Habakkuk 1:5

Translation
King James Version
¶ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Behold H7200 ye among the heathen H1471, and regard H5027, and wonder H8539 marvellously H8539: for I will work H6466 a work H6467 in your days H3117, which ye will not believe H539, though it be told H5608 you.
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Complete Jewish Bible
"Look around among the nations! What you see will completely astound you! For what is going to be done in your days you will not believe, even when you are told.
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Berean Standard Bible
“Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
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American Standard Version
Behold ye among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.
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World English Bible Messianic
“Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Beholde among the heathen, and regarde, and wonder, and maruaile: for I will worke a worke in your dayes: yee will not beleeue it, though it be tolde you.
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Young's Literal Translation
Look ye on nations, and behold and marvel greatly. For a work He is working in your days, Ye do not believe though it is declared.
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See also
Acts 13:40Acts 13:41Lamentations 4:12Jeremiah 5:12Jeremiah 5:13Jeremiah 9:25Jeremiah 9:26
In the KJVVerse 22,737 of 31,102

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SUMMARY

Habakkuk 1:5 serves as God's astonishing and unsettling response to the prophet's lament over Judah's pervasive injustice and violence. In this declaration, the Lord reveals His imminent, unprecedented, and seemingly unbelievable plan to work a profound judgment in the days of Habakkuk's contemporaries, a divine action so extraordinary that it will defy human belief, even when explicitly foretold. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic unfolding of God's sovereign and often inscrutable ways in history.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse marks a dramatic turning point in the book of Habakkuk. Prior to this, the prophet has voiced a passionate complaint to God, questioning why the Lord seems to tolerate the rampant wickedness, injustice, and violence within Judah (Habakkuk 1:2-4). Habakkuk's cry is one of spiritual anguish, seeking divine intervention in a morally decaying society. In response, God does not offer a comforting platitude but unveils a plan that is both shocking and terrifying, directly addressing the prophet's plea by announcing a judgment far beyond what Habakkuk or his people could have imagined. The "heathen" mentioned here are immediately identified in the subsequent verse as the fierce and swift Chaldeans (Babylonians), whom God will raise up as His instrument of judgment against Judah.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Habakkuk prophesied during a turbulent period in Judah's history, likely in the late 7th century BC, following the reign of the righteous King Josiah and preceding the final Babylonian exile. Judah was experiencing significant moral and spiritual decline, marked by idolatry, social injustice, and a disregard for God's law, despite Josiah's reforms. The dominant regional power, Assyria, was waning, and a new, formidable empire, Babylon (Chaldea), was rising. For God to declare that He would use this foreign, pagan, and notoriously cruel nation—the Chaldeans—to punish His own covenant people, Judah, was utterly unthinkable and culturally abhorrent to the Israelites. Their expectation was that God would protect them from such external threats, not employ them as a rod of discipline.
  • Key Themes: Habakkuk 1:5 introduces several profound themes that resonate throughout the book and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully asserts Divine Sovereignty and Unpredictable Action, demonstrating that God is actively at work in history, orchestrating events even when His methods are entirely beyond human comprehension or expectation. His "work" is not merely an event but a profound, deliberate act of divine will, revealing His absolute control over nations and destinies, as seen in passages like Daniel 4:17. Secondly, the verse highlights Astonishing Judgment, emphasizing that God is about to perform an act so extraordinary and severe that it will be met with utter disbelief. This refers to the impending invasion and destruction of Judah by the Babylonians, a cataclysmic judgment that would seem impossible, even when foretold, echoing the warnings found in Deuteronomy 28. Thirdly, the repeated imperatives—"Behold," "regard," and "wonder marvellously"—constitute a Call to Attention and Awe, demanding that God's people pay close attention to His impending action, an act designed to inspire profound amazement, dread, and ultimately, a humble recognition of His incomparable power and wisdom, as reflected in Isaiah 55:8-9.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Behold (Hebrew, râʼâh', H7200): This primitive root signifies "to see," but in this context, it is an imperative, a divine command to "look intently," "perceive," or "consider." It is a summons to pay close attention, implying that what follows is of utmost importance and requires careful observation, not just casual glance. The Lord is demanding His people to witness and comprehend His impending action.
  • Wonder marvellously (Hebrew, tâmahh', H8539): This word, repeated for emphasis in the Hebrew text, conveys a sense of profound astonishment, amazement, or even horror. It describes a reaction of being utterly overwhelmed and dumbfounded by something incredible or terrifying. The repetition ("wonder marvellously" from the same root) intensifies this meaning, indicating that the coming event will be so extraordinary and shocking that it will evoke an almost paralyzing sense of awe and disbelief.
  • Believe (Hebrew, ʼâman', H539): This root means "to build up or support," "to be firm or faithful," and by extension, "to trust or believe." In Habakkuk 1:5, the negative "ye will not believe" signifies a complete lack of conviction or acceptance, even when the divine plan is explicitly declared. It speaks to the human tendency to doubt or reject truths that are too difficult, too radical, or too contrary to their expectations, highlighting a crisis of faith in the face of God's seemingly paradoxical actions.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously:" This opening clause is a powerful divine injunction, a threefold imperative demanding intense attention from the people of Judah. "Among the heathen" (or nations) suggests that God's work will involve other peoples, specifically the Babylonians, and that Judah is called to observe this unfolding drama from their perspective, perhaps implying that even the pagan nations will be astonished. The commands "behold," "regard," and "wonder marvellously" are a crescendo, moving from simple observation to deep consideration, and finally to overwhelming astonishment, underscoring the extraordinary nature of what God is about to reveal.
  • "for I will work a work in your days," This phrase declares God's active and personal involvement in history. The repetition of the root "work" (Hebrew pa'al po'al) emphasizes the certainty and undeniable nature of God's impending action. It is not merely an event that will happen, but a deliberate, sovereign "work" initiated and executed by God Himself. The phrase "in your days" makes it immediate and personal, assuring Habakkuk and his contemporaries that this divine intervention will occur within their lifetime, not in some distant future.
  • "which ye will not believe, though it be told you." This concluding statement highlights the utterly incredible and counter-intuitive nature of God's plan. Despite being explicitly revealed ("though it be told you"), the people will find it impossible to accept or trust its veracity. Their disbelief stems from the sheer magnitude and unexpectedness of the judgment—that God would use a wicked nation like Babylon to punish His own people, and that such a devastating catastrophe could truly befall them. This sets up a profound challenge to faith and understanding.

