Habakkuk 2:5

¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

Yea also, because he transgresseth {H898} by wine {H3196}, he is a proud {H3093} man {H1397}, neither keepeth at home {H5115}, who enlargeth {H7337} his desire {H5315} as hell {H7585}, and is as death {H4194}, and cannot be satisfied {H7646}, but gathereth {H622} unto him all nations {H1471}, and heapeth {H6908} unto him all people {H5971}:

Truly, wine is treacherous; the arrogant will not live at peace but keeps expanding his desires like Sh'ol; like death, he can never be satisfied; he keeps collecting all the nations for himself, rallying to himself all the peoples.

and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.

Yea, moreover, wine is treacherous, a haughty man, that keepeth not at home; who enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples.

Habakkuk 2:5 introduces the first of five "woes" pronounced by God against the oppressive nation, likely the Babylonians, who were used to punish Judah but whose own wickedness would not go unpunished. This verse vividly describes the character of the oppressor, focusing on their destructive pride and insatiable greed.

Context

The book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between the prophet and God. Habakkuk questions why God allows injustice to prevail in Judah and then, even more perplexing, why God would use the cruel and ungodly Babylonians to execute judgment (Habakkuk 1:6). God's response, which begins in chapter 2, assures Habakkuk that the righteous will live by faith, and that the proud oppressor, despite their temporary success, will face inevitable divine judgment. Verse 5 sets the stage for this judgment by detailing the moral depravity and boundless ambition of the enemy.

Key Themes

  • Insatiable Greed and Ambition: The core message is the oppressor's boundless desire, likened to Sheol (hell/grave) and death, which can never be satisfied. This relentless craving drives them to accumulate wealth and power by any means.
  • Pride and Arrogance: The verse connects the oppressor's actions to their inherent pride, suggesting a self-exalting nature that leads to recklessness and a disregard for others.
  • Lack of Restraint and Contentment: "Transgresseth by wine" and "neither keepeth at home" point to a lack of self-control, instability, and an inability to find peace or satisfaction, constantly seeking more outside of proper boundaries.
  • Exploitation of Nations: The ultimate consequence of this unchecked desire is the subjugation and exploitation of other nations and peoples, "gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "enlargeth his desire as hell" uses the Hebrew word Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), which refers to the grave or the underworld, a place that continually consumes and is never full. This powerful metaphor emphasizes the bottomless, destructive nature of the oppressor's ambition, devouring everything in its path without ever being satiated. The comparison to "death" further reinforces this idea of an ever-consuming, unrelenting force. "Transgresseth by wine" implies a treacherous or deceitful nature, often exacerbated by a lack of moral restraint, possibly fueled by indulgence.

Related Scriptures

  • This insatiable greed is echoed in Proverbs 27:20, which states that "Sheol and Abaddon are never full," illustrating a boundless, destructive appetite.
  • The consequence of this unchecked ambition is the exploitation and subjugation of nations, as the oppressor "gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people," a theme common in prophecies against oppressive empires.
  • The verse also highlights the peril of pride, which often precedes destruction, a foundational principle throughout Scripture.

Practical Application

Habakkuk 2:5 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of unchecked ambition, materialism, and pride. It reminds us that seeking satisfaction in endless accumulation of wealth, power, or possessions leads to spiritual emptiness and destructive behavior, both for the individual and for society. This warning against covetousness and the pursuit of endless accumulation resonates with Jesus' teaching to "beware of all covetousness". True contentment and peace are not found in what one gathers but in a right relationship with God, as emphasized in the following verse: "the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4).

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.

  • Isaiah 5:11

    Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, [that] they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, [till] wine inflame them!

  • Isaiah 5:12

    And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

  • Proverbs 27:20

    ¶ Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

  • Proverbs 20:1

    ¶ Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

  • Proverbs 31:4

    [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

  • Proverbs 31:5

    Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

  • Isaiah 2:17

    And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

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