What does Habakkuk 2:7 mean?
"Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?" - Habakkuk 2:7
The Bible verse Habakkuk 2:7 in the King James Version says, "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?" This verse is part of the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament, and it is a prophecy about the judgment and retribution that will come upon the Babylonians for their wickedness.
The book of Habakkuk begins with the prophet questioning God about the injustice and violence that he sees around him. He asks God why he allows the wicked to prosper and why he does not intervene to bring about justice. In response, God tells Habakkuk that he will bring judgment upon the wicked, and that their arrogance and violence will not go unpunished.
In Habakkuk 2:7, the prophet describes the sudden and unexpected rise of those who will bring judgment upon the Babylonians. The imagery of being "bitten" and "vexed" suggests that these conquerors will inflict pain and suffering upon the Babylonians, just as they have done to others. The phrase "thou shalt be for booties unto them" indicates that the Babylonians will become plunder and spoil for their conquerors, experiencing the same fate that they had inflicted upon others.
One of the key themes of this verse is that of divine justice. Throughout the book of Habakkuk, the prophet grapples with the problem of evil and the apparent triumph of the wicked. However, God assures him that ultimately, justice will be done, and the wicked will not escape the consequences of their actions. Habakkuk 2:7 is a reminder that no one can escape the judgment of God, and that those who perpetrate evil will ultimately face retribution.
Another theme that is present in this verse is that of the reversal of fortune. The Babylonians, who had been powerful and arrogant, will suddenly find themselves on the receiving end of the very violence and oppression that they had inflicted upon others. This theme of the reversal of fortune is a recurring motif in the Bible, and it emphasizes the idea that ultimately, the proud and wicked will be humbled, and the lowly and oppressed will be exalted.
The imagery of being "bitten" and "vexed" in this verse also serves as a reminder of the destructive and predatory nature of the Babylonians. Throughout the book of Habakkuk, the Babylonians are depicted as ruthless and cruel, preying upon weaker nations and inflicting suffering and hardship. The language used in this verse emphasizes the violent and predatory nature of their actions, and serves as a condemnation of their behavior.
In addition to its thematic significance, this verse also has symbolic and metaphorical meaning. The imagery of being "bitten" and "vexed" can be seen as a metaphor for the consequences of sin and wickedness. It serves as a warning that those who engage in oppressive and unjust behavior will ultimately face the consequences of their actions, and that their violence and cruelty will ultimately rebound upon them.
Overall, Habakkuk 2:7 is a powerful and evocative verse that speaks to the themes of divine justice, the reversal of fortune, and the destructive nature of sin and wickedness. It serves as a reminder that ultimately, God will bring judgment upon the wicked, and that no one can escape the consequences of their actions. It also serves as a warning that those who engage in oppression and cruelty will ultimately experience the same violence and suffering that they have inflicted upon others.
Have questions about Habakkuk 2:7?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Habakkuk 2:7 Artwork
Habakkuk 2:7 - "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?"
"Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?" - Habakkuk 2:7
Habakkuk 1:7 - "They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves."
Habakkuk 2:1-3
Habakkuk 3:7 - "I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble."
Habakkuk 2:12 - "¶ Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!"
Habakkuk 2:14 - "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
"They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves." - Habakkuk 1:7
Habakkuk 2:11 - "For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it."
Habakkuk 2:2 - "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."
Habakkuk 2:20 - "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
Habakkuk 2:13 - "Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?"
Habakkuk 2:3 - "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
Habakkuk 2:4 - "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
"I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble." - Habakkuk 3:7
Habakkuk 2:10 - "Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul."
Habakkuk 2:15 - "¶ Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!"
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14
"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved." - Habakkuk 2:1
"¶ Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!" - Habakkuk 2:12
Habakkuk 2:9 - "¶ Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!"
Habakkuk 1:2 - "O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!"
Habakkuk 2:19 - "Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it."
Habakkuk 2:18 - "¶ What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?"
Habakkuk 2:17 - "For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein."
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." - Habakkuk 2:2
Habakkuk 2:8 - "Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein."
Habakkuk 2:1 - "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved."
Habakkuk 3:2 - "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."