Habakkukchapter 1

Original Language

Habakkuk 1— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition

In Jewish life

Jewish practice and Jewish teaching both have something to say about Habakkuk 1. Three things follow: where it is read, what is done because of it, and how the rabbis have taught it. The purpose is to inform a Christian reader what Jews believe and how Judaism was and is practised.

Where the rabbis cite this chapter

3 rows sit beside their verses in the text, on 3 verses of this chapter. No row that speaks to the chapter as a whole is recorded. Every quote links to its full source.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria (sefaria.org); excerpts follow each version’s license, and every passage opens at its source.

How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, a widely used lookup this site follows (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets mark the Hebrew’s own grammatical elements that English renders as separate words, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.

How long shall I cry and you will not hear?1

Habakkuk 1:1· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

הַמַּשָּׂא֙hamasa'the oracleH4853 אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhichH834 חָזָ֔הchazahhe sawH2372 חֲבַקּ֖וּקchavakukHabakkukH2265 הַנָּבִֽיא׃hanavi'the prophetH5030

Habakkuk 1:2· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

עַד־ʾad-untilH5704 אָ֧נָהʾanahwhen?H575 יְהוָ֛הyahwehO YahwehH3068 שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּיshiva'tihave I cried for helpH7768 וְלֹ֣אvelo'and notH3808 תִשְׁמָ֑עtishma'you will hearH8085 אֶזְעַ֥קʾezakI cry outH2199 אֵלֶ֛יךָʾeleikhato youH413 חָמָ֖סchamasviolenceH2555 וְלֹ֥אvelo'and notH3808 תוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃toshia'you saveH3467

Habakkuk 1:3· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

לָ֣מָּהlamah<to> why?H4100 תַרְאֵ֤נִיtarenido you make see meH7200 אָ֙וֶן֙ʾavenwickednessH205 וְעָמָ֣לveamaland mischiefH5999 תַּבִּ֔יטtabitdo you look at?H5027 וְשֹׁ֥דveshodand devastationH7701 וְחָמָ֖סvechamasand violenceH2555 לְנֶגְדִּ֑יlenegdi[are] to before meH5048 וַיְהִ֧יvayhiand it has beenH1961 רִ֦יבrivstrifeH7379 וּמָד֖וֹןumadonand contentionH4066 יִשָּֽׂא׃yisa'it arisesH5375

Habakkuk 1:4· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

עַל־ʾal-there-H5921 כֵּן֙ken-foreH3651 תָּפ֣וּגtafugit grows numbH6313 תּוֹרָ֔הtorah[the] lawH8451 וְלֹֽא־velo'-and notH3808 יֵצֵ֥אyetze'it comes forthH3318 לָנֶ֖צַחlanetzachto perpetuityH5331 מִשְׁפָּ֑טmishpatjusticeH4941 כִּ֤יkiforH3588 רָשָׁע֙rasha'[the] wickedH7563 מַכְתִּ֣ירmakhtir[is] surroundingH3803 אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853 הַצַּדִּ֔יקhatzadikthe righteous [person]H6662 עַל־ʾal-there-H5921 כֵּ֛ןken-foreH3651 יֵצֵ֥אyetze'it comes forthH3318 מִשְׁפָּ֖טmishpatjusticeH4941 מְעֻקָּֽל׃meukalpervertedH6127

I am raising up the Chaldeans, bitter and hasty5

Habakkuk 1:5· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

רְא֤וּreuseeH7200 בַגּוֹיִם֙vagoyimamong the nationsH1471 וְֽהַבִּ֔יטוּvehabituand lookH5027 וְהִֽתַּמְּה֖וּvehittamehuand be astoundedH8539 תְּמָ֑הוּtemahube astonishedH8539 כִּי־ki-forH3588 פֹ֙עַל֙foala deedH6467 פֹּעֵ֣לpoel[I am] about to doH6466 בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔םbimeikhemin days yourH3117 לֹ֥אlo'[which] notH3808 תַאֲמִ֖ינוּtaaminuyou will believeH539 כִּ֥יkiifH3588 יְסֻפָּֽר׃yesuparit will be recountedH5608

Habakkuk 1:6· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

כִּֽי־ki-forH3588 הִנְנִ֤יhinihere IH2005 מֵקִים֙mekim[am] about to raise upH6965 אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853 הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔יםhakasdimthe ChaldeansH3778 הַגּ֖וֹיhagoythe nationH1471 הַמַּ֣רhamar<the> bitterH4751 וְהַנִּמְהָ֑רvehanimharand <the> impetuousH4116 הַֽהוֹלֵךְ֙haholekhwhich goesH1980 לְמֶרְחֲבֵי־lemerchavei-to [the] expanses ofH4800 אֶ֔רֶץʾeretz[the] earthH776 לָרֶ֖שֶׁתlareshetto take possession ofH3423 מִשְׁכָּנ֥וֹתmishkanotdwellingsH4908 לֹּא־lo'-[which] notH3808לֽוֹ׃lo[belong] to it