Literary Devices

Habakkuk 1:5 is rich in Imperative verbs, with "Behold," "regard," and "wonder" serving as direct divine commands, creating a sense of urgency and demanding the listener's full attention. The phrase "wonder marvellously" employs Repetition (specifically, a cognate accusative or an infinitive absolute) of the Hebrew root for "wonder," intensifying the sense of astonishment and emphasizing the extraordinary nature of God's impending act. Similarly, "work a work" is a powerful Hebrew idiom that functions as a cognate accusative, underscoring the certainty, deliberateness, and undeniable reality of God's action. There is also a subtle Irony at play: God, in response to a plea for justice, announces a work so unbelievable that it will be met with disbelief, yet it is precisely this unbelievable work that will bring about the justice Habakkuk sought, albeit in a terrifying manner. The entire declaration can be seen as a form of Divine Oracle, a direct pronouncement from God that carries absolute authority and certainty.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Habakkuk 1:5 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His willingness to employ even the most unlikely and terrifying instruments to accomplish His righteous purposes. It challenges human expectations of how God should act, revealing that His ways are often inscrutable and beyond our comprehension. The verse underscores the theme of divine judgment, demonstrating that God will not tolerate unrepentant sin, even among His covenant people. It also highlights the human struggle with faith when confronted with God's seemingly harsh or paradoxical actions, calling believers to trust in His wisdom even when His plans defy their understanding.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Habakkuk 1:5 is a powerful reminder that God is perpetually at work in the world, often in ways that defy our expectations, comfort zones, and even our understanding of justice. It challenges us to cultivate a posture of humility and attentiveness before the Almighty, recognizing that His wisdom far surpasses our own. In moments of confusion, injustice, or apparent divine silence, this verse encourages us to remember that God's plans are unfolding, even if His methods seem counter-intuitive or His timing protracted. It calls us to trust in His sovereign control, even when the "work" He is doing appears unbelievable or unsettling, knowing that His ultimate purposes are always righteous and good. Our faith is tested not when God acts predictably, but when His actions push the boundaries of our comprehension and comfort.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "unbelievable work" might God be doing in my life or in the world today that I am struggling to accept or understand?
  • How does my understanding of God's justice align or conflict with the idea of Him using seemingly wicked instruments for His purposes?
  • In what areas of my life am I called to "behold, regard, and wonder marvellously" at God's activity, even if it challenges my preconceived notions?

