Habakkuk 1:11 - Exposition

Then shall his mind change; τότε μεταβαλεῖ τὸ πνεῦμα ; Tunc mutabitur spiritus (Vulgate). From the ease and extent of his conquests the Chaldean gains fresh spirit. But it is best to translate differently, Then he sweepeth on as a wind. The Chaldean's inroad is compared to a tempestuous wind, which carries all before it. And he shall pass over. This is explained to mean, he exceeds all limits in his arrogancy, or he passes onward through the land. The former interpretation regards what is coming, the latter keeps to the metaphor of the wind. And offend. He is guilty, or offends, as the next clause explains, by attributing his success to his own prowess and skill. Thus the prophet intimates that the avenger himself incurs God's displeasure, and will suffer for it. Septuagint, καὶ ἐξιλάσεται , which St. Cyril interprets to mean that the Lord will change his purpose of punishing the Jews, and will have mercy on them—a notion quite foreign to the purport of the sentence. Imputing this his power unto his god; more literally, this his power is his god ; Revised Version, even he whose might is his god . He defies the Lord, and makes his might his god. (For such pride and self-glorification, setup. Isaiah 14:13 ; Isaiah 47:7 , etc.; Daniel 4:30 .) Thus Mezentius, the despiser of the gods, speaks in Virgil, ' AE n.,' 10:773—

" Dextra mihi deus et telum, quod missile libro,

Nunc adsint! "

Comp. Statius, 'Theb.,' 3.615—

" Virtus mihi numen, et ensis, Quem teneo ."