Habakkuk 1:11

Then shall [his] mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, [imputing] this his power unto his god.

Then shall his mind {H7307} change {H2498}, and he shall pass over {H5674}, and offend {H816}, imputing this {H2098} his power {H3581} unto his god {H433}.

Then they sweep on like the wind, but they become guilty, because they make their strength their god."

Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”

Then shall he sweep by as a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, even he whose might is his god.

Habakkuk 1:11 is a prophetic declaration by God concerning the Chaldeans (Babylonians), whom He is raising up to judge Judah. While God uses them as His instrument, this verse reveals their ultimate sin and foreshadows their own downfall.

Context of Habakkuk 1:11

The Book of Habakkuk opens with the prophet's lament over the rampant injustice and violence within Judah. God responds by announcing that He is raising up the fierce and swift Chaldeans to execute His judgment upon His people (see Habakkuk 1:6). Verses 7-10 vividly describe the terrifying power and predatory nature of this invading nation. Habakkuk 1:11 then shifts focus, revealing that even these instruments of divine wrath will not escape judgment for their own wickedness. This sets the stage for Habakkuk's second complaint in subsequent verses, questioning how a holy God can use such an unholy people and whether He will judge them too.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Pride and Arrogance: The verse highlights the Chaldeans' sin of pride. After achieving their military successes, they become arrogant, forgetting that their power was given to them by God.
  • Idolatry and Self-Worship: The most significant offense is their "imputing this his power unto his god." This means they attribute their victories and strength either to their pagan deities (e.g., Marduk, Bel) or, implicitly, to their own might and strategic genius. This is a rejection of the true God's sovereignty.
  • Divine Judgment on the Oppressor: Despite being used by God for judgment, the Chaldeans themselves will "offend" and incur guilt. This foreshadows God's eventual judgment upon Babylon, demonstrating that no nation, however mighty, can escape accountability for its pride and idolatry.
  • God's Sovereignty: Even as God uses a nation for His purposes, He maintains ultimate control and holds all nations accountable for their actions and attitudes.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrases "Then shall [his] mind change" and "[imputing] this his power unto his god" contain bracketed words, indicating they are supplied for clarity based on the Hebrew text's context. The Hebrew for "offend" is 'asham (אָשַׁם), meaning "to be guilty" or "to transgress," emphasizing that their actions lead to culpability before God. The Hebrew for "imputing" is sim (שׂים), meaning "to put" or "to place," conveying the idea of attributing or assigning credit for their power.

Related Scriptures

The theme of nations being used by God but then judged for their pride is seen elsewhere in Scripture. For instance, God used Assyria as the "rod of mine anger" but later declared judgment upon them for their arrogance (Isaiah 10:12-15). King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon also faced humbling judgment when he attributed his kingdom's glory to himself rather than God (see Daniel 4:30-33). This verse also stands in stark contrast to the principle of acknowledging God as the source of all strength and prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

Practical Application

Habakkuk 1:11 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency. When we experience success, whether personal or collective, it is crucial to remember that all power and blessing ultimately come from God. Attributing our achievements solely to our own abilities, or to any false "god" (be it wealth, status, or ideology), is an offense against the Almighty. This verse calls us to humility, acknowledging God's sovereignty in all circumstances and giving Him the glory due His name, rather than becoming like the Chaldeans who offended by glorifying themselves or their pagan deities.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 5:20

    But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

  • Daniel 5:3

    Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

  • Daniel 5:4

    They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

  • Jeremiah 4:11

    At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

  • Jeremiah 4:12

    [Even] a full wind from those [places] shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

  • Daniel 4:30

    The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

  • Daniel 4:34

    ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:

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