Habakkuk 1:2

KJV

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!

KJV (with Strong's)

O LORD {H3068}, how long shall I cry {H7768}, and thou wilt not hear {H8085}! even cry out {H2199} unto thee of violence {H2555}, and thou wilt not save {H3467}!

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI, how long must I cry without your hearing? "Violence!" I cry to you, but you don't save.

Berean Standard Bible

How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save?

American Standard Version

O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Habakkuk 1:2 captures the prophet Habakkuk's profound and desperate lament to the LORD, expressing his deep distress over the pervasive violence and unpunished injustice he witnesses in Judah. This verse immediately establishes a tone of spiritual struggle and honest complaint, initiating a unique dialogue between the prophet and God, as Habakkuk questions the divine delay in intervention and the apparent lack of response to his earnest cries for salvation from the rampant wickedness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** The Book of Habakkuk stands out among the prophetic literature as less a direct oracle from God to the people and more a theological dialogue between the prophet and the Almighty. Habakkuk 1:2 serves as the opening statement of this dramatic exchange, immediately plunging the reader into the prophet's profound anguish and confusion. It sets the stage for a series of questions posed by Habakkuk and the subsequent divine responses, which unfold throughout the book, culminating in a powerful affirmation of faith despite unanswered questions and impending judgment. This initial lament is crucial for understanding the prophet's journey from perplexity to profound trust in God's sovereign plan.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Habakkuk likely prophesied in Judah during the late 7th century BC, a period of significant political instability and moral decay. Following the brief religious reforms under King Josiah, Judah had regressed into idolatry, social injustice, and widespread corruption. The Assyrian Empire, which had long dominated the region, was in decline, but the rising power of Babylon (Chaldeans) loomed as a terrifying new threat. Habakkuk's cry of "violence" (Hebrew: _châmâç_) reflects the internal oppression and lawlessness prevalent within Judah itself, where the wicked often prospered and the righteous suffered. His lament of "how long" resonates with a common theme in biblical psalms and prophetic writings, expressing the human experience of waiting for divine justice amidst overwhelming suffering, as seen in the heartfelt plea of [Psalm 13:1, "How long, O LORD? wilt thou forget me for ever?"](/psalms/13-1 "Psalm 13:1 - David's Lament").
* **Key Themes:** Habakkuk 1:2 introduces several pivotal themes that permeate the book. Firstly, it highlights **The Prophet's Lament and Honest Questioning**, demonstrating that it is permissible and even spiritually healthy to bring one's deepest struggles, doubts, and frustrations directly before God. Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **Perceived Divine Silence or Inaction**, as the prophet feels God is not hearing his cries or is choosing not to intervene in the face of rampant evil. This tension is central to the book's theological exploration. Thirdly, the **Prevalence of Violence and Injustice** is the core catalyst for Habakkuk's distress, challenging his understanding of God's character and righteous governance. Finally, despite his profound questions and accusations, Habakkuk's persistent cry to the LORD signifies **Faith in Crisis**, a testament that even when strained, true faith remains directed towards God, seeking His ultimate intervention and understanding, a journey that ultimately leads to the profound declaration of faith in [Habakkuk 3:17-19](/habakkuk/3-17-19 "Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Habakkuk's Song of Trust").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **cry (Hebrew, _shâvaʻ_ / _zâʻaq'_):** The KJV uses "cry" and "cry out," reflecting two distinct but related Hebrew verbs. _Shâvaʻ_ (H7768) implies a desperate halloo for help, a shout for deliverance from trouble, highlighting the urgency and intensity of the prophet's plea for freedom from his distress. _Zâʻaq_ (H2199) denotes a shriek from anguish or danger, often used for a public outcry or an appeal to authority, emphasizing the profound suffering and the public nature of the injustice Habakkuk witnesses. Together, they convey a fervent, unceasing, and agonizing appeal to God.
* **violence (Hebrew, _châmâç'_):** (H2555) This word is central to Habakkuk's complaint. It encompasses far more than just physical brutality. _Châmâç_ signifies wrong, injustice, cruel deeds, oppression, and unrighteous gain. It points to a pervasive moral decay and societal breakdown where the powerful exploit the weak, and the legal system is corrupted. Habakkuk is not just seeing isolated acts of aggression but a systemic condition of unrighteousness that violates God's covenant and design for His people.
* **save (Hebrew, _yâshaʻ'_):** (H3467) This root means "to be open, wide, or free," and by implication, "to be safe." Causatively, it means "to free or succor," bringing help, deliverance, and salvation. Habakkuk's cry, "thou wilt not save!" expresses his dismay that God, the ultimate Deliverer, appears to be withholding the very intervention needed to liberate His people from the internal oppression and to restore justice. It is a plea for God to act decisively to bring about rescue and victory over the prevailing evil.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O LORD, how long shall I cry":** This opening phrase is a direct, impassioned address to God, using the covenant name "LORD" (Yahweh), indicating a relationship, however strained. The rhetorical question "how long" (Hebrew: _`ad-anah_) conveys profound exasperation, prolonged suffering, and a desperate plea for an end to the current state of affairs. It is a classic lament formula, expressing the prophet's deep anguish and impatience for divine intervention.
* **"and thou wilt not hear!":** This clause expresses the prophet's perception of divine inaction or silence. Habakkuk feels that his earnest and urgent cries are not being acknowledged or responded to by God, leading to a crisis of faith regarding God's attentiveness and involvement in human affairs. The verb "hear" (Hebrew: _shâmaʻ_) implies not merely auditory perception but intelligent understanding, attention, and ultimately, a responsive action.
* **"even cry out unto thee [of] violence":** This clarifies the specific nature of Habakkuk's complaint. His cries are not vague grievances but are directly related to the rampant "violence" (Hebrew: _châmâç_) he observes. This violence represents the widespread injustice, oppression, and moral corruption within Judah, which is a direct affront to God's righteous character and law.
* **"and thou wilt not save!":** This final clause articulates the desired divine action that is conspicuously absent. Habakkuk is not just lamenting the presence of evil but the perceived lack of God's saving intervention. He expects God, as the righteous judge and deliverer, to intervene and bring salvation from this pervasive wickedness, and His apparent failure to do so is the source of the prophet's deep perplexity and distress.