FAQ

Who are "the heathen" mentioned in this verse?

Answer: While "heathen" (Hebrew: gôwy - H1471) is a general term for foreign nations or Gentiles, the immediate context of Habakkuk 1:5-6 makes it clear that God is specifically referring to the Chaldeans, or Babylonians. This nation, known for its military might and cruelty, would be the instrument of God's judgment against Judah. The shock of God using such a pagan and ruthless people to punish His own covenant nation is central to the "unbelievable work" He announces.

What is the "work" that God promises to do?

Answer: The "work" (Hebrew: pôʻal - H6467) God promises is the swift and devastating invasion and conquest of Judah by the Babylonian empire. This was an event of such unprecedented scale and severity for Judah that it would be met with utter disbelief, even when foretold. It was a divine act of judgment against Judah's persistent sin and apostasy, fulfilling the warnings of the covenant found in Deuteronomy 28 and other prophetic books.

Why would the people "not believe" this work, even if it were told to them?

Answer: The disbelief (Hebrew: ʼâman - H539, in the negative) stems from several factors. Firstly, it seemed utterly improbable that God, who had historically protected Judah, would use a foreign, pagan nation to destroy His own people and their temple. This contradicted their nationalistic and covenantal expectations. Secondly, the sheer scale of the impending destruction was so catastrophic that it defied imagination. Lastly, it challenged their understanding of God's character and justice, making it difficult for them to reconcile His love with such a severe judgment. Their disbelief was a failure of faith in the face of a truth that was too hard to accept.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Habakkuk 1:5, with its declaration of an "unbelievable work" that defies human comprehension and belief, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's "unbelievable work" of judgment by God against His own people, though shocking, pales in comparison to the truly unbelievable work of salvation wrought through the crucifixion of God's own Son and His resurrection from the dead. Just as the Jews struggled to believe God would use Babylon, many struggled, and still struggle, to believe that salvation comes through the scandal of a crucified Messiah. The Gospel message—that God became man, died for the sins of humanity, and rose again, offering eternal life to all who believe—is the most "unbelievable" yet glorious work in history. It is a work that many "will not believe, though it be told" them, yet it is the very power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Thus, Habakkuk's prophecy foreshadows the even greater divine act of redemption, a work so astounding that it requires supernatural faith to embrace, yet it is the cornerstone of God's eternal plan.

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Commentary on Habakkuk 1 verses 5–11

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

We have here an answer to the prophet's complaint, giving him assurance that, though God bore long, he would not bear always with this provoking people; for the day of vengeance was in his heart, and he must tell them so, that they might by repentance and reformation turn away the judgment they were threatened with.

I. The preamble to the sentence is very awful (Hab 1:5): Behold, you among the heathen, and regard. Since they will not be brought to repentance by the long-suffering of God, he will take another course with them. No resentments are so keen, so deep, as those of abused patience. The Lord will inflict upon them, 1. A public punishment, which shall be beheld and regarded among the heathen, which the neighbouring nations shall take notice of and stand amazed at; see Deu 29:24, Deu 29:25. This will aggravate the desolations of Israel, that they will thereby be made a spectacle to the world. 2. An amazing punishment, so strange and surprising, and so much out of the common road of Providence, that it shall not be paralleled among the heathen, shall be sorer and heavier than what God has usually inflicted upon the nations that know him not; nay, it shall not be credited even by those that had the prediction of it from God before it comes, or the report of it from those that were eye-witnesses of it when it comes: You will not believe it, though it be told you; it will be thought incredible that so many judgments should combine in one, and every circumstance so strangely concur to enforce and aggravate it, that so great and potent a nation should be so reduced and broken, and that God should deal so severely with a people that had been taken into the bond of the covenant and that he had done so much for. The punishment of God's professing people cannot but be the astonishment of all about them. 3. A speedy punishment: "I will work a work in your days, now quickly; this generation shall not pass till the judgment threatened be accomplished. The sins of former days shall be reckoned for in your days; for now the measure of the iniquity is full," Mat 23:36. 4. It shall be a punishment in which much of the hand of God shall appear; it shall be a work of his own working, so that all who see it shall say, This is the Lord's doing; and it will be found a fearful thing to fall into his hands; woe to those whom he takes to task! 5. It shall be such a punishment as will typify the destruction to be brought upon the despisers of Christ and his gospel, for to that these words are applied Act 13:41, Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish. The ruin of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans for their idolatry was a figure of their ruin by the Romans for rejecting Christ and his gospel, and it is a very marvellous thing, and almost incredible. Is there not a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

