Habakkuk 2:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Habakkuk 2:6

Habakkuk 2:6. Shall not these take up a parable against (or, concerning) him, and a taunting proverb A parable, or proverb, signifies a metaphorical or figurative saying, out of the common way. And say, Wo to him that increaseth, &c. Wo to him that is still increasing his own dominions, by invading those of his neighbours. How long? Namely, will he be permitted to do this? Surely he will not be suffered to continue to act thus, without some remarkable check from Providence:... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:6-11

2:6-20 BABYLON’S SINSThe prophet now announces judgment on evildoers, listing five sins that God must punish. He introduces each condemnation with the words, ‘Woe to him who . . .’ (GNB: ‘You are doomed!’). The evildoer here is probably Babylon, but the condemnation has an application also to the Judeans. In fact, it applies to people of any age and race.The lust for power and wealth (2:6-11)To illustrate Babylon’s lust for power, the prophet refers to the practice of money-lending, which was... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Habakkuk 2:6

parable. Hebrew. mashal. proverb = enigma. Hebrew. hidah, as in Psalms 78:2 . Woe. Note the five woes in verses: Habakkuk 2:6 , Habakkuk 2:9 , Habakkuk 2:12 , Hab 6:15 , Hab 6:19 . how long? i.e. for his time is short. thick clay = pledges. Reference to Pentateuch App-92 . Occurs in this form only here. Compare other forms in Deuteronomy 15:0 and 24, where it occurs nine times with a cognate meaning, and in Joel 2:7 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:6

"Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his? how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges!"Beginning with this verse, there are five woes pronounced against Babylon, of three verses each, and taking the form of repeated maledictions voiced spontaneously by the oppressed peoples themselves who had fallen under the feet of the conqueror. Oppression always provokes just such hatred and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Habakkuk 2:5-6

Habakkuk 2:5-6. Yea, also, &c.— A transgressor by wine, is quite foreign to the subject; nor do the Syriac, LXX, or Arabic mention any thing of it. Houbigant renders the verse, very agreeably to the context, thus, For he, though he is a despiser, and powerful, and proud, yet shall he not have rest. After he shall have enlarged his desire as the grave, and as death, he shall not be satisfied; and after he shall have gathered to him all nations, and have heaped unto him all people. Habakkuk... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Habakkuk 2:6

6. Shall not all these—the "nations" and "peoples" ( :-) "heaped unto him" by the Chaldean. take up a parable—a derisive song. Habakkuk follows Isaiah ( :-) and Micah (Micah 2:4) in the phraseology. against him—when dislodged from his former eminence. Woe—The "derisive song" here begins, and continues to the end of the chapter. It is a symmetrical whole, and consists of five stanzas, the first three consisting of three verses each, the fourth of four verses, and the last of two. Each stanza has... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Habakkuk 2:2-20

II. HABAKKUK’S QUESTIONS AND YAHWEH’S ANSWERS 1:2-2:20The prophet asked Yahweh two questions and received two answers. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Habakkuk 2:6

Because of the Babylonians’ sins it was inevitable that the righteous would taunt and mock them. They would pronounce woe on them for increasing what was not theirs just to have more and for making themselves rich by charging exorbitant interest on loans. How long would this go on, they asked themselves (cf. Habakkuk 1:2). When would God judge Babylon? read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Habakkuk 2:6-8

Judgment for exploitation 2:6-8 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Habakkuk 2:6-20

3. The Lord’s sentence on Babylon 2:6-20The Lord pronounced taunts or mocking statements on the Babylonians announcing that they would receive judgment for their sins. This taunt song consists of five stanzas of three verses each. Five woes follow. Baker entitled them "the pillager," "the plotter," "the promoter of violence," "the debaucher," and "the pagan idolator." [Note: Baker, pp. 62, 64, 65, and 67.] Each woe is "an interjection of distress pronounced in the face of disaster or in view of... read more

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