Habakkuk 1:1 kjv
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
Habakkuk 1:1 nkjv
The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.
Habakkuk 1:1 niv
The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
Habakkuk 1:1 esv
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.
Habakkuk 1:1 nlt
This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision.
Habakkuk 1 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 12:6 | "...When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions; I speak to him in dreams." | Divine revelation methods |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | (Formerly in Israel, when someone went to inquire of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.”) | Ancient term for prophet: "seer" |
| 2 Sam 24:11 | ...the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, | Prophet identified as a "seer" |
| 1 Chr 29:29 | ...the Book of Samuel the seer, the Book of Nathan the prophet and the Book of Gad the seer. | Prophetic roles as seers |
| Isa 1:1 | The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw... | Prophetic book opening with a "vision" |
| Isa 13:1 | The oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw. | Identifies an "oracle" (maśśāʾ) as a prophecy |
| Isa 30:10 | ...‘Do not tell us visions, and do not prophesy to us what is right!’ | Reference to prophetic "visions" |
| Jer 1:1 | The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth... | Common prophetic book introduction |
| Jer 23:25-26 | “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name... | Contrast with false prophecy; importance of true oracle |
| Eze 1:3 | the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest...and the hand of the LORD was on him. | Divine initiation of prophetic ministry |
| Amos 1:1 | The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel... | Prophetic book opening with what he "saw" |
| Mic 1:1 | The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns... | Similar introductory phrasing |
| Nah 1:1 | The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum... | Another prophetic "oracle" (maśśāʾ) and "vision" |
| Zech 9:1 | The oracle, the word of the LORD, is against the land of Hadrak... | Use of "oracle" (maśśāʾ) for prophetic message |
| Zech 12:1 | An oracle: The word of the LORD concerning Israel. | Another instance of "oracle" (maśśāʾ) for Israel |
| Mal 1:1 | The oracle, the word of the LORD, to Israel through Malachi. | Last prophetic book also begins with "oracle" (maśśāʾ) |
| Acts 2:17 | "‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy..." | The broader scope of prophetic inspiration |
| Rom 1:1 | Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— | Authority of divine calling and commission |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, | Divine inspiration of all scripture including Habakkuk's oracle |
| Heb 1:1 | In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, | God's historical use of prophets to speak |
| 2 Pet 1:20-21 | Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation... but by the Holy Spirit. | Divine origin and inspiration of prophecy |
Habakkuk 1 verses
Habakkuk 1 1 Meaning
Habakkuk 1:1 declares the divine origin and nature of the prophetic message contained within the book. It states that the subsequent text is "the oracle," a weighty divine utterance or burden, which Habakkuk, specifically identified as "the prophet," received through a spiritual act of "seeing" or perceiving. This verse functions as the authoritative title and introduction, establishing the source of the message as God and the messenger as Habakkuk.
Habakkuk 1 1 Context
Habakkuk chapter 1 opens during a turbulent period in the kingdom of Judah, likely between the reign of good King Josiah (c. 640-609 BC) and the oppressive early reign of King Jehoiakim (c. 609-598 BC). This era was characterized by escalating moral decline, social injustice, and idolatry within Judah, despite Josiah's earlier reforms. The prophet Habakkuk's book is unique among prophetic books as it unfolds primarily as a dialogue or "wrestling" between the prophet and God, rather than a direct prophetic message to the people. This first verse immediately sets the stage for this divine revelation, introducing the prophet and the profound nature of the message he "saw," which concerns not only Judah's internal corruption but also God's impending judgment using the terrifying Chaldeans (Babylonians).
Habakkuk 1 1 Word analysis
The oracle (מַשָּׂא - maśśā’)
- Word Level: Derived from the verb nāśā’ (נָשָׂא), meaning "to lift, carry, bear."
- Significance: It denotes something heavy, a burden. In prophetic literature, maśśā’ refers to a weighty, serious, and authoritative divine utterance, a pronouncement often containing a judgment or an impending event. It signifies the immense responsibility and gravity associated with the message God entrusts to His prophet. It is not just information but a heavy spiritual reality to bear.
- Cross-connection: Used in other prophetic books for serious pronouncements (e.g., Isa 13:1; Nah 1:1; Zech 9:1; Mal 1:1).
which Habakkuk (חֲבַקּוּק - Ḥabaqqūq)
- Word Level: The name "Habakkuk" is related to the Hebrew verb ḥābaq (חָבַק), meaning "to embrace."
- Significance: Scholars debate its exact nuance: "to embrace" (tenderly, as God's people) or "to wrestle" (as a fervent struggle). Both resonate with the book's content, where the prophet intimately wrestles with God's ways concerning justice and divine judgment. His embrace of God's truth is forged through intense questioning and struggle.
the prophet (הַנָּבִיא - hannāvî’)
- Word Level: Nāḇî’ refers to a spokesperson, someone who speaks for God, chosen to convey divine messages to humanity.
- Significance: This title establishes Habakkuk's legitimate authority and divine appointment. He is not merely expressing his own thoughts or observations, but delivering a message from God Himself. It emphasizes the direct pipeline from God's revelation to Habakkuk.
saw (חָזָה - ḥāzâ)
- Word Level: The verb ḥāzâ means "to see, to perceive, to have a vision."
- Significance: While it can mean physical sight, in a prophetic context, it primarily refers to a spiritual apprehension or visionary experience of truth. The prophet "saw" the divine word, meaning he received and understood God's message, not necessarily through a literal visual phenomenon (though sometimes it was), but through spiritual insight. It implies a direct, intimate reception of revelation.
Words-group analysis:
- "The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw": This phrase encapsulates the core components of prophecy. It highlights the divine source (the oracle from God), the human recipient and messenger (Habakkuk the prophet), and the mode of reception (saw/perceived, indicating divine revelation). It underlines that the following words are not human musings but God's authoritative, weighty word revealed to His chosen spokesman. The very nature of this introduction distinguishes divine prophecy from human wisdom or false claims.
Habakkuk 1 1 Bonus section
The form of "the oracle that... saw" in Habakkuk 1:1 echoes several other prophetic book openings (e.g., Isa 13:1, Nah 1:1, Mal 1:1, Zech 9:1), underscoring a consistent biblical understanding of prophetic revelation across different periods. This emphasizes the divine origin and authoritative nature of all such prophetic books in the Hebrew Bible. The inclusion of maśśā’ (oracle/burden) suggests not only a weighty message for its recipients but also the personal burden placed upon the prophet himself in delivering such a potent truth, a reality known to many who minister God's word (Jer 20:9). The term nāḇî’ (prophet) in Israel was intrinsically linked to ethical responsibility; true prophets called Israel to righteousness and warned against idolatry, unlike pagan divination which often sought to manipulate divine will.
Habakkuk 1 1 Commentary
Habakkuk 1:1 is more than a simple title; it's a foundational statement about the entire book. It declares that the subsequent content is a maśśā’—a heavy burden or oracle, a divinely significant message. This is not casual information but a serious communication from the Almighty. The name Habakkuk, perhaps implying an "embrace" or "wrestling," foreshadows the unique dialogue between the prophet and God concerning divine justice and the impending Chaldean invasion, revealing his struggle yet ultimate embrace of God's sovereign plan. Identifying him as "the prophet" affirms his role as God's authorized messenger. The verb "saw" signifies spiritual discernment and direct reception of revelation, emphasizing that Habakkuk didn't just hear words but deeply perceived the reality of God's message, as a spiritual vision. This brief verse sets the tone for a profound encounter with God's truth, reminding the reader of the revelation's divine origin and the solemn duty of the prophet.