The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you.
- KJV Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
- BSB “Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
- NKJV “Lookamong the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
- NASB ¶“Look among the nations! Watch! Be horrified! Be frightened speechless! For I am accomplishing a work in your days— You would not believe it even if you were told!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God answers, calling Habakkuk to look at the nations and be astonished, for He is doing a work so startling it would be unbelievable if merely reported. It assures us that God is actively at work even when His ways are surprising.
Overview
God's reply turns Habakkuk's gaze outward to the international stage, where He is already orchestrating events. The work is so unexpected that it would strain belief, namely raising up a pagan nation as His instrument. Paul cites this verse in Acts 13:41 to warn against unbelief toward the greater work of God in Christ, showing that God still acts in ways that confound human expectation and demand faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Acts 13:40–41Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
- Isa 29:14therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden.”
- Lam 4:12The kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither did all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
- Jer 5:12–13They have denied Yahweh, and said, “It is not he; neither shall evil come on us; neither shall we see sword nor famine.
- Isa 29:9Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
- Jer 25:14–29For many nations and great kings shall make bondservants of them, even of them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.”
- Jer 18:18Then they said, “Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”
- Jer 9:25–26“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will punish all those who are circumcised only in their flesh:
- Dan 9:12He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky, such has not been done as has been done to Jerusalem.
- Ezek 12:22–28“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?’
- Zeph 1:2I will utterly sweep away everything off of the surface of the earth, says Yahweh.
- Acts 6:13–14and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- Deut 4:27Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations, where Yahweh will lead you away.
- Isa 28:21–22For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act.
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Christ at the center
'The righteous shall live by his faith' (2:4) becomes a cornerstone of the gospel in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews — the faith that lays hold of Christ.
How Habakkuk 1:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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