Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
The verse describes the Chaldean conqueror changing his mind and course, sweeping onward through the land and defeating its rulers and strongholds, then offending by crediting his military might to his god and treating his own strength as his god. It belongs to a denunciation of ruthless conquest and the selfish pursuit of success through the ruin of others, of the wicked devouring those more righteous than themselves and treating people like helpless prey. The greedy, arrogant oppressor gains power by exploiting others and then becomes proud and transgresses, and his success does not excuse his violence and pride, for such self-exaltation is guilt deserving judgment. Habakkuk's time is a type of the present time, for the first two chapters depict last-day conditions of covetousness, cruelty, and intemperance. So the verse warns the proud and exploitative rich and powerful that military and material success leads to arrogance and idolatry, and that those who cross limits and impute their power to a false god will incur guilt.
Language and Historical Setting
The word rendered mind is the Hebrew roo-agh, a term for the rational mind that embraces disposition, feelings, will, and purpose. The verse portrays a conqueror who alters his mind and course, passes over and presses onward, then offends by ascribing his military power and might to his god. That conqueror is the Chaldean, who after advancing across the land, carrying through his campaign, sweeping through it, and overcoming its rulers and strongholds, changes attitude and course and incurs guilt by making his own strength his god.
The prophecy treats the work and fate of the Chaldeans, a fierce nation raised to sweep over the land because of its wickedness. It was given about 604 B.C. in the reign of Jehoiakim. It was uttered not long after Nahum, as late as the middle of the work of Jeremiah, with whom Habakkuk was contemporary. It served as a reproof to the oppressive and wealthy in Israel, warning them of the coming Chaldeans.
Chapters 1 and 2 set forth conditions of the last days and utter woes upon the covetous, the cruel, and the intemperate. The name Habakkuk means to embrace. The prophecy closes in its final chapter with a beautiful lyric poem declaring the glory of God and confidence in His power.
Prophetic Warning to Oppressors
Habakkuk 1:11 belongs to an account of ruthless conquest and the selfish pursuit of success through the ruin of others. It stands in a prophetic denunciation of the wicked who devour those more righteous than themselves and treat people like helpless prey. The conqueror described changes course, crosses onward, and sins by crediting his military power to his god. He is the greedy, arrogant oppressor who first gains power by exploiting others and then becomes proud and transgresses. His success does not excuse his violence and pride, for he trusts his own power and treats it as his god, crossing limits and incurring guilt by attributing his power to a false god.
In the proud power of Babylon the verse exposes self-exaltation as guilt deserving judgment, for after crossing the land and carrying out his campaign the Chaldean changes his mind and commits offense by treating his own strength as his god. The prophecy was given against the Chaldeans who would sweep over the land on account of its wickedness, not far after the time of Nahum and as late as the middle of Jeremiah's work. Habakkuk was contemporary with Jeremiah, and his reproof of the oppressive and wealthy in Israel warning them of the coming Chaldeans makes his times a type of the present time. Chapters 1 and 2 clearly depict last-day conditions and pronounce woes against those who are covetous, cruel, and intemperate, while the name Habakkuk means to embrace and the prophecy closes with a beautiful lyric poem expressing the glory of God and trust in His power.
The chapter is a divine prediction that the poor, oppressed by great wealth and injustice, will rise in anger and overthrow the wealthy. The conquering oppressor's power and success lead him to change course, cross a boundary, and sin by crediting his might to his god, warning the proud, exploitative rich that those they have oppressed will turn against them and take their ill-gotten gains. Military success thus leads to arrogance and idolatry when the conqueror changes his mind, crosses onward, and sins by crediting his power to his god.
The verse describes the Chaldean conqueror changing his mind and course, sweeping onward through the land and defeating its rulers and strongholds, then offending by crediting his military might to his god and treating his own strength as his god.
It belongs to a denunciation of ruthless conquest and the selfish pursuit of success through the ruin of others, of the wicked devouring those more righteous than themselves and treating people like helpless prey.
The greedy, arrogant oppressor gains power by exploiting others and then becomes proud and transgresses, and his success does not excuse his violence and pride, for such self-exaltation is guilt deserving judgment.
Habakkuk's time is a type of the present time, for the first two chapters depict last-day conditions of covetousness, cruelty, and intemperance.
So the verse warns the proud and exploitative rich and powerful that military and material success leads to arrogance and idolatry, and that those who cross limits and impute their power to a false god will incur guilt.
Language and Historical Setting
The word rendered mind is the Hebrew roo-agh, a term for the rational mind that embraces disposition, feelings, will, and purpose. The verse portrays a conqueror who alters his mind and course, passes over and presses onward, then offends by ascribing his military power and might to his god. That conqueror is the Chaldean, who after advancing across the land, carrying through his campaign, sweeping through it, and overcoming its rulers and strongholds, changes attitude and course and incurs guilt by making his own strength his god.
The prophecy treats the work and fate of the Chaldeans, a fierce nation raised to sweep over the land because of its wickedness. It was given about 604 B.C. in the reign of Jehoiakim. It was uttered not long after Nahum, as late as the middle of the work of Jeremiah, with whom Habakkuk was contemporary. It served as a reproof to the oppressive and wealthy in Israel, warning them of the coming Chaldeans.
Chapters 1 and 2 set forth conditions of the last days and utter woes upon the covetous, the cruel, and the intemperate. The name Habakkuk means to embrace. The prophecy closes in its final chapter with a beautiful lyric poem declaring the glory of God and confidence in His power.
Prophetic Warning to Oppressors
Habakkuk 1:11 belongs to an account of ruthless conquest and the selfish pursuit of success through the ruin of others. It stands in a prophetic denunciation of the wicked who devour those more righteous than themselves and treat people like helpless prey. The conqueror described changes course, crosses onward, and sins by crediting his military power to his god. He is the greedy, arrogant oppressor who first gains power by exploiting others and then becomes proud and transgresses. His success does not excuse his violence and pride, for he trusts his own power and treats it as his god, crossing limits and incurring guilt by attributing his power to a false god.
In the proud power of Babylon the verse exposes self-exaltation as guilt deserving judgment, for after crossing the land and carrying out his campaign the Chaldean changes his mind and commits offense by treating his own strength as his god. The prophecy was given against the Chaldeans who would sweep over the land on account of its wickedness, not far after the time of Nahum and as late as the middle of Jeremiah's work. Habakkuk was contemporary with Jeremiah, and his reproof of the oppressive and wealthy in Israel warning them of the coming Chaldeans makes his times a type of the present time. Chapters 1 and 2 clearly depict last-day conditions and pronounce woes against those who are covetous, cruel, and intemperate, while the name Habakkuk means to embrace and the prophecy closes with a beautiful lyric poem expressing the glory of God and trust in His power.
The chapter is a divine prediction that the poor, oppressed by great wealth and injustice, will rise in anger and overthrow the wealthy. The conquering oppressor's power and success lead him to change course, cross a boundary, and sin by crediting his might to his god, warning the proud, exploitative rich that those they have oppressed will turn against them and take their ill-gotten gains. Military success thus leads to arrogance and idolatry when the conqueror changes his mind, crosses onward, and sins by crediting his power to his god.