#### Literary Devices
Habakkuk 1:2 is rich with literary devices that amplify the prophet's anguish. The most prominent is **Lament**, a common biblical genre expressing sorrow, complaint, and petition to God in times of distress. The verse opens with a **Rhetorical Question**, "how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear!", which is not seeking information but expressing profound frustration, impatience, and a sense of abandonment. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the portrayal of God as "hearing" and "saving," attributing human senses and actions to the divine to convey the prophet's personal experience of God's perceived inaction. The **Repetition** of "cry" (using two distinct Hebrew verbs, _shâvaʻ_ and _zâʻaq_) underscores the intensity and persistence of Habakkuk's desperate appeals. This repetition, combined with the parallel structure of "thou wilt not hear" and "thou wilt not save," creates a powerful sense of unfulfilled longing and perceived divine indifference.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Habakkuk 1:2 plunges us into the profound theological tension between God's perfect justice and the apparent triumph of evil in the world. The prophet's lament echoes the cries of many throughout history who have grappled with the problem of suffering and the perceived silence of God in the face of injustice. It affirms the biblical truth that God is the ultimate arbiter of justice and the source of salvation, yet it also honestly portrays the human struggle to reconcile this truth with the harsh realities of a fallen world. The verse challenges believers to trust in God's sovereignty and His ultimate plan, even when His ways are mysterious and His timing seems delayed. It reminds us that our faith is often refined in the crucible of unanswered questions and that honest lament is a legitimate and necessary component of a vibrant relationship with God.