II. The sentence itself is very dreadful and particular (Hab 1:6): Lo, I raise up the Chaldeans. There were those that raised up a great deal of strife and contention among them, which was their sin; and now God will raise up the Chaldeans against them, who shall strive and contend with them, which shall be their punishment. Note, When God's professing people quarrel among themselves, snarl at, and devour one another, it is just with God to bring the common enemy upon them, that shall make peace by making a universal devastation. The contending parties in Jerusalem were inveterate one against another, when the Romans came and took away their place and nation. The Chaldeans shall be the instruments of the destruction threatened, and, though themselves acting unrighteously, they shall execute the righteousness of the Lord and punish the unrighteousness of Israel. Now, here we have,

1.A description of the people that shall be raised up against Israel, to be a scourge to them. (1.) They are a bitter and hasty nation, cruel and fierce, and what they do is done with violence and fury; they are precipitate in their counsels, vehement in their passions, and push on with resolution in their enterprises; they show no mercy and they spare no pains. Miserable is the case of those that are given up into the hand of these cruel ones. (2.) They are strong, and therefore formidable, and such as there is no standing before, and yet no fleeing from (Hab 1:7): They are terrible and dreadful, famed for the gallant troops they bring into the field (Hab 1:8); their horses are swifter than leopards to charge and pursue, and more fierce than the evening wolves; and wolves are observed to be the most ravenous towards the evening, after they have been kept hungry all day, waiting for that darkness under the protection of which all the beasts of the forest creep forth, Psa 104:20. Their squadrons of horse shall be very numerous: "Their horse-men shall spread themselves a great way, for they shall come from far, from all parts of their own country, and shall be dispersed into all parts of the country they invade, to plunder it, and enrich themselves with the spoil of it. And, in making speed to spoil, they shall hasten to the prey (as those, Isa 8:1, margin), for they shall fly as the eagle towards the earth when she hastens to eat and strikes at the prey she has an eye upon." (3.) Their own will is a law to them, and, in the fierceness of their pursuits, they will not be governed by any laws of humanity, equity, or honour: Their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves, Hab 1:7. Appetite and passion rule them, and not reason nor conscience. Their principle is, Quicquid libet, licet - My will is my law. And, Sic volo, sic jubeo; stat pro ratione voluntas - This is my wish, this is my command; it shall be done because I choose it. What favour can be hoped for from such an enemy? Note, Those who have been unjust and unmerciful, among whom the law is slacked, and judgment doth not go forth, will justly be paid in their own coin and fall into the hands of those who will deal unjustly and unmercifully with them.

