Habakkuk 2:5 kjv

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

Habakkuk 2:5 nkjv

"Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, And he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nations And heaps up for himself all peoples.

Habakkuk 2:5 niv

indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.

Habakkuk 2:5 esv

"Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples."

Habakkuk 2:5 nlt

Wealth is treacherous,
and the arrogant are never at rest.
They open their mouths as wide as the grave,
and like death, they are never satisfied.
In their greed they have gathered up many nations
and swallowed many peoples.

Habakkuk 2 verses

Habakkuk 2 5 Meaning

Habakkuk 2:5 vividly portrays the character and inevitable downfall of the proud and oppressive Chaldean empire (Babylon), though its principles apply universally. The verse identifies several intertwined vices: intoxicating pride leading to betrayal and restless ambition, coupled with an insatiable, consuming greed likened to the boundless depths of Sheol and the never-satisfied nature of Death. This relentless expansionist appetite drives the oppressor to gather and collect nations, but this very pursuit ultimately becomes the instrument of their ruin, setting the stage for divine judgment.

Habakkuk 2 5 Context

Habakkuk 2:5 forms the introductory verses of the Lord's detailed response to Habakkuk's second complaint (Hab 1:12-17). After questioning why God would use the wicked Chaldeans (Babylon) to punish Judah, God declares His intentions, first reaffirming the certainty of His vision (Hab 2:2-3) and setting up the contrasting principle of faith (Hab 2:4). Verse 5 then shifts focus directly to the oppressive Chaldeans, launching the first of five "woes" (Hab 2:6-20) that detail their pride, greed, injustice, and idolatry, culminating in their promised downfall. Historically, the Chaldean empire was renowned for its military might and extensive conquests, perfectly embodying the ambitious, expansionist power described in this verse. Their self-indulgence and tyrannical rule were well-known, providing a stark contemporary backdrop for the prophet's words. The verse also implicitly challenges the Babylonian notion of self-sufficiency and destiny rooted in their pagan deities, asserting divine control over their ultimate fate.

Habakkuk 2 5 Word analysis

• אַף כִּי (Af ki) – Indeed/Yea also: An emphatic particle. It reinforces the truth of the statement, lending weight and certainty to the description of the oppressor.
• הַיַּיִן (hayyayin) – The wine: Refers literally to wine, but also symbolizes excess, indulgence, carnal pleasure, and the intoxicating power of pride, self-glory, or wealth. It's often associated with a loss of self-control and clear judgment in Scripture.
• בּוֹגֵד (bōḡêḏ) – betrays/is treacherous: From the root בגד, meaning to deal treacherously, faithlessly, deceitfully. Wine, or the associated self-indulgence and pride, is not a true friend but ultimately deceives and leads to ruin. It promises pleasure or power but delivers destruction.
• גֶּבֶר יָהִיר (gevěr yāhîr) – a proud man/an arrogant man: Gever denotes a strong or mighty man. Yahîr means proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent. This identifies the core character flaw: not just one who drinks too much, but one whose pride, fueled by excess and conquests, makes them blind and ultimately self-destructive. This "man" personifies the Chaldean nation.
• וְלֹא יִנְוֶה (vəlōʾ yinveh) – and does not stay at home/nor keepeth at home: Navah means to dwell, rest, or be settled. The negation indicates an intrinsic restlessness, an inability to be content or confined. It speaks to relentless ambition, insatiable desire for conquest, and a perpetual state of instability driven by overreaching pride, a continuous grasping for more.
• אֲשֶׁר הִרְחִיב (asher hirḥîḇ) – who enlarges/expands: Raḥav means to make wide or enlarge. It describes the expansive nature of the oppressor's desires, constantly seeking more territory, wealth, and power.
• כִּשְׁאוֹל (kish’ôl) – as Sheol: Sheol is the realm of the dead, the grave. It is depicted in Scripture as vast, always open, and never satisfied in its consumption (Prov 27:20, 30:15-16). This powerful simile emphasizes the bottomless, endless nature of the oppressor's greed.
• נַפְשׁוֹ (nap̄šōw) – his soul/appetite/desire: Nephesh often translates as soul, life, self. Here, it refers to the person's inner being, their desire, appetite, or ambition. Its enlargement signifies unbounded covetousness.
• וְהוּא (vəhûʾ) – and he/and is: A connective introducing the parallel description.
• כְּמָוֶת (kəmāvet) – like Death: Mavet means Death, often personified as an entity with insatiable hunger. This strengthens the image of relentless consumption and destructive power, parallel to Sheol.
• וְלֹא יִשְׂבָּע (vəlōʾ yiśbāʿ) – and is not satisfied/cannot be satisfied: From the root שבע, meaning to be full, satisfied, have enough. The negation underscores the infinite nature of their covetousness. There is never "enough."
• וְקָבַץ אֵלָיו (vəqāḇaṣ ’ēlāyw) – And he gathers to himself: Qavats means to collect, assemble. This describes the physical outcome of the insatiable greed: the accumulation of peoples and resources through conquest. The phrase "to himself" highlights self-serving ambition.
• כָּל הַגּוֹיִם (kāl hagōyîm) – all the nations: Goyim are nations, Gentiles. Refers to the Chaldean empire's imperialistic drive to subdue surrounding peoples.
• וְאָסַף אֵלָיו (və’āsaṗ ’ēlāyw) – and collects to himself: Asaph means to gather, take in, bring together. A parallel verb to qavats, reinforcing the expansive nature of their dominion.
• כָּל הָעַמִּים (kāl hāʿammîm) – all the peoples: Ammim are peoples, tribes. Reinforces the universal scope of their oppressive ambition.

