Habakkuk 1:8
6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.
9 All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand.
10 They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.
- KJV
- Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
- WEB
- Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen press proudly on. Yes, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour.
- ASV
- Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.
- DARBY
- And their horses are swifter than the leopards, and are more agile than the evening wolves; and their horsemen prance proudly, and their horsemen come from afar: they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.
- BLB
- Their horses are swifter than leopards and fiercer than wolves of the evening; their horsemen spring about; and their horsemen come from afar, and they fly like the eagle hurrying to devour.
- ÅB
- Dets hester er raskere enn leoparder og skarpere til å springe enn ulver om kvelden; dets ryttere sprenger fram, dets ryttere kommer langt borte fra, de flyver som en ørn når den styrter seg over sitt rov.
- OTB
- Deres hester er raskere enn leoparder,
mer fryktinngytende enn kveldsulver.
Deres ryttere presser på stolt;
deres ryttere kommer fra det fjerne.
De flyr som en ørn som haster for å sluke. - B1930
- Dets hester er raskere enn leoparder og skarpere til å springe enn ulver om aftenen; dets ryttere sprenger frem, dets ryttere kommer langt borte fra, de flyver som en ørn når den styrter sig over sitt rov.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 4:13
Behold, he advances like the clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!
Read in contextZephaniah 3:3
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 28:49
The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,
Read in contextHosea 8:1
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.
Read in contextEzekiel 17:3
and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.
Read in contextJeremiah 5:6
Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
Read in contextEzekiel 17:12
“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.
Read in contextMatthew 24:28
Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
Read in context