Habakkuk 1:7· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

אָיֹ֥םʾayom[is] terrifyingH366 וְנוֹרָ֖אvenora'and awesomeH3372 ה֑וּאhu'itH1931 מִמֶּ֕נּוּmimenufrom itselfH4480 מִשְׁפָּט֥וֹmishpatojustice itsH4941 וּשְׂאֵת֖וֹuseetoand dignity itsH7613 יֵצֵֽא׃yetze'it comes forthH3318

Habakkuk 1:8· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

וְקַלּ֨וּvekaluand they are swiftH7043 מִנְּמֵרִ֜יםminemerimmore than leopardsH5246 סוּסָ֗יוsusavhorses itsH5483 וְחַדּוּ֙vechaduand they are keenH2300 מִזְּאֵ֣בֵיmizeeveimore than wolves ofH2061 עֶ֔רֶבʾerev[the] eveningH6153 וּפָ֖שׁוּufashuand they paw [the] groundH6335 פָּֽרָשָׁ֑יוparashavwarhorses itsH6571 וּפָֽרָשָׁיו֙ufarashavand horsemen itsH6571 מֵרָח֣וֹקmerachokfrom a distanceH7350 יָבֹ֔אוּyavouthey comeH935 יָעֻ֕פוּyaufuthey flyH5774 כְּנֶ֖שֶׁרkenesherlike an eagleH5404 חָ֥שׁchashmaking hasteH2363 לֶאֱכֽוֹל׃leekholto devourH398

Habakkuk 1:9· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

כֻּלֹּה֙kulohall of itH3605 לְחָמָ֣סlechamasfor violenceH2555 יָב֔וֹאyavo'it comesH935 מְגַמַּ֥תmegamat[the] totality ofH4041 פְּנֵיהֶ֖םpeneihemfaces theirH6440 קָדִ֑ימָהkadimah[is] east -wardH6921 וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ףvaiyeesofand it gatheredH622 כַּח֖וֹלkachollike <the> sandH2344 שֶֽׁבִי׃shevicaptive[s]H7628

Habakkuk 1:10· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

וְהוּא֙vehu'and itH1931 בַּמְּלָכִ֣יםbamelakhim<in> <the> kingsH4428 יִתְקַלָּ֔סyitkalasit deridesH7046 וְרֹזְנִ֖יםverozenimand rulersH7336 מִשְׂחָ֣קmischak[are] laughterH4890ל֑וֹloto itה֚וּאhu'itH1931 לְכָל־lekholat everyH3605 מִבְצָ֣רmivtzarfortressH4013 יִשְׂחָ֔קyischakit laughsH7832 וַיִּצְבֹּ֥רvaiyitzborand it heaped upH6651 עָפָ֖רʾafarearthH6083 וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃vaiyilkedahand it captured itH3920

Rashi on Habakkuk 1:10

RashiFrance, 1040–1105· Commentary

And they shall mock the kings shall mock them. Every expression of קַלָּסָה is an expression for the speech of those speaking about another; some [of these speeches] are for good, and some for bad - parledic in O.F.

Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

Habakkuk 1:11· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

אָ֣זʾazthenH227 חָלַ֥ףchalafit swept onH2498 ר֛וּחַruacha windH7307 וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖רvaiyaavorand it passed onH5674 וְאָשֵׁ֑םveashemand he is guiltyH816 ז֥וּzu[the one] whoH2098 כֹח֖וֹkhochostrength hisH3581 לֵאלֹהֽוֹ׃leloho[becomes] <into> god hisH433

Rashi on Habakkuk 1:11

RashiFrance, 1040–1105· Commentary

Then a spirit goes further Then, when they see their way prospering, a spirit of guilt goes further and passes over them. Now what is the spirit?

Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

Why do you look on treachery and hold your peace?12

Habakkuk 1:12· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

הֲל֧וֹאhalo'¿ notH3808 אַתָּ֣הʾatah[are] youH859 מִקֶּ֗דֶםmikedemfrom antiquityH6924 יְהוָ֧הyahwehO YahwehH3068 אֱלֹהַ֛יʾelohaiGod myH430 קְדֹשִׁ֖יkedoshiholy [one] myH6918 לֹ֣אlo'notH3808 נָמ֑וּתnamutwe will dieH4191 יְהוָה֙yahwehO YahwehH3068 לְמִשְׁפָּ֣טlemishpatto judgmentH4941 שַׂמְתּ֔וֹsamtoyou have appointed itH7760 וְצ֖וּרvetzurand O rockH6697 לְהוֹכִ֥יחַlehokhiachto reproveH3198 יְסַדְתּֽוֹ׃yesadtoyou have established itH3245

Habakkuk 1:13· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

טְה֤וֹרtehor[you are too] pure ofH2890 עֵינַ֙יִם֙ʾeinayimeyesH5869 מֵרְא֣וֹתmereotfor seeingH7200 רָ֔עra'evilH7451 וְהַבִּ֥יטvehabitand to lookH5027 אֶל־ʾel-toH413 עָמָ֖לʾamalmischiefH5999 לֹ֣אlo'notH3808 תוּכָ֑לtukhalyou are ableH3201 לָ֤מָּהlamah<to> why?H4100 תַבִּיט֙tabitdo you look atH5027 בּֽוֹגְדִ֔יםbogdimtreacherous [people]H898 תַּחֲרִ֕ישׁtacharishare you silent?H2790 בְּבַלַּ֥עbevala'when swallows upH1104 רָשָׁ֖עrasha'a wicked [person]H7563 צַדִּ֥יקtzadika [person] righteousH6662 מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃mimenumore than himH4480

Habakkuk 1:14· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

וַתַּעֲשֶׂ֥הvataasehand you have madeH6213 אָדָ֖םʾadamhumankindH120 כִּדְגֵ֣יkidgeilike [the] fish ofH1709 הַיָּ֑םhaiyamthe seaH3220 כְּרֶ֖מֶשׂkeremeslike creeping thing[s]H7431 לֹא־lo'-[which] notH3808 מֹשֵׁ֥לmoshela rulerH4910בּֽוֹ׃bo[is] over it

Rashi on Habakkuk 1:14

RashiFrance, 1040–1105· Commentary

And You have made man before this wicked man - free as the fish of the sea, which anyone who wishes may catch.

Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

Habakkuk 1:15· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

כֻּלֹּה֙kulohall of itH3605 בְּחַכָּ֣הbechakahwith a fish hookH2443 הֵֽעֲלָ֔הhealahhe brings upH5927 יְגֹרֵ֣הוּyegorehuhe drags away itH1641 בְחֶרְמ֔וֹvechermoin net hisH2764 וְיַאַסְפֵ֖הוּveyaasfehuand he gathers itH622 בְּמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹbemikhmartoin fishing net hisH4365 עַל־ʾal-there-H5921 כֵּ֖ןken-foreH3651 יִשְׂמַ֥חyismachhe rejoicesH8055 וְיָגִֽיל׃veyagiland he may be gladH1523

Habakkuk 1:16· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

עַל־ʾal-there-H5921 כֵּן֙ken-foreH3651 יְזַבֵּ֣חַyezabeachhe sacrificesH2076 לְחֶרְמ֔וֹlechermoto net hisH2764 וִֽיקַטֵּ֖רvikaterso he may make smokeH6999 לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹlemikhmartoto fishing net hisH4365 כִּ֤יkiforH3588בָהֵ֙מָּה֙vahemahby themשָׁמֵ֣ןshamen[is] fatH8082 חֶלְק֔וֹchelkoportion hisH2506 וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹumaakhaloand food hisH3978 בְּרִאָֽה׃beriah[is] fatH1277

Habakkuk 1:17· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible

הַ֥עַלhaal¿ there-H5921 כֵּ֖ןkenforeH3651 יָרִ֣יקyarikwill he emptyH7324 חֶרְמ֑וֹchermonet hisH2764 וְתָמִ֛ידvetamidand continuallyH8548 לַהֲרֹ֥גlaharogto killH2026 גּוֹיִ֖םgoyimnationsH1471 לֹ֥אlo'notH3808 יַחְמֽוֹל׃ סyachmolwill he spare?H2550

Hebrew words in this chapter

Most-used first, counted by lemma: every form of one word counts as one use, and the forms this chapter spells are listed under it. The article, the object marker, the negatives and the common prepositions are left out.