Words-group analysis

• "Indeed, wine betrays him, a proud man": This phrase establishes the foundational link between self-indulgence (represented by "wine") and pride (yahir), portraying them not as harmless habits but as active, treacherous forces that lead to a person's ruin. The self-exaltation inherent in pride blinds one to its destructive consequences.
• "and he does not stay at home": This highlights the restless, driven nature of the proud and greedy. Their insatiable desires prevent contentment, pushing them into endless, expansionist endeavors, disrupting their own peace and the peace of others. This is a perpetual outward thrust rather than inner stability.
• "His greed is as wide as Sheol; like Death he is never satisfied": This is a powerful double simile. By comparing the oppressor's insatiable desires to Sheol and Death—entities that continuously consume and are never full—the prophet conveys the immense and unquenchable nature of their covetousness. It implies a vacuum that can never be filled by worldly gains.
• "He gathers to himself all nations and collects all peoples": This describes the practical manifestation of the "Sheol-like" greed. It's not mere ambition but aggressive imperialism, leading to the subjugation and exploitation of vast populations, demonstrating the global scope of their destructive impact. The repeated "to himself" emphasizes self-serving appropriation.

Habakkuk 2 5 Bonus section

The imagery in Habakkuk 2:5 finds strong resonance throughout prophetic literature concerning the downfall of arrogant world powers. It contrasts sharply with Habakkuk 2:4, where the just live by faith. While the righteous find life in trusting God, the proud "man" of verse 5 seeks life and satisfaction in his own accomplishments, pride, and endless expansion, leading inevitably to death and judgment. This highlights a fundamental biblical dichotomy: reliance on self vs. reliance on God. The "wine" metaphor also touches on the concept of spiritual intoxication, where success and power can lead to a distorted view of reality, much like physical drunkenness. The idea of "betrayal" signifies that the very means of perceived strength (wealth, power, conquest) become the instruments of one's undoing when used with pride and without regard for divine justice.

Habakkuk 2 5 Commentary

Habakkuk 2:5 provides a piercing theological diagnosis of the oppressive power exemplified by Babylon. It asserts that excessive self-indulgence and overweening pride are not merely character flaws but active "traitors" that guarantee ultimate ruin. The depiction of the oppressor's greed, boundless as Sheol and insatiable as Death, illustrates that earthly acquisitions can never satisfy a spiritual void or an arrogant ambition. This relentless coveting and subjugation of nations, while seemingly a sign of strength, paradoxically signals an intrinsic weakness and a path towards divine judgment. The verse is a profound commentary on the futility and destructive nature of empire-building driven by pride and rapaciousness, setting the stage for the inevitable reversal of fortune detailed in the subsequent woes.

For practical application, this verse cautions against:

• Spiritual drunkenness: Allowing any earthly desire, ambition, or indulgence to betray spiritual clarity and lead to pride or ungodly behavior.
• Insatiable consumerism/greed: Recognizing that material possessions or power will never truly satisfy an ever-expanding "soul" or inner emptiness. True satisfaction comes from contentment and reliance on God.
• Restless ambition: Understanding that incessant striving for worldly dominance, even in personal life, can lead to instability and destructive patterns if not rooted in humility and a focus on eternal principles.