2.A prophecy of the terrible execution that shall be made by this terrible nation: They shall march through the breadth of the earth (so it may be read); for in a little time the Chaldean forces subdued all the nations in those parts, so that they seemed to have conquered the world; they overran Asia and part of Africa. Or, through the breadth of the land of Israel, which was wholly laid waste by them. It is here foretold, (1.) That they shall seize all as their own that they can lay their hands on. They shall come to possess the dwelling-places that are not theirs, which they have no right to, but that which their sword gives them. (2.) That they shall push on the war with all possible vigour: They shall all come for violence (Hab 1:9), not to determine any disputed right by the sword, but, right or wrong, to enrich themselves with the spoil. Their faces shall sup up as the east wind; their very countenances shall be so fierce and frightful that a look will serve to make them masters of all they have a mind to; so that they shall swallow up all, as the east wind nips and blasts the buds and flowers. Their faces shall look towards the east (so some read it); they shall still have an eye to their own country, which lay eastward from Judea, and all the spoil they seize they shall remit thither. (3.) That they shall take a vast number of prisoners, and send them into Babylon: They shall gather the captivity as the sand for multitude, and shall never know when they have enough, as long as there are any more to be had. (4.) That they shall make nothing of the opposition that is given to them, Hab 1:10. Do the distressed Jews depend upon their great men to make a stand, and with their wisdom and courage to give check to the victorious arms of the Chaldeans? Alas! they will make nothing of them. They shall scoff (he shall, so it is in the original, meaning Nebuchadnezzar, who being puffed up with his successes, shall scoff) at the kings and commanders of the forces that think to make head against him; and the princes shall be a scorn to them, so unequal a match shall they appear to be. Do they depend upon their garrisons and fortified towns? He shall deride every stronghold, for to him it shall be weak, and he shall heap dust, and take it; a little soil, thrown up for ramparts, shall serve to give him all the advantage against them that he can desire; he shall make but a jest of them, and a sport of taking them. (5.) By all this he shall be puffed up with an intolerable pride, which shall be his destruction (Hab 1:11): Then shall his mind change for the worse. The spirit both of the people and of the king shall grow more haughty and insolent. Those that will not be content with their own rights will not be content when they have made themselves masters of other people's rights too; but as the condition rises the mind rises too. This victorious king shall pass over all the bounds of reason, equity, and modesty, and break through all their bonds, and thereby he shall offend, shall make God his enemy, and so prepare ruin for himself by imputing this his power to his god, whereas he had it from the God of Israel. Bel and Nebo were the gods of the Chaldeans, and to them they gave the glory of their successes; they were hardened in their idolatry, and blasphemously argued that because they had conquered Israel their gods were too strong for the God of Israel. Note, It is a great offence (and the common offence of proud people) to take that glory to ourselves, or to give it to gods of our own making, which is due to the living and true God only. These closing words of the sentence give a glimpse of comfort to the afflicted people of God; it is to be hoped that they will change their minds, and grow better, and ripen for deliverance; and they did so. However, their enemies will change their minds, and grow worse, and ripen for destruction, which will inevitably come in God's due time; for a haughty spirit, lifted up against God, goes before a fall.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 5–11. Public domain.
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Acts 13:36-43AD 62
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. [Habakkuk 1:5] And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Habakkuk
(Verse 5.) Look among the nations and see, be astonished and astounded; for a work is being done in your days that you would not believe if you were told. LXX: Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if someone tells you. Symmachus, in response to what we have said: “a work is being done in your days”, interpreted it as “a work will be done in your days”. The rest is similar. Again, at the beginning of the chapter, where it is written in Hebrew 'Rau Baggoim', and we have translated it, look among the nations, and the Septuagint has put 'contemptores', except for Aquila and Symmachus and Theodotion, who agree with our interpretation, in another edition I found 'ἀνωνύμῃ' you will see the slanderers, and in another similarly without the title of the author, you will see the decliners. Therefore, in response to the complaints of the prophet who causes and says: 'How long, O Lord, will I cry out, and you will not hear?' And the rest, up to the end of this introduction, the voice of the responding Lord is introduced, so that he may see this injustice, which he thinks is happening only in Israel, among the Gentiles: and that not only the Jews and Jerusalem, as he thought as a prophet, would be handed over to the Chaldeans, but all nations around, and that he would be so powerful and afterwards overthrown, that if someone were to predict what is going to happen, they would seem incredulous because of the magnitude of the matter. But even this, which the 70 and the other interpreters have put forth: See the despisers, whether you will see the slanderers and those who turn away, it agrees with the meaning of this place, and they are shown from the very discourse of their audacity and contempt towards the Lord: from the person of whom the prophet had cried out, why they have dared to despise the majesty of God and speak rashly, and as much as they can, to slander the providence of God, and to turn away from the Lord, thereby convicting themselves of wickedness. So you will see, you who scorn, and then you will admire, and you will consider all your complaining as nothing, when you perceive what I will do in your days; lest perhaps you say: What does the future have to do with us? The work that will be so great will overwhelm all your reasoning: so that if someone were to predict it now, you would not readily believe. But what this work is, is shown in what follows.
Cyril of AlexandriaAD 444
ON THE UNITY OF CHRIST
He remained Lord of all things even when he came, for the divine economy, in the form of a slave, and this is why the mystery of Christ is truly wonderful. Indeed God the Father said to the Jews through one of the prophets, “Look on this, you scoffers, be struck with wonder and disappear, for I am doing a work in your days, a work in which you will not believe even if one were to explain it to you.”
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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