Habakkuk 2:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Woe to the one who gains unjust wealth for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of calamity!

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

ה֗וֹי בֹּצֵ֛עַ בֶּ֥צַע רָ֖ע לְבֵית֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם בַּמָּרוֹם֙ קִנּ֔וֹ לְהִנָּצֵ֖ל מִכַּף־רָֽע׃

Transliteration

Hôy bōṣēaʿ beṣaʿ rāʿ for his house, to lāśûm bammārôm qinnô, to lĕhinnāṣēl from kap-rāʿ.

Grammar Details

• *hôy*: interjection - woe/alas
• *bōṣēaʿ*: verb, qal participle, masculine singular - cutting off/gaining
• *beṣaʿ*: noun, masculine, singular - unjust gain/profit
• *rāʿ*: adjective, masculine, singular - evil/calamity
• *lāśûm*: preposition + verb, qal infinitive construct - to put/place
• *bammārôm*: preposition + noun, masculine, singular with definite article - in the height
• *qinnô*: noun, masculine, singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his nest
• *lĕhinnāṣēl*: preposition + verb, niphal infinitive construct - to be delivered
• *kap*: noun, feminine, singular construct - palm/power

Word Meanings

• *bōṣēaʿ*: cutting off/gaining/acquiring unjustly
• *beṣaʿ*: unjust gain/profit/dishonest profit
• *bammārôm*: in the height/on high/in a lofty place
• *lĕhinnāṣēl*: to be delivered/rescued/saved
• *kap-rāʿ*: power of evil/hand of calamity

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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!

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Woe to him who covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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!

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Woe{H1945} to him that getteth{H1214} an evil{H7451} gain{H1215} for his house,{H1004} that he may set{H7760} his nest{H7064} on high,{H4791} that he may be delivered{H5337} from the hand{H3709} of evil!{H7451}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Woe{H1945} to him that coveteth{H1214}{(H8802)} an evil{H7451} covetousness{H1215} to his house{H1004}, that he may set{H7760}{(H8800)} his nest{H7064} on high{H4791}, that he may be delivered{H5337}{(H8736)} from the power{H3709} of evil{H7451}!

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Wo vnto him, that couetously gathereth euell gotten goodes in to his house: that he maye set his nest an hye, to escape from the power of mysfortune.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Ho, he that coueteth an euil couetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on hie, to escape from the power of euil.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Wo he that coueteth an euyll couetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on hie, to escape from the power of euyll.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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!

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Wo `to' him who is gaining evil gain for his house, To set on high his nest, To be delivered from the hand of evil,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Woe 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!

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Woe 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!

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  A curse on him who gets evil profits for his family, so that he may put his resting-place on high and be safe from the hand of the wrongdoer!

• World English Bible (2000)

  Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster.

