Habakkuk 2:15
13 Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!
16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You too must drink and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory.
17 For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your bloodshed against men