נָבַט nâbaṭto lookH5027×4 uses
תַּבִּ֔יטtabit · וְֽהַבִּ֔יטוּvehabitu · וְהַבִּ֥יטvehabit · תַבִּיט֙tabit
מִשְׁפָּט mishpâṭjusticeH4941×4 uses
מִשְׁפָּ֑טmishpat · מִשְׁפָּ֖טmishpat · מִשְׁפָּט֥וֹmishpato · לְמִשְׁפָּ֣טlemishpat
יְהֹוָה Yᵉhôvâho yahwehH3068×3 uses
יְהוָ֛הyahweh · יְהוָ֧הyahweh · יְהוָה֙yahweh
חָמָס châmâçviolenceH2555×3 uses
חָמָ֖סchamas · וְחָמָ֖סvechamas · לְחָמָ֣סlechamas
רָאָה râʼâhto seeH7200×3 uses
תַרְאֵ֤נִיtareni · רְא֤וּreu · מֵרְא֣וֹתmereot
יָצָא yâtsâʼit comes forthH3318×3 uses
יֵצֵ֥אyetze' · יֵצֵֽא׃yetze'
גּוֹי gôwynationH1471×3 uses
בַגּוֹיִם֙vagoyim · הַגּ֖וֹיhagoy · גּוֹיִ֖םgoyim
חֵרֶם chêremin net hisH2764×3 uses
בְחֶרְמ֔וֹvechermo · לְחֶרְמ֔וֹlechermo · חֶרְמ֑וֹchermo
עָמָל ʻâmâland mischiefH5999×2 uses
וְעָמָ֣לveamal · עָמָ֖לʾamal
רָשָׁע râshâʻwickedH7563×2 uses
רָשָׁע֙rasha' · רָשָׁ֖עrasha'
צַדִּיק tsaddîyqrighteousH6662×2 uses
הַצַּדִּ֔יקhatzadik · צַדִּ֥יקtzadik
תָּמַהּ tâmahhto astoundedH8539×2 uses
וְהִֽתַּמְּה֖וּvehittamehu · תְּמָ֑הוּtemahu
פָּרָשׁ pârâshwarhorses itsH6571×2 uses
פָּֽרָשָׁ֑יוparashav · וּפָֽרָשָׁיו֙ufarashav
בּוֹא bôwʼto comeH935×2 uses
יָבֹ֔אוּyavou · יָב֔וֹאyavo'
אָסַף ʼâçaphto gatherH622×2 uses
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ףvaiyeesof · וְיַאַסְפֵ֖הוּveyaasfehu
מִכְמֶרֶת mikmerethnetH4365×2 uses
בְּמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹbemikhmarto · לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹlemikhmarto
מַשָּׂא massâʼthe oracleH4853×1 use
הַמַּשָּׂא֙hamasa'
חָזָה châzâhhe sawH2372×1 use
חָזָ֔הchazah
חֲבַקּוּק ChăbaqqûwqHabakkukH2265×1 use
חֲבַקּ֖וּקchavakuk
נָבִיא nâbîyʼprophetH5030×1 use
הַנָּבִֽיא׃hanavi'
אָן ʼânwhenH575×1 use
אָ֧נָהʾanah
שָׁוַע shâvaʻhave i cried for helpH7768×1 use
שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּיshiva'ti
שָׁמַע shâmaʻto hearH8085×1 use
תִשְׁמָ֑עtishma'
זָעַק zâʻaqto cry outH2199×1 use
אֶזְעַ֥קʾezak
יָשַׁע yâshaʻto saveH3467×1 use
תוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃toshia'
אָוֶן ʼâvenwickednessH205×1 use
אָ֙וֶן֙ʾaven
שֹׁד shôdand devastationH7701×1 use
וְשֹׁ֥דveshod
נֶגֶד negedbeforeH5048×1 use
לְנֶגְדִּ֑יlenegdi
רִיב rîybstrifeH7379×1 use
רִ֦יבriv
מָדוֹן mâdôwnand contentionH4066×1 use
וּמָד֖וֹןumadon
נָשָׂא nâsâʼit arisesH5375×1 use
יִשָּֽׂא׃yisa'
פּוּג pûwgbe numbH6313×1 use
תָּפ֣וּגtafug
תּוֹרָה tôwrâhlawH8451×1 use
תּוֹרָ֔הtorah
נֶצַח netsachperpetuityH5331×1 use
לָנֶ֖צַחlanetzach
כָּתַר kâtharto surroundH3803×1 use
מַכְתִּ֣ירmakhtir
עָקַל ʻâqalpervertedH6127×1 use
מְעֻקָּֽל׃meukal
פֹּעַל pôʻala deedH6467×1 use
פֹ֙עַל֙foal
פָּעַל pâʻalabout to doH6466×1 use
פֹּעֵ֣לpoel
יוֹם yôwmdayH3117×1 use
בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔םbimeikhem
אָמַן ʼâmanyou will believeH539×1 use
תַאֲמִ֖ינוּtaaminu

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