Referenced Verses

• Jer 49:16 : 16 The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, holding the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
• Obad 1:4 : 4 Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
• Zech 5:1-4 : 1 I turned again and looked up, and I saw a flying scroll. 2 He said to me, 'What do you see?' I answered, 'I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.' 3 Then he said to me, 'This is the curse that is going out over the whole land: for everyone who steals will be judged according to what is written on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be judged according to what is written on the other side.' 4 'I will send it out,' declares the LORD of Hosts, 'and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by my name. It will remain inside their house and consume it completely, including its timber and stones.'
• Acts 1:17-25 : 17 He was one of our number and shared in this ministry. 18 (With the reward he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.) 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their own language, Akeldama, which means 'Field of Blood.' 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be desolate; let no one dwell in it,' and 'Let another take his position.' 21 Therefore, it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show us which of these two you have chosen. 25 To take up the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
• Jude 1:11 : 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, rushed headlong for profit into Balaam’s error, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
• Gen 13:10-13 : 10 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the entire plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself the entire plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus, they separated from each other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and great sinners against the LORD.
• Gen 19:26-38 : 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Early the next morning, Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the entire plain, and he saw that smoke was rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. 29 So it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham and brought Lot out from the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. 30 Lot left Zoar and went up into the mountains with his two daughters because he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 The older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to marry us in the customary way of the entire earth. 32 "Come, let us get our father to drink wine and sleep with him so that we can preserve our family line through our father." 33 That night, they made their father drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. 34 The next day, the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let’s make him drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through him." 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and lay with him. Again, he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. 36 Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter gave birth to a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites to this day.
• Deut 7:25-26 : 25 You must burn the carved images of their gods in the fire. Do not covet the silver or gold on them, and do not take it for yourself, or you will be ensnared by it. For it is detestable to the LORD your God. 26 Do not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you will be set apart for destruction just like it. Utterly detest and abhor it, for it is set apart for destruction.
• Josh 7:21-26 : 21 When I saw among the spoil a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and behold, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the Lord. 24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will trouble you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them with fire. 26 They raised over him a great heap of stones, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from His fierce anger. Therefore, that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.
• 1 Kgs 21:2-4 : 2 Ahab said to Naboth, 'Give me your vineyard so I can use it as a vegetable garden, because it is close to my house. In exchange, I will give you a better vineyard, or if you prefer, I will pay you its worth in silver.' 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, 'The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance!' 4 Ahab went home sullen and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said when he told him, 'I will not give you my inheritance.' He lay on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.
• 1 Kgs 21:19-24 : 19 Speak to him and say, “Thus says the LORD: Have you murdered and also taken possession?” Then say to him, “Thus says the LORD: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood—yes, yours.”' 20 Ahab said to Elijah, 'So, have you found me, my enemy?' 'I have found you,' he answered, 'because you have devoted yourself to doing evil in the eyes of the LORD.' 21 'This is what the LORD says: I am bringing disaster on you. I will sweep away your descendants and cut off every male in your household, both slave and free, in Israel. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and have caused Israel to sin.' 23 And concerning Jezebel, the LORD also says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' 24 'Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat; and anyone who dies in the field, the birds of the heavens will eat.'
• 2 Kgs 5:20-27 : 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, 'Look, my master has let this Aramean, Naaman, go without accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.' 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and asked, 'Is everything all right?' 22 Gehazi replied, 'Everything is all right. My master has sent me to say, “Two young men from the company of the prophets in the hill country of Ephraim have just come to me. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothes.”' 23 Naaman said, 'Please take two talents.' He urged Gehazi, tied up two talents of silver in two bags, along with two sets of clothes, and gave them to his two servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants and stored them inside the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left. 25 When Gehazi went inside and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, 'Where have you been, Gehazi?' He answered, 'Your servant didn’t go anywhere.' 26 But Elisha said to him, 'Was my spirit not with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, male servants, and female servants?' 27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.' Then Gehazi went out from Elisha's presence, leprous, as white as snow.
• Job 20:19-28 : 19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house he did not build. 20 Because he knew no peace in his heart, he will not retain any of his treasures. 21 Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last. 22 In the fullness of his plenty, he will be distressed; the hand of all who toil will come upon him. 23 When he is about to fill his stomach, God will unleash his burning anger against him and rain it upon him while he eats. 24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him. 25 It is drawn out and comes forth from his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come over him. 26 Total darkness is hidden for his treasures; a fire not kindled by man will consume him and devour what remains in his tent. 27 The heavens will expose his guilt, and the earth will rise up against him. 28 The produce of his house will be carried away, flowing away on the day of God's wrath.
• Ps 10:3-6 : 3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart, and the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord. 4 In his pride, the wicked man says, 'He will not seek; there is no God in all his thoughts.' 5 His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he sneers at them. 6 He says in his heart, 'I shall not be moved; from generation to generation I shall be without trouble.'
• Ps 49:11 : 11 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
• Ps 52:7 : 7 But God will tear you down forever; He will snatch and uproot you from your tent and dislodge you from the land of the living. Selah.
• Prov 18:11-12 : 11 The wealth of the rich is like their fortified city; they imagine it is a wall too high to scale. 12 Before destruction, the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor.
• Isa 28:15 : 15 Because you have said, 'We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made an agreement. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, it will not reach us, for we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.'
• Isa 47:7-9 : 7 You said, 'I will be a mistress forever,' but you did not take these things to heart or remember their outcome. 8 Now hear this, you pleasure-loving one, sitting securely, who says in her heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me; I will not sit as a widow, or know the loss of children.' 9 But these two things will come upon you in a moment, in one day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, despite your many sorceries and the great power of your spells.
• Jer 22:13-19 : 13 Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, making his neighbor work for nothing and not paying him for his labor. 14 He says, 'I will build for myself a great house with spacious upper rooms,' cutting out large windows for it, paneling it with cedar, and painting it with vermilion. 15 Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Your father ate and drank, but he practiced justice and righteousness, and it went well with him. 16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and it was well with him. Is this not what it means to know me? declares the LORD. 17 But your eyes and heart are set only on your dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, and on oppression and violence. 18 Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: They will not mourn for him, saying, 'Alas, my brother!' or 'Alas, my sister!' They will not mourn for him, saying, 'Alas, my lord!' or 'Alas, his majesty!' 19 He will have the burial of a donkey—dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.