Habakkuk 2 17

Habakkuk 2:17 kjv

For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

Habakkuk 2:17 nkjv

For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, Because of men's blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it.

Habakkuk 2:17 niv

The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

Habakkuk 2:17 esv

The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.

Habakkuk 2:17 nlt

You cut down the forests of Lebanon.
Now you will be cut down.
You destroyed the wild animals,
so now their terror will be yours.
You committed murder throughout the countryside
and filled the towns with violence.

Habakkuk 2 verses

Habakkuk 2 17 Meaning

Habakkuk 2:17 proclaims God's certain judgment upon the oppressors, specifically identifying the Chaldeans/Babylonians. The verse declares that the overwhelming violence and destruction they inflicted upon flourishing lands (like Lebanon) and innocent life – both human and animal – will ultimately return upon them as terrifying judgment. This is a divine principle of reciprocity: the same type of desolation and terror they caused others will become their own fate. Their comprehensive brutality against creation, cities, and inhabitants will lead to their own undoing and dismay.

Habakkuk 2 17 Context

Habakkuk 2:17 stands as the explanation and culmination of the "fifth woe" pronounced against the Chaldeans/Babylonians (Hab 2:15-16). The preceding verses condemn their deceptive and violent acts, specifically their exploitation of others, akin to making someone drunk to view their nakedness—leading to shame and disgrace. Verse 17 elaborates why such shame and overwhelming terror will engulf them: it is the consequence of their widespread violence and destruction. This verse highlights Babylon's excessive brutality in conquering nations, not just against people and cities, but also against the land and its animal life, symbolizing total devastation for exploitation. It confirms God's steadfast justice in responding to human sin and atrocity, assuring Habakkuk that the wicked, though used as an instrument, will face judgment themselves. Historically, Babylon was known for its relentless military campaigns, despoiling lands and deporting populations, actions this verse directly addresses with a prophetic curse of similar suffering.

Habakkuk 2 17 Word analysis

• For (כִּ֣י, kî): A causal conjunction, introducing the reason for the judgment just described (the "shameful vomit" upon the oppressor in Hab 2:16). It signifies "because" or "indeed."

• the violence (חֲמַס, ḥamas): Hebrew term for violence, injustice, or wrongdoing. It implies an aggressive, unjust, and destructive act, often including a sense of cruelty or malice. The repetition of ḥamas later in the verse emphasizes its pervasive nature.

• of Lebanon (לְבָנוֹן, Ləḇānōn): Literally the mountain range and region known for its magnificent cedar forests, symbolic of beauty, strength, prosperity, and national pride. In this context, it likely refers metaphorically to the despoiling of magnificent and valuable territories/resources by the Chaldeans, or the violent destruction of "forests" or strongholds (even their own, built from such materials). It signifies valuable lands plundered and stripped.

• will cover you (יְכַסֶּךָּ, yəḵassekkā): A strong verb meaning "to cover," "to overwhelm," or "to conceal." It implies that the violence done will totally envelop or consume the Chaldeans, making escape impossible and their shame undeniable.

• and the destruction (וְשֹׁד, wəšōd): Hebrew for "destruction," "devastation," "laying waste," often linked with plunder and ruin. This is not just casual harm but comprehensive devastation.

• of animals (בְּהֵמוֹת, bəhēmōṯ): Refers to domesticated beasts or livestock, crucial for sustenance and livelihood. The inclusion of animals highlights the total destruction of ecological systems and means of life, indicating the brutality went beyond human targets. It demonstrates a complete disregard for all forms of life and resources.

• will terrify you (יְחִיתֶֽךָ, yəḥîtéḵā): A verb signifying "to make tremble," "to dismay," or "to shatter with fear." It means the consequences will instill deep dread and paralysis, mirroring the terror they inflicted.

• because of (מִדְּמֵי, miḏ·də·mê): Literally "from the blood of," indicating the direct cause or source of their judgment.

• men’s blood (אָדָם, ʾāḏām): Refers to the shedding of human blood, specifically the violence, massacres, and slaughter of people by the Chaldeans. This highlights their direct cruelty to humanity.

• and the violence done to the land (וַחֲמַס אֶ֫רֶץ, wahaḵamas ʾereṣ): Repetition of "violence" emphasizing the extensive injustice and physical damage inflicted upon the land itself, encompassing its resources, produce, and habitability.

• to the city (עִיר, ʿîr): Points to the specific destruction, plunder, and siege of urban centers.

• and to all who live in it (וְכָל־יֹשְׁבֵי בָֽהּ, wəḵol-yōšəḇê ḇāh): A comprehensive phrase including all inhabitants of the plundered land and city, indicating widespread suffering and complete depopulation or subjugation.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For the violence of Lebanon will cover you": This phrase asserts a direct, overwhelming consequence for their rapacious deeds. The violence of Lebanon may indicate the violence against Lebanon, which, once vibrant, became desolate, reflecting how the oppressor’s actions (like deforesting Lebanon’s cedars for building or for plundering its wealth) will eventually engulf them in a similar desolation and judgment.
  • "and the destruction of animals will terrify you": This highlights the far-reaching nature of their sin, extending beyond human victims to impact even the animal kingdom. The suffering inflicted on innocent creation through their plundering and warring acts will rebound as an intensely terrifying experience for them, underscoring the universal scope of divine justice that includes creation itself.
  • "because of men’s blood and the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who live in it": This final clause acts as a comprehensive summation of their offenses, justifying the severe judgment. It details their atrocities across three crucial domains: the shedding of human blood (the most heinous crime), the despoiling of the environment and its resources (the land), and the destruction of organized society and its population (the city and its inhabitants). It paints a full picture of their indiscriminate and extensive wickedness.

Habakkuk 2 17 Bonus section

• The phrase "violence of Lebanon" can also be interpreted as the 'violent plundering of Lebanon,' signifying that the very wealth and resources stolen (symbolized by Lebanon's famed cedars and natural beauty) will metaphorically weigh down or "cover" the Chaldeans in judgment.
• This verse embodies the "lex talionis" (law of retaliation) at a national scale, where the nature of the punishment fits the crime, serving as a powerful warning against indiscriminate cruelty.
• The emphasis on "animals" suggests God's care extends even to the created order, and human sin has broader ecological consequences that do not go unaddressed by divine justice.
• This pronouncement further validates Habakkuk's complaint, assuring him that even though the Chaldeans are used as an instrument of divine discipline, they are not immune from God’s ultimate moral scrutiny and judgment.

Habakkuk 2 17 Commentary

Habakkuk 2:17 articulates a profound principle of divine justice: the very deeds of destruction and terror perpetrated by the Chaldeans will boomerang upon them. This judgment is reciprocal and proportionate. The "violence of Lebanon" symbolizes the devastation of magnificent lands and resources—an echo of their plundering and deforestation that will metaphorically "cover" or overwhelm them in return. The "destruction of animals" indicates their unsparing cruelty that afflicted all creation, causing the terrifying realization that their own ecological ruin and fear will become palpable. The specific reasons listed—"men's blood," "violence done to the land," "the city," and "all who live in it"—illustrate the comprehensiveness of their crimes against humanity and creation. God's justice is precise, ensuring that the same suffering and dismay they inflicted on others will be justly returned to them, thus vindicating His moral order and fulfilling His promises of retribution for the wicked.