Habakkuk 1:11
New International Version
Then they sweep past like the wind and go on— guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”

New Living Translation
They sweep past like the wind and are gone. But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god.”

English Standard Version
Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

Berean Standard Bible
Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”

King James Bible
Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

New King James Version
Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.”

New American Standard Bible
“Then they fly along like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.”

NASB 1995
“Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.”

NASB 1977
“Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose power is their god.”

Amplified Bible
“Then they will sweep by like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They [and all men] whose own power and strength is their god.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their strength is their god.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their strength is their god.

American Standard Version
Then shall he sweep by as a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, even he whose might is his god.

Contemporary English Version
Then suddenly they disappear like a gust of wind--those sinful people who worship their own strength.

English Revised Version
Then shall he sweep by as a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty: even he whose might is his god.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They will move quickly and pass through like the wind. So they will be guilty, because their own strength is their god.

Good News Translation
Then they sweep on like the wind and are gone, these men whose power is their god."

International Standard Version
Then like the wind sweeping by they will pass through— they're guilty because they say their power is their god."

Majority Standard Bible
Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.?

NET Bible
They sweep by like the wind and pass on. But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty."

New Heart English Bible
Then he sweeps by like the wind, and goes on. He is indeed guilty, whose strength is his god."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power to his god.

World English Bible
Then they sweep by like the wind and go on. They are indeed guilty, whose strength is their god.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then the spirit has passed on, "" Indeed, he transgresses, "" And [ascribes] this—his power—to his god.”

Young's Literal Translation
Then passed on hath the spirit, Yea, he doth transgress, And doth ascribe this his power to his god.

Smith's Literal Translation
Then the spirit changed, and he will pass over, and he transgressed: this his strength is his God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then shall his spirit be changed, and he shall pass, and fall: this is his strength of his god.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then his spirit will be altered, and he will cross over and fall. Such is his strength from his god.

New American Bible
Then they sweep through like the wind and vanish— they make their own strength their god!

New Revised Standard Version
Then they sweep by like the wind; they transgress and become guilty; their own might is their god!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then shall his wind change and pass away, and his army shall be found guilty before his god.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But this shall change his spirit and it will pass, and his army will be condemned by his god
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then their spirit doth pass over and transgress, And they become guilty: Even they who impute their might unto their god.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then shall he change his spirit, and he shall pass through, and make an atonement, saying, This strength belongs to my god.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD's Answer
10They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it. 11Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”

Cross References
Daniel 4:30
the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Isaiah 10:13-14
For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. / My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’”

Jeremiah 50:29
Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 37:23-24
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! / Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.

Ezekiel 28:2
“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god.

Daniel 5:20
But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Isaiah 14:13-14
You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

2 Thessalonians 2:4
He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Revelation 13:5-6
The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. / And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.

Daniel 7:8
While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

Isaiah 47:10
You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

Jeremiah 48:29
We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his proud arrogance and haughtiness of heart.

Ezekiel 28:17
Your heart grew proud of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor; so I cast you to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings.

Obadiah 1:3
The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’

2 Kings 19:22-23
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! / Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest outposts, the densest of its forests.


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power to his god.

shall his.

Daniel 4:30-34
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? …

imputing.

Daniel 5:3,4,20
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them…

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Change Changed Goes Guilty Held Impute Imputing Indeed Limit Mind Offend Power Purpose Spirit Strength Sweep Sweeps Transgress Wind
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Change Changed Goes Guilty Held Impute Imputing Indeed Limit Mind Offend Power Purpose Spirit Strength Sweep Sweeps Transgress Wind
Habakkuk 1
1. Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land,
5. is shown the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans.
12. He complains that vengeance should be executed by them who are far worse.














Then they sweep by like the wind
The phrase "sweep by like the wind" evokes imagery of a powerful, unstoppable force. In Hebrew, the word for "wind" is "ruach," which can also mean spirit or breath. This suggests a force that is both physical and spiritual, emphasizing the might and speed of the Chaldeans, who are the subject of this prophecy. Historically, the Chaldeans, or Babylonians, were known for their swift and devastating military campaigns. This imagery underscores their ability to conquer and move through territories with ease, much like a wind that cannot be contained or resisted.

and pass on through
The phrase "pass on through" indicates a transient yet impactful presence. The Chaldeans do not linger; they move through lands, leaving destruction in their wake. This reflects the historical reality of their conquests, where they would invade, plunder, and then move on to the next target. Theologically, this can be seen as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of earthly power and the temporary triumphs of those who rely on their own might rather than on God.

