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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Habakkuk 1:4

HABAKKUK—NOTE ON Habakkuk 1:4 the law is paralyzed. The Mosaic law had little impact on the hearts and self-centered desires of these people. justice never goes forth. The rich were trampling on the rights of the poor. righteous. There was still a righteous remnant who refused to break God’s laws to get ahead. But life was hard for them because the wicked took advantage of them.

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See also Habakkuk 1:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 4. _THE LAW IS SLACKED_] They pay no attention to it; it has lost all its vigour, its restraining and correcting power, it is not executed; right _judgment_ is never _pronounced_; and the _poor...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEREFORE - i. e., Because God seemed not to awake to avenge His own cause, people promised themselves that they might sin on with impunity. Sin produces sin, and wrong produces wrong; it spreads like...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS CHAPTER 1 The Judgment of Judah Through the Chaldeans Announced _ 1. The prophet's cry to Jehovah (Habakkuk 1:1) _ 2. The answer (Habakkuk 1:5) 3. The prophet's plea (H

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    COMPLAINT AGAINST YAHWEH FOR HIS TOLERANCE OF WRONG-DOING. In bitter remonstrance with Yahweh, the prophet asks how long he must cry Violence! and look on wretchedness and trouble, robbery, strife and...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SLACKED. benumbed. JUDGMENT. justice. THE WICKED. a lawless one: looking forward from the Chaldeans to the future Antichrist. Hebrew. _rasha'._ App-44. THE RIGHTEOUS. the just one (Art. with Hebrew...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _HABAKKUK'S COMPLAINT CONCERNING EVIL -- HABAKKUK 1:1-4:_ Habakkuk identified himself simply as "the prophet." He wrote, "The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see." (Habakkuk 1:1) He was given a...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND JUDGMENT DOTH NEVER GO FORTH, &C.— _And judgment goeth not forth to victory_ or _perfection, for the wicked overbeareth the righteous._ Houbigant. See Isaiah 42:3....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE FIRST QUESTION. Habakkuk 1:2-4 RV. O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save. Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon p...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. THEREFORE - because thou dost suffer such crim...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:4 justice (b-7) Or 'judgment.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROPHET'S BURDEN. THE ANSWER OF JEHOVAH 1. Burden] RM 'oracle': see on Isaiah 13:1. 2, 3. HOW LONG?.. WHY?] Even a prophet (Habakkuk 1:1) can ask such questions. He never denies the existence of...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE PROBLEM OF ASSYRIA Habakkuk _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF ASSYRIA Assyria was a country to the north and east of Israel. For many years, it ruled most of the world. Nahum, Habakkuk...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (1-4) Habakkuk complains of the apparent triumph of wickedness among his countrymen....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE LAW — the Mosaic _tôrâh_ — which ought to be a bond of security and social welfare is “slacked” or “_paralyzed;_” and is, therefore, unable to do its work. “Judgment” (_mishpât, i.e._, “redress of...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    עַל ־כֵּן֙ תָּפ֣וּג תֹּורָ֔ה וְ לֹֽא ־יֵצֵ֥א

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Habakkuk 1:1 Habakkuk 1:2; Habakkuk 2:1 (or 8) Yet it is the first piece which raises the most difficult questions. All admit that it is to be dated somewhere along the line of Jeremiah's long career...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE APPARENT PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED Habakkuk 1:1-17 Habakkuk probably lived toward the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, when the Chaldeans were preparing to invade the land. Jerusalem was fille...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In this first division of the Book we have the prophet's statement of the problems which vexed his soul. The first was the apparent indifference of Jehovah both to his prayer and to the condition of p...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Therefore the law is feeble, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth (b) surround the righteous; therefore judgment goeth forth (c) perverted (b) To suppress him, if any should show him...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    We have the Prophet at his devotions, pleading with the Lord concerning the sorrows and exercises of the Church. He not only laments the iniquities of those that oppress the Lord's heritage, but the i...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Lectures on the Minor Prophets. W. Kelly. There is no prophetic delivery among the twelve lesser books more peculiar and characteristic than that of Habakkuk. It has no longer the occupation with the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    The Prophet confirms here what I have already said, and brings an excuse for his zeal; he proves that he was not without reason led to so great a warmth; for he saw that the law of God was trodden as...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    First of all, the prophet complains that the evil which exists among the people is insupportable. This is the natural effect of the working of the Spirit of God in a heart jealous for His glory and de...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEREFORE THE LAW IS SLACKED,.... Is not put into execution against offenders: the civil magistrates, whose office it is to do justice according to law, are dilatory, and do not proceed with vigour an...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Ver. 4. _Therefore the law is slacked_] _Defluit...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _O Lord, how long shall I cry_, &c. How long shall I complain unto thee of might overcoming right, and thou wilt not save or prevent it? The prophet here proposes the common objection against Providen...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JEHOVAH'S JUDGMENT...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Therefore the Law is slacked, the leaders not being interested in its enforcement, since God remained indifferent, AND JUDGMENT DOTH NEVER GO FORTH, there, is never a righteous sentence delivered; FOR...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    WRONG: Or, wrested...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 The servants of the Lord are deeply afflicted by seeing ungodliness and violence prevail; especially among those who profess the truth. No man scrupled doing wrong to his neighbour. We should lo...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THEREFORE; because the wicked go on with impunity, and the punishment they deserve is deferred. THE LAW OF GOD, given to this people by the hand of Moses, the whole law, moral, ceremonial, and judicia...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Habakkuk 1:4 law H8451 powerless H6313 (H8799) justice H4941 never H5331 forth H3318 (H8799) wicked H7563 surround...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    HABAKKUK'S CRY FROM HIS HEART - WHY DOES GOD NOT SEE AND ACT? (HABAKKUK 1:2). Habakkuk 1:2 ‘O YHWH, how long shall I cry, And you will not hear? I cry out to you of violence, And you will not sav...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Habakkuk's prayer concerning evil in dispersed Israel. God's voice to Israel and Habakkuk's testimony to God. CHARACTERS: God, Habakkuk. CONCLUSION: We must not think it strange if God som...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Zechariah 1:1. _The burden,_ the prophecy, _which Habakkuk the prophet saw._ Here he opens his commission, as divinely inspired with vision, and invested with a charge which he must deliver. God laid...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see._ RESPONSIBILITIES We can see how appropriate is the word “burden” used by the prophets to describe their gift and duty. The obligation laid on them oft...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.] BURDEN] (cf. Nahum 1:1). HABAKKUK 1:2. HOW] A complaint; wickedness continued long, and God did not interfere. HABAKKUK 1:3. WHY] dost thou behold violence without checking it? some;...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION VERSE 1:1-2:20 PART I. JUDGMENT UPON THE EVIL, IN THE FORM OF A COLLOQUY BETWEEN THE PROPHET AND GOD....

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn at this time to the book of Habakkuk. Very little is known concerning the personal background of Habakkuk. Very little, nothing is known. We don't know really anything about his backgrou...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 21:13; Acts 23:12; Acts 7:52; Acts 7:59; Amos 5:12;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Therefore — Because the wicked go on with impunity. The law — The whole law, moral, ceremonial, and judicial. Is slacked — Is slighted, and not observed. Go forth — From magistrates, judges, and publi...

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