you as it did to others" or "will pass along to you"
disgrace will cover your glory
The Chaldeans experiencing disgrace instead of glory is spoken of as if disgrace were an object that covers the glory that they thought they had. Alternate translation: "disgrace will replace your glory" or "people will disgrace you instead of honor you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Habakkuk 2:17
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk and to speak of the Chaldeans as if they were one man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you
The Chaldeans being punished for the violence done to Lebanon is spoken of as if their violent actions were a person who will overpower them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
The violence done to Lebanon
Possible meanings for the word "Lebanon" are 1) it represents the forest of Lebanon. Alternate translation: "The violence done to the trees of Lebanon" or 2) it represents the people of Lebanon. Alternate translation: "The violence done to the people of Lebanon" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
the devastation of animals will terrify you
The Chaldeans being punished for destroying the animals in Lebanon is spoken of as if what they had done were a person who will terrify them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
For you have shed the blood of man ... all who live in them
See how you translated this sentence in Habakkuk 2:8.
you have shed the blood of man
The idiom "to shed blood" means "to murder." Alternate translation: "you have murdered people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Habakkuk 2:18
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk and to speak of the Chaldeans as if they were one man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
What does the carved figure profit you?
This rhetorical question emphasizes the negative answer that it anticipates. The question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "The carved figure profits you nothing!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
you
The word "you" refers to the Chaldeans.
molten metal
This describes metal when it is in its liquid form.
a teacher of lies
This phrase refers to the one who carved or cast the figure. By making a false god, he is teaching a lie.
useless things
of "idols who cannot speak"
Habakkuk 2:19
Or to the silent stone
The verb may be supplied from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "Woe to the one saying to the silent stone" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
Do these things teach?
This rhetorical question emphasizes the negative answer that it anticipates. The question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "These things cannot teach." or "Wood and stone cannot teach." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
See, it is overlaid
"Look at it. You can see for yourself that it is overlaid"
it is overlaid with gold and silver
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "a person overlays the wood or stone with gold and silver" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
there is no breath at all within it
The idiom "no breath ... within it" means that it is not alive, but dead. Alternate translation: "it is not alive" or "it is dead" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Habakkuk 2:20
all the land
Here the word "land" is a metonym for the people who live in the land. Alternate translation: "everyone in the land" or "everyone on earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)