* [Psalm 13:1](/psalms/13-1 "Psalm 13:1 - David's Cry of Lament")
* [Psalm 73:3-12](/psalms/73-3-12 "Psalm 73:3-12 - The Prosperity of the Wicked")
* [Isaiah 59:1-2](/isaiah/59-1-2 "Isaiah 59:1-2 - God's Hand Not Shortened")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Habakkuk 1:2 offers profound comfort and validation for believers who find themselves wrestling with difficult questions about suffering, injustice, and God's apparent silence. It teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt or struggle, but rather the courage to bring our rawest emotions and deepest perplexities directly to God. In a world still rife with violence and injustice, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that it is not only permissible but often necessary to voice our honest frustrations and laments to the Almighty. Our cries, like Habakkuk's, are heard by a God who is intimately aware of our pain, even when His answers or timing are not immediately apparent. The book of Habakkuk ultimately moves from lament to a profound declaration of faith, encouraging us to maintain our trust in God's ultimate sovereignty and justice, even when circumstances seem chaotic or His plan unfolds in unexpected ways.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or the world do you find yourself crying out "how long, O LORD?"**
* **How do you typically respond when God seems silent or slow to act in the face of injustice or personal suffering?**
* **What does Habakkuk's honest lament teach you about the nature of prayer and your relationship with God?**

### FAQ
**Is it permissible for believers to question God, as Habakkuk does here?**

Answer: Yes, Habakkuk 1:2 powerfully demonstrates that it is not only permissible but can be a vital part of a genuine faith relationship to voice honest questions, doubts, and even complaints to God. The Bible is replete with examples of prophets, psalmists, and even Jesus Himself ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry on the Cross")) expressing deep anguish and questioning God's ways. This lament is not a sign of a lack of faith, but rather an expression of a profound trust that God is big enough to handle our raw emotions and that He cares enough to listen. The book of Habakkuk shows that God responds to such honest inquiries, even if His answers are surprising or require a deeper level of trust.

**What is the significance of the word "violence" (châmâç) in this verse?**

Answer: The Hebrew word _châmâç_ (H2555), translated as "violence" in Habakkuk 1:2, is a crucial term that extends beyond mere physical aggression. It encompasses a broader concept of moral wrong, injustice, oppression, and cruel dealing. In the context of Habakkuk, it refers to the systemic corruption and lawlessness prevalent within Judah, where the powerful exploited the weak, and justice was perverted. This deep-seated unrighteousness grieved Habakkuk, as it represented a direct affront to God's covenant and His righteous character. It is the same word used to describe the wickedness that led to the flood in [Genesis 6:11](/genesis/6-11 "Genesis 6:11 - The Earth Filled with Violence"), highlighting its severe and destructive nature.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Habakkuk's desperate cry for God to "hear" and "save" from the pervasive "violence" finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The prophet's lament for justice and salvation in a broken world echoes the deep groaning of creation itself, awaiting redemption ([Romans 8:22-23](/romans/8-22-23 "Romans 8:22-23 - Groaning for Redemption")). In Christ, God did not remain silent but spoke His definitive Word, and in Him, God did not fail to save, but provided the ultimate deliverance. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), entered into the very violence and injustice of humanity, suffering the ultimate act of _châmâç_ on the cross. Yet, through His death and resurrection, He conquered sin, death, and the power of violence, offering true salvation. He is the sympathetic High Priest who fully understands our cries, having Himself experienced human suffering and temptation ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). While Habakkuk longed for God to intervene, Christ *is* God's intervention, the one who will ultimately bring perfect justice and wipe away every tear, ensuring that in His coming kingdom, there will be no more crying, pain, or violence ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Crying or Pain")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 22:1

¶ To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?

Psalms 22:2

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Jeremiah 14:9

Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man [that] cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, [art] in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.

Lamentations 3:8

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

Psalms 13:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

Psalms 13:2

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [having] sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Psalms 94:3

LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?