Habakkuk 2 12

Habakkuk 2:12 kjv

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!

Habakkuk 2:12 nkjv

"Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, Who establishes a city by iniquity!

Habakkuk 2:12 niv

"Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!

Habakkuk 2:12 esv

"Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!

Habakkuk 2:12 nlt

"What sorrow awaits you who build cities
with money gained through murder and corruption!

Habakkuk 2 verses

Habakkuk 2 12 Meaning

Habakkuk 2:12 pronounces a solemn curse, a "woe," upon those who construct towns and establish cities through violent means, bloodshed, and foundational acts of injustice. It highlights the divine condemnation of any entity, whether a nation or an individual, whose power, prosperity, or infrastructure is built upon the exploitation, oppression, and moral perversion of others. This declaration emphasizes that God opposes unrighteous ambition and the cruel methods often employed to achieve worldly dominion and wealth.

Habakkuk 2 12 Context

Habakkuk 2:12 is the fourth in a series of five "woe" pronouncements found in Habakkuk chapter 2, beginning in verse 6. The prophet Habakkuk initially grapples with God's perceived inaction regarding Judah's sin and then with His surprising decision to use the brutal Chaldeans (Babylonians) as an instrument of judgment. God reveals His response to Habakkuk, assuring him that though the Chaldeans are His instrument, they will not escape divine judgment for their own wickedness.

The "woes" are directed specifically against the Chaldeans, whose methods of conquest and establishment of empire were characterized by violence, greed, and a total disregard for justice. This verse speaks directly to their practice of building their vast empire and opulent cities like Babylon through warfare, plundering conquered nations, enslaving populations, and extorting resources, all without regard for human dignity or moral law. Historically, ancient empires often expanded through brutal means, building infrastructure, temples, and palaces on the backs of conquered peoples and with wealth acquired through violent conquest. The verse acts as a prophetic polemic, exposing and condemning the foundation of such imperial power, implying its ultimate fragility despite its apparent strength.

Habakkuk 2 12 Word analysis

• Woe (הוֹי, hoy): This Hebrew interjection signifies a lament, a cry of mourning, but in prophetic literature, it functions primarily as a pronouncement of judgment or a strong denunciation. It conveys divine displeasure and a dire warning of impending doom for the addressed party. Its utterance marks the subject as cursed and destined for ruin.

• to him who builds (בֹּנֶה, bōneh): This is a participle, indicating ongoing action. It points to the one, or the collective (e.g., a nation or dynasty), actively engaged in the construction or development. The focus is on the responsible party, highlighting their deliberate intent and agency in their unrighteous undertakings.

• a town (עִיר, ‘ir): This term refers to a fortified, established settlement. It implies infrastructure, order, and collective living, often symbolizing stability and power within its region. The condemnation is not merely about any small structure, but significant societal constructs and power centers.

• with blood (בְּדָמִים, bəḏāmîm): The plural form of "blood" emphasizes the abundance and extent of the violence. It signifies murder, bloodshed, unjust wars, violence, and the forced exploitation of life. This phrase implies that the very materials, resources, and labor used to build these towns were acquired through ruthless oppression and taking of life. It strongly condemns methods that rely on physical force, violence, and destruction for gain. It directly challenges the idea that any success achieved through such brutal means can endure or be blessed by God.

• and founds/establishes (וְכוֹנֵן, wəḵōnên): Derived from the Hebrew root kun, meaning to establish, prepare, or confirm. This verb emphasizes the long-term, deliberate establishment and firm foundation of a city. It implies permanence and planning. The judgment is therefore against the very basis of these entities.

• a city (קִרְיָה, qiryâ): Another term for "city," often used interchangeably with ‘ir in poetic parallelism. It reinforces the idea of a significant urban center, possibly with connotations of a capital or royal city, where power and wealth are concentrated. The repetition underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment against these constructed centers of power.

• on iniquity (בְּעַוְלָה, bə‘awlâ): This word signifies injustice, unrighteousness, perversion, moral corruption, and lawlessness. While "blood" refers to the violent means, "iniquity" points to the broader moral foundation. This encompasses fraudulent dealings, breaking covenants, systemic corruption, unjust laws, deceit, oppression, and disregard for divine and moral law. Building "on iniquity" means that the entire system, the very blueprint and foundation of the city or state, is rooted in ethical transgression and moral crookedness, making it inherently unstable and an offense to God's justice.

• words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Woe to him who builds a town with blood": This clause sets the tone of divine condemnation, targeting the acquisition and development of urban centers through direct violent actions—warfare, plunder, and the shedding of innocent blood. It condemns kingdoms and empires that are literally erected on the suffering and demise of others.
  • "and founds a city on iniquity": This parallel clause expands on the previous one, highlighting that beyond the physical violence, the entire societal, legal, and economic system supporting these cities is rooted in deep moral corruption and injustice. It speaks to systemic wrongdoing, indicating that the foundations are not just stained by individual acts of violence but permeated by fundamental unrighteousness in their very construction and operation. Together, these two phrases deliver a comprehensive indictment against nations that derive their power, wealth, and stability from both violent aggression and pervasive moral corruption, revealing such foundations as utterly unstable in the eyes of God.

Habakkuk 2 12 Bonus section

This verse contrasts starkly with the vision of God's righteous city, the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2), which is established not on human bloodshed or iniquity, but on divine truth and righteousness. While human empires built on violence crumble, God's kingdom, founded on perfect justice, endures forever. Habakkuk 2:12 therefore not only prophesies the fall of the unrighteous, but also implicitly reaffirms the eternal nature of a divine standard for righteousness and the eventual triumph of God's just order. The futility expressed in this verse regarding cities built on sin serves as a warning against any ambition that elevates human might and unjust gain above God's unchanging moral law. This divine judgment underscores that lasting value and genuine security cannot be attained by violating the sanctity of life or perverting justice, highlighting a core biblical truth for individuals and nations throughout history.

Habakkuk 2 12 Commentary

Habakkuk 2:12 acts as a stern divine decree against nations and individuals whose prosperity, power, and societal structures are established and sustained through violence, exploitation, and systemic injustice. This "woe" is God's pronouncement of inevitable doom upon such foundations, notably aimed at the brutal Chaldeans who expanded their empire by means of conquest and oppressive rule. The twin imagery of building with "blood" and founding on "iniquity" comprehensively captures their methods: the former emphasizes the physical violence, warfare, and resulting loss of life, while the latter points to the underlying moral depravity, fraud, and corruption that formed the blueprint of their cities and governance.

The verse conveys God's unwavering commitment to justice. While the Chaldeans may seem unstoppable in their violent acquisitions, the prophet proclaims that their ill-gotten gains and foundations are an affront to God. Such an enterprise carries within it the seeds of its own destruction, being contrary to the divine order of righteousness. Kingdoms built on such corrupt foundations lack divine blessing and true stability, inevitably destined for collapse under God's righteous judgment. The message extends beyond ancient Babylon to any regime, corporation, or individual that gains power and wealth through exploiting others, engaging in illegal activities, or upholding unjust systems, underscoring that all human efforts must ultimately stand before God's moral standard.