They are guilty
The declaration "They are guilty" is a moral judgment against the Chaldeans. In Hebrew, the word for "guilty" is "asham," which implies being liable for wrongdoing or sin. This highlights the divine perspective on their actions; despite their success and power, they are accountable to God for their violence and idolatry. This serves as a reminder that all human actions are subject to divine judgment, and that earthly power does not absolve one from moral responsibility.

their own strength is their god
This phrase reveals the core of the Chaldeans' idolatry: they worship their own power. The Hebrew word for "strength" is "koach," which denotes physical power or might. By making their strength their god, they elevate their military prowess and self-reliance above the true God. This is a profound critique of self-idolatry and the human tendency to trust in one's own abilities rather than in divine providence. It serves as a cautionary tale for believers to place their trust in God rather than in human strength or achievements.

(11) Then shall his mind change. . . .--Better, Then he sweeps by like a wind and passes. But he is guilty, making this his strength his god. By an abrupt transition the latter half of the verse diverts our attention from the human view of the world-conqueror to his appearance in God's sight. Men only see an irresistible force sweeping over the face of the earth like a whirlwind; here to-day, and to-morrow nothing but devastation and ruin to testify to its visit. And men are dazzled by this mighty display of power. But, even as Daniel at Belshazzar's feast, Habakkuk pronounces the oppressor's doom in the very hour of triumph. The description of the irresistible invader drops into the sudden depths of anti-climax, "But he is (counted) guilty." His guilt consists just in what men deem so glorious, in his self-reliant irresponsible pursuit of grandeur. The brute force of armaments is the supreme deity of the Chaldaean. His sword and spear are, as it were, his idols. (Comp. Habakkuk 1:16.) God, in whose hands his breath is, and whose are all his ways, has he not glorified. (Comp. Daniel 5:23.) Therefore that God shall bring on him ruin and ignominy, and the very nations which have marvelled at his prowess shall taunt and contemn him (Habakkuk 2:6). Here, then, is the key-note of so much of the second canto (Habakkuk 1:12 to 2 fin.) as relates to the downfall of the invader.

Verse 11. - Then shall his mind change; Τότε μεταβαλεῖ τὸ πνεῦμα (Septuagint); Tunc mutabitur spiritus (Vulgate). From the ease and extent of his conquests the Chaldean gains fresh spirit. But it is best to translate differently, Then he sweepeth on as a wind. The Chaldean's inroad is compared to a tempestuous wind, which carries all before it. And he shall pass over. This is explained to mean, he exceeds all limits in his arrogancy, or he passes onward through the land. The former interpretation regards what is coming, the latter keeps to the metaphor of the wind. And offend. He is guilty, or offends, as the next clause explains, by attributing his success to his own prowess and skill. Thus the prophet intimates that the avenger himself incurs God's displeasure, and will suffer for it. Septuagint, καὶ ἐξιλάσεται, which St. Cyril interprets to mean that the Lord will change his purpose of punishing the Jews, and will have mercy on them - a notion quite foreign to the purport of the sentence. Imputing this his power unto his god; more literally, this his power is his god; Revised Version, even he whose might is his god. He defies the Lord, and makes his might his god. (For such pride and self-glorification, setup. Isaiah 14:13; Isaiah 47:7, etc.; Daniel 4:30.) Thus Mezentius, the despiser of the gods, speaks in Virgil, 'AEn.,' 10:773 -

"Dextra mihi deus et telum, quod missile libro,
Nunc adsint!"
Comp. Statius, 'Theb.,' 3:615 -

"Virtus mihi numen, et ensis, Quem teneo."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
אָ֣ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

they sweep by
חָלַ֥ף (ḥā·lap̄)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2498: To slide by, to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce, change

like the wind
ר֛וּחַ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

and pass on through.
וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר (way·ya·‘ă·ḇōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

They
ז֥וּ (zū)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 2098: This, which, who

are guilty;
וְאָשֵׁ֑ם (wə·’ā·šêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 816: To be guilty, to be punished, perish

their own strength
כֹח֖וֹ (ḵō·ḥōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)

is their god.
לֵאלֹהֽוֹ׃ (lê·lō·hōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Prophets: Habakkuk 1:11 Then he sweeps by like the wind (Hab Hb)
Habakkuk 1:10
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