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Habakkuk 2:8

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Habakkuk 2:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men`s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men`s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.
Habakkuk 2:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Habakkuk 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5Yea, 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.
6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges!
7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booty unto them?
8Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men`s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.
9Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!
10Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thy soul.
11For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
← Habakkuk 2:7Habakkuk 2:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee, etc.] Those that survived the persecutions of the Roman emperors; those that were left of the great numbers put to death by them; those under Constantine rose up, and by just retaliation spoiled them of all their power and wealth: because of men’s blood; the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, of those under the altar, whose blood cried for vengeance, (<660609>Revelation 6:9,10), which was shed under the ten bloody persecutions: or, “because of the blood of a man”: of Adamf102, as it may be rendered; the blood of Christ the second Adam, which, though shed at the instance of the Jews, yet by the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the remnant of the people--Those remaining of the peoples spoiled by thee, though but a remnant, will suffice to inflict vengeance on thee. the violence of the land . . . city--that is, on account of thy violent oppression of the lands and cities of the earth [GROTIUS] (compare Hab 2:5-6, Hab 2:12). The same phrase occurs in Hab 2:17, where the "land" and "city" are Judea and Jerusalem.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Because (or For). The prophet assigns the reason of the woes he had just pronounced. “Thou (emphatic), thou hast spoiled many nations, all the resonant of the people shall spoil thee.” So Isaiah Isaiah 33:1, “When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.” Boundless as his conquests were, each remaining people, tribe, or family shall be his foe. Theodotion: “Having subdued very many, thou shalt be destroyed by few, and they who long endured thy tyranny, arising as from sleep, shall compass thy destruction; and thou shalt pay the penalty of thy countless slaughters and thy great ungodliness and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Of the land - Of the whole land of Chaldea. The city - Babylon. Habakkuk 2:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou: Hab 2:10, Hab 2:17; Isa 33:1, Isa 33:4; Jer 27:7, Jer 30:16, Jer 50:10, Jer 50:37, Jer 51:13, Jer 51:44, Jer 51:48, Jer 51:55, Jer 51:56; Zac 2:8, Zac 2:9 blood: Heb. bloods, Hab 2:17 the violence: Psa 137:8; Isa 47:6; Jer 50:11, Jer 50:17, Jer 50:18, Jer 50:28, Jer 50:33, Jer 50:34, Jer 51:8, Jer 51:24, Jer 51:34, Jer 51:35; Mic 4:11-13; Zac 1:15, Zac 2:8, Zac 12:2-4, Zac 14:12; Rev 6:10, Rev 18:20-24 Habakkuk 2:9”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification