Bible Commentary

Habakkuk 1

Habakkuk 1 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

In this chapter, I. The prophet complains to God of the violence done by the abuse of the sword of justice among his own people and the hardships thereby put upon many good people, ver. 1-4. II. God by him foretels the punishment of that abuse of power by the sword of war, and the desolations which the army of the Chaldeans should make upon them, ver. 5-11. III. Then the prophet complains of that too, and is grieved that the Chaldeans prevail so far (ver. 12-17), so that he scarcely knows which is more to be lamented, the sin or the punishment of it, for in both many harmless good people are very great sufferers. It is well that there is a day of judgment, and a future state, before us, in which it shall be eternally well with all the righteous, and with them only, and ill with all the wicked, and them only; so the present seeming disorders of Providence shall be set to rights, and there will remain no matter of complaint whatsoever.

The Sins of the People. (b. c. 600.)

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Habakkuk 1 — OverviewHabakkuk 1 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeHabakkuk 1:1, Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land, Habakkuk 1:5, is shewn the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans; Habakkuk 1:12, He complains that vengeance should be executed by them who are far…Habakkuk 1 — OverviewHabakkuk 1 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis book is called, in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, "the Prophecy of Habakkuk". Of this prophet, Aben Ezra and Kimchi say, we know neither his age nor his family; which shows they paid no regard to a…Habakkuk 1:1-4Habakkuk 1:1-4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe are told no more in the title of this book (which we have, v. 1) than that the penman was a prophet, a man divinely inspired and commissioned, which is enough (if that be so, we need not ask concerning his…Habakkuk 1:1Habakkuk 1:1 · The Pulpit Commentary§ 1. The inscription of the book. The burden (see note on Nahum 1:1). The prophet (Habakkuk 3:1). This title, which is added in the inscriptions only to the names of Haggai and Zechariah, and cursorily to that of…Habakkuk 1:1Habakkuk 1:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryA prophet's burden. I. THE PROPHET. 1. His name. Habakkuk—"Embracing," which might signify either "one who embraces" or "one who is embraced." Accepting the former sense, Luther notes the suitability of the prophet's…Habakkuk 1:1Habakkuk 1:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe title. This introduces us to the writer and his work. Note— I. HIS NAME. Habakkuk i.e. "One who embraces"—a name singularly appropriate in its significance to the man who "rested in the Lord, and waited patiently…