Habakkuk 1 · Verse 13

Habakkuk 1:13

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Habakkuk 1:13, King James Version

Habakkuk 1:13 in other translations

BSBYour eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
WEBYou who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
ASVThou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;
YLTPurer of eyes than to behold evil, To look on perverseness Thou art not able, Why dost Thou behold the treacherous? Thou keepest silent when the wicked Doth swallow the more righteous than he,
DARBYThou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on mischief: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and keepest silence when the wicked swalloweth up a man more righteous than he?
BBEBefore your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer puts an end to one who is more upright than himself?
WebsterThou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: why lookest thou on them that deal treacherously, and keepest silence when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

What does Habakkuk 1:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. purer ... than to behold evil--without being displeased at it. canst not look on iniquity--unjust injuries done to Thy people. The prophet checks himself from being carried too far in his expostulatory complaint, by putting before himself honorable sentiments of God. them that deal treacherously--the Chaldeans, once allies of the Jews, but now their violent oppressors. Compare "treacherous dealers," (Is 21:2; 24:16). Instead of speaking evil against God, he goes to God Himself for the remedy for his perplexity (Psa 73:11-17). devoureth the man that is more righteous--The Chaldean oppresses the Jew, who with all his faults, is better than his oppressor (compare Eze 16:51, 52).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Thou art of purer eyes - Seeing thou art so pure, and canst not look on iniquity - it is so abominable - how canst thou bear with them who "deal treacherously, and hold thy tongue when the wicked devour the righteous?" All such questions are easily solved by a consideration of God's ineffable mercy, which leads him to suffer long and be kind. He has no pleasure in the death of a sinner.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Habakkuk 1:12-17

However matters may be, yet God is the Lord our God, our Holy One. We are an offending people, he is an offended God, yet we will not entertain hard thoughts of him, or of his service. It is great comfort that, whatever mischief men design, the Lord designs good, and we are sure that his counsel shall stand. Though wickedness may prosper a while, yet God is holy, and does not approve the wickedness. As he cannot do…

Read the full comment on Habakkuk 1:12-17 →

Habakkuk 1:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

טְה֤וֹרte.Hor[you are too] pure ofH2890
עֵינַ֙יִם֙'ei.Na.yimeyesH5869
מֵרְא֣וֹתme.re.'otfor seeingH7200
רָ֔עRa'evilH7451
וְהַבִּ֥יטve.ha.Bitand to lookH5027
אֶל\־'el-toH413
עָמָ֖ל'a.MalmischiefH5999
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
תוּכָ֑לtu.Khalyou are ableH3201
לָ֤מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
תַבִּיט֙ta.Bitdo you look atH5027
בּֽוֹגְדִ֔יםbog.Dimtreacherous [people]H898
תַּחֲרִ֕ישׁta.cha.Rishare you silent?H2790
בְּבַלַּ֥עbe.va.La'when swallows upH1104
רָשָׁ֖עra.Sha'a wicked [person]H7563
צַדִּ֥יקtza.Dika [person] righteousH6662
מִמֶּֽנּוּ\׃mi.Me.numore than himH4480

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Habakkuk 1:13

  • Psalms 5:4-5

    For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

  • Psalms 34:15-16

    The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

  • Jeremiah 12:1-2

    Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

  • Habakkuk 1:3-4

    Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

  • Proverbs 31:8-9

    Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

  • Psalms 50:3

    Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

  • Psalms 10:15

    Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

  • 1 Peter 1:15-16

    But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

  • 2 Samuel 4:11

    How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

  • Isaiah 33:1

    Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

  • Psalms 37:32-33

    The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

  • Isaiah 64:12

    Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Lord? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
of.
Job 15:15; Ps 5:4,5; 11:4-7; 34:15,16; 1Pe 1:15,16
iniquity. or, grievance. wherefore.
Ps 10:1,2,15; 73:3; Jer 12:1,2
deal.
Isa 21:2; 33:1
holdest.
Es 4:14; Ps 35:22; 50:3,21; 83:1; Pr 31:8,9; Isa 64:12
the wicked.
3,4; 2Sa 4:11; 1Ki 2:32; Ps 37:12-15,32,33; 56:1,2; Ac 2:23; 3:13-15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Habakkuk 1:12

    Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

  • Habakkuk 1:13

    Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

  • Habakkuk 1:14

    And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

Read all of Habakkuk 1

Habakkuk 1:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Muy limpio eres de ojos para ver el mal, ni puedes ver el agravio: ¿por qué ves los menospreciadores, y callas cuando destruye el impío al más justo que él,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Tu as les yeux trop purs pour voir le mal, et tu ne peux contempler l’oppression. Pourquoi contemples-tu ceux qui agissent perfidement, et gardes-tu le silence quand le méchant engloutit celui qui est plus juste que lui?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Du bist zu rein von Augen, um Böses zu sehen, und Mühsal vermagst du nicht anzuschauen. Warum schaust du Räubern zu, schweigst, wenn der Gesetzlose den verschlingt, der gerechter ist als er?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Mundi sunt oculi tui, ne videas malum, et respicere ad iniquitatem non poteris. Quare respicis super iniqua agentes, et taces devorante impio justiorem se?