Habakkuk 2:7 kjv

Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

Habakkuk 2:7 nkjv

Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty.

Habakkuk 2:7 niv

Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.

Habakkuk 2:7 esv

Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be spoil for them.

Habakkuk 2:7 nlt

Suddenly, your debtors will take action.
They will turn on you and take all you have,
while you stand trembling and helpless.

Habakkuk 2 verses

Habakkuk 2 7 Meaning

Habakkuk 2:7 declares a prophetic reversal of fortune for the Chaldean oppressor. It foretells that those nations and peoples whom Babylon has exploited, plundered, and subjugated – metaphorically described as "debtors" or "creditors" who are owed justice – will suddenly awaken and rise up. These awakened victims will then themselves become the ones who exact their "due" by plundering and oppressing the very empire that once tyrannized them, thus ensuring that Babylon will become spoil to those it previously victimized. This verse emphasizes the swift and inevitable nature of divine justice against unrighteous oppressors.

Habakkuk 2 7 Context

Habakkuk, a prophet living in Judah, cries out to God, questioning why He allows rampant injustice and violence within Judah to go unpunished (Hab 1:2-4). God's initial response is startling: He reveals He is raising up the formidable and ruthless Chaldeans (Babylonians) to execute judgment on Judah (Hab 1:5-11). This prompts further theological perplexity from Habakkuk (Hab 1:12-2:1), who questions how a holy God can use a people more wicked than Judah itself.

In response, God then commands Habakkuk to write down a vision that concerns "an appointed time" (Hab 2:2-3) and clarifies that the righteous will live by faith, while the arrogant will fall (Hab 2:4). Habakkuk 2:5-20 details a series of "woes" (a judgment formula) pronounced against the Chaldeans, addressing their specific sins. Verse 7 falls within the first woe (Hab 2:6-8), which targets Babylon's covetousness, insatiable desire for plunder, and violent acquisition of wealth at the expense of others. This woe asserts that the vast accumulation of "debts" through oppression will ultimately lead to Babylon's downfall, as its many victims will be roused to repay its cruelties in kind.

Habakkuk 2 7 Word analysis

• Will not your debtors (דַּעְתָה֙ - da'atah): This Hebrew term, literally "those who cause you to know" or "your creditors," carries the connotation of those who recognize or are aware of what is due to them. In this context, it is not merely about financial debt but the metaphorical debt of justice, vengeance, and retribution owed to the many nations and peoples whom Babylon has violently oppressed, plundered, and exploited. These are the wronged parties, now stirred to action by divine will.
• suddenly (קְשֵׁ֣שֶׁק - qᵉshēšeq): Implies swiftness, unexpectedness, and a lack of warning for the oppressor. Babylon, feeling secure in its power, will be caught off guard when the very people it subdued rise against it. This highlights the unexpected timing of God's judgment.
• arise, and awake (יָקִ֖צוּ - yaqitzu): Refers to the nations/victims stirring from a state of dormancy, slumber, or subjugation. They were previously dormant under Babylon's heel, but God's justice will awaken them to reclaim what was violently taken from them, initiating a period of active resistance and reversal of power.
• who oppress you (וְיִקְּצ֥וּ - wᵉyiqqəṣu): This verb is closely related to the previous one, strengthening the idea of active and violent reawakening. It indicates that the formerly oppressed will now engage in active disturbance or exploitation against their former oppressor. This depicts a direct mirroring of Babylon's own actions against others, now turned back upon them.
• And you will be plunder (וְהָיִתָ֙ לְשַׁלְשַׁ֥לָּה - wᵉhāyītā lᵉšalšālâ): The future perfect tense confirms the certainty of this outcome for the Chaldean empire. "Plunder" (שַׁלְשַׁ֥לָּה - shalshelah) specifically means spoil, loot, or booty taken in war. The very wealth and power Babylon gained through plundering others will now be its downfall as it becomes the spoil for its victims.
• Word-groups by Word-group analysis:
  • "Will not your debtors suddenly arise?": This rhetorical question is a powerful affirmation. It asserts the absolute certainty of divine justice. There is no doubt that these "creditors"—the wronged nations—will rise up. The "suddenly" reinforces the shocking and swift nature of this retribution, catching the mighty Babylon unprepared.
  • "and awake who oppress you?": This is a parallel phrasing reinforcing the previous idea. It speaks of the active reawakening of the subjugated. The "oppress you" signifies that the roles will be reversed; those who once suffered at Babylon's hands will now become instruments of oppression against Babylon, carrying out God's judgment.
  • "And you will be plunder to them.": This final declaration concisely states the inevitable consequence. The ultimate outcome of Babylon's covetous plundering is to be plundered. The Chaldeans will be reduced to the very status they imposed upon countless others, losing their wealth, power, and territorial gains to those they wronged.

Habakkuk 2 7 Bonus section

• The prophetic structure in Habakkuk, especially the woes, consistently reverses the actions of the oppressor upon themselves (lex talionis principle). Babylon is denounced for its practices and told its fate will mirror those practices.
• The rhetorical questions used by the prophet ("Will not...?") are not expressions of doubt, but rather a strong affirmation and a way to compel the listener to acknowledge the inescapable truth of what is about to happen. They serve to heighten the certainty of the divine judgment.
• While God permitted Babylon to discipline Judah, their excessive cruelty, insatiable pride, and lack of true spiritual understanding condemned them in God's eyes. They acted purely out of their own sinful nature, not out of obedience to God, thus rendering them liable for judgment despite their role in God's broader plan.

Habakkuk 2 7 Commentary

Habakkuk 2:7 succinctly articulates the principle of divine justice, demonstrating that God holds all nations accountable for their actions, even those He uses for His purposes. Babylon, swollen with ill-gotten gains and arrogant in its perceived invincibility, operated under a delusion that its strength was its god. However, this verse reveals that every act of oppression creates a "debt" that will eventually be collected. The imagery of "debtors" or "creditors" highlights that there is a cosmic balance, a justice due for every wrong inflicted.

The "sudden" uprising and "awakening" of Babylon's victims underscore that this retribution will be unexpected and irresistible, divinely orchestrated by the one true God who neither sleeps nor forgets the cries of the oppressed. This principle is not only a historical fulfillment concerning Babylon (which indeed fell to the Medo-Persians, who incorporated many subjugated nations) but a timeless spiritual truth. Nations or individuals who build their prosperity and power on the suffering, exploitation, or injustice against others are sowing the seeds of their own destruction. Their very actions invite the backlash, superintended by the sovereign hand of God. Ultimately, this verse serves as a powerful warning against pride, greed, and unrighteousness, asserting God's ultimate dominion over the course of human empires and His unwavering commitment to justice.