Habakkuk 1:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up [as] the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

Complete Jewish Bible:

All of them come for violence, their faces set eagerly forward, scooping up captives like sand.

Berean Standard Bible:

All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand.

American Standard Version:

They come all of them for violence; the set of their faces is forwards; and they gather captives as the sand.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

They shall come^{H935} all for violence^{H2555}: their faces^{H6440} shall sup up^{H4041} as the east wind^{H6921}, and they shall gather^{H622} the captivity^{H7628} as the sand^{H2344}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Habakkuk 1:9

Habakkuk 1:9 is a part of the Old Testament prophetic book of Habakkuk, which is attributed to the prophet Habakkuk, likely written in the late 7th or early 6th century BCE. This period was characterized by significant political and social upheaval, with the Neo-Babylonian Empire rising to power and exerting influence over the region, including the kingdom of Judah.

In the verse, the prophet is conveying a divine message about an approaching army, described as fierce and relentless, coming to inflict violence upon the land. The metaphor "their faces shall sup up as the east wind" suggests that the enemy is as fierce and unstoppable as the hot, dry, and often destructive east wind that blows from the desert. This wind was known to parch the land and make life difficult, much like the impending doom the army would bring. The phrase "they shall gather the captivity as the sand" speaks to the vastness of the conquering force and the multitude of captives they will take, as numerous and inescapable as grains of sand.

The historical context of this verse likely refers to the Babylonian invasions of Judah, which would eventually lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, as well as the exile of many Jews to Babylon. The themes of the verse include divine judgment, the consequences of sin, and the suffering that comes with divine retribution. It reflects the theological understanding that God uses nations as instruments of judgment against those who have turned away from His laws and covenant. Habakkuk grapples with the problem of evil and theodicy—why a just God allows suffering and uses a wicked nation to punish His people. This verse is part of the prophet's dialogue with God, expressing both his horror at the impending destruction and his struggle to understand God's ways.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2555
   There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָמָס
   Transliteration: châmâç
   Pronunciation: khaw-mawce'
   Description: from חָמַס; violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gain; cruel(-ty), damage, false, injustice, [idiom] oppressor, unrighteous, violence (against, done), violent (dealing), wrong.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4041
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְגַמָּה
   Transliteration: mᵉgammâh
   Pronunciation: meg-am-maw'
   Description: from the same as גַּם; properly, accumulation, i.e. impulse or direction; sup up.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6921
   There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָדִים
   Transliteration: qâdîym
   Pronunciation: kaw-deem'
   Description: or קָדִם; from קָדַם; the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind); east(-ward, wind).
   
6. Strong's Number: H622
   There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָסַף
   Transliteration: ʼâçaph
   Pronunciation: aw-saf'
   Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7628
   There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁבִי
   Transliteration: shᵉbîy
   Pronunciation: sheb-ee'
   Description: from שְׁבוּ; exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty; captive(-ity), prisoners, [idiom] take away, that was taken.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2344
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חוֹל
   Transliteration: chôwl
   Pronunciation: khole
   Description: from חוּל; sand (as round or whirling particles); sand.