They are feared and dreaded. Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.
Parallel translations
- KJV They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
- BSB They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
- NKJV They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.
- NASB “They are terrifying and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves.
- NLT They are notorious for their cruelty and do whatever they like.
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
The Babylonians are described as terrifying and dreaded, recognizing no authority but their own. It pictures a proud empire that makes itself the measure of justice and dignity.
Overview
This nation acknowledges no higher law, deriving its own standards of judgment and honor from itself rather than from God. Such self-exaltation is the essence of pride that Scripture consistently opposes. Ironically, the very autonomy that makes them fearsome instruments of God's judgment also marks them for eventual downfall, for those who set themselves up as god will answer to the true God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Jer 39:5–9But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment on him.
- Jer 52:9–11Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment on him.
- Jer 52:25–27and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and seven men of those who saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the middle of the city.
- Deut 5:19“You shall not steal.
- Deut 5:27Go near, and hear all that Yahweh our God shall say, and tell us all that Yahweh our God tells you; and we will hear it, and do it.”
- Isa 18:7In that time, a present will be brought to Yahweh of Armies from a people tall and smooth, even from a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Yahweh of Armies, Mount Zion.
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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 1:7 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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