Habakkuk 1:9 kjv

They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

Habakkuk 1:9 nkjv

"They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.

Habakkuk 1:9 niv

they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand.

Habakkuk 1:9 esv

They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand.

Habakkuk 1:9 nlt

"On they come, all bent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind,
sweeping captives ahead of them like sand.

Habakkuk 1 verses

Habakkuk 1 9 Meaning

Habakkuk 1:9 portrays the overwhelming, relentless, and destructive nature of the Chaldean (Babylonian) army as an instrument of divine judgment. Their very purpose is violence and devastation. They advance with terrifying speed and unwavering determination, like a scorching east wind, leaving no opposition in their path. The immense scale of their conquests is emphasized by the number of captives they seize, described as innumerable as the sand.

Habakkuk 1 9 Context

Habakkuk chapter 1 begins with the prophet's cry to God about the rampant violence and injustice within Judah (Hab 1:2-4). God's surprising and perplexing response in Habakkuk 1:5-6 reveals that He is raising up the fierce and swift Chaldeans (Babylonians) to punish Judah. Verses 7-11 then describe the formidable and terrifying nature of these Chaldeans. Habakkuk 1:9 specifically details their character and military method, emphasizing their brutal focus on destruction, rapid movement, and overwhelming numbers of captives, serving to underscore God's shocking choice of instrument for judgment upon His own people.

Habakkuk 1 9 Word analysis

• They all come for violence;

  • They all (כֻּלּוֹ - kullōh): Emphasizes the totality and pervasive nature of their actions; every individual and their collective force are driven by a singular destructive intent.
  • come (יָבוֹא - yāḇō’): Hebrew singular for the collective "they" reinforces their unified purpose and unwavering approach.
  • for violence (לַחָמָס - laḥāmās): "ḥāmās" refers to extreme physical and ethical violence, injustice, and wrong, signifying deliberate and aggressive acts of destruction and oppression, not accidental harm. This is their motive, not merely a byproduct of war.

• their faces forward as the east wind,

  • their faces forward (מִגְמַּת פְּנֵיהֶם קָדִימָה - miggəmat pānêhem qādîmāh): "miggəmat" is difficult and debated. Interpretations include "gathering/onrush," "determination/setting," or "greed/lust." Paired with "pānêhem" (their faces), it signifies their determined gaze, single-minded focus, or ruthless purpose. It expresses an unyielding, aggressive forward movement.
  • as the east wind (קָדִים - qādîm): The "qādîm" was a notorious wind in the Near East—hot, dry, destructive to vegetation, and often associated with sudden storms or locust invasions. It symbolizes fierce, swift, irresistible power, and desolation. It indicates the speed, intensity, and devastating effect of their advance.

• and they gather captives as the sand.

  • and they gather (וַיֶּאֱסֹף - wabbiyyā’əsōp̄): Denotes an active, systematic collection or accumulation. They intentionally round up their conquests.
  • captives (שְׁבִי - shəḇī): Refers to individuals taken during warfare, destined for slavery, exile, or forced labor. This highlights the human cost of their campaign and their practice of depopulating conquered lands.
  • as the sand (כַחוֹל - kaḥōl): A common biblical metaphor for an immeasurable, countless multitude. Here, it conveys the overwhelming scale of the Babylonian's military success and the vast number of people they would enslave or displace.

• Word-Group Analysis

  • "They all come for violence": This phrase establishes the Chaldeans' inherent character and ultimate goal. Their very essence is one of brute force and ethical wrong. This highlights a critical tension: God uses a nation whose purpose is unrighteous violence for His righteous judgment.
  • "their faces forward as the east wind": This powerful imagery depicts the Chaldeans' unstoppable momentum, their focused aggression, and the destructive impact they have. They are like a force of nature, driven by an inherent impetus that cannot be swayed or resisted. Their advance is swift and overwhelming.
  • "and they gather captives as the sand": This underscores the vastness of their military triumphs and the human devastation they bring. It reflects the demographic shift and cultural disruption characteristic of Babylonian conquest, leading to the depopulation of conquered territories and the forced relocation of their inhabitants, including the exiling of Judah.

Habakkuk 1 9 Bonus section

The seemingly paradoxical nature of God using a nation characterized by ḥāmās (violence/injustice) for His righteous purposes is a central theological struggle in Habakkuk. The very term ḥāmās in Habakkuk's opening lament (1:2-3) describes Judah's sin, only to re-emerge in 1:9 as the nature of God's chosen instrument. This divine irony suggests that judgment can come through unexpected and even morally disturbing means from a human perspective, revealing God's absolute sovereignty over all nations, whether they acknowledge Him or not. This concept prepares the ground for Habakkuk's deeper theological struggle in chapter 2 regarding God's justice and the triumph of the righteous by faith.

Habakkuk 1 9 Commentary

Habakkuk 1:9 vividly portrays the fearsome and unmerciful character of the Chaldeans, whom God is raising up as His instrument of judgment against Judah. The prophet reveals a nation entirely consumed by "violence" (ḥāmās), signifying not just physical brutality but also inherent injustice and corruption. This establishes a profound irony and challenge to Habakkuk's theology: God, who is just, will use a deeply unjust entity to execute His justice. The depiction of their advance "as the east wind" captures their horrifying speed, unyielding determination, and destructive power, symbolizing an unstoppable force of nature bringing desolation. Their military strategy involves mass deportation, as indicated by their gathering of "captives as the sand." This phrase emphasizes the overwhelming scale of human loss and displacement that awaits Judah, an unimaginable number of their own people carried off into exile. The verse serves to highlight the severe, all-encompassing nature of God's impending judgment, delivered by an utterly ruthless and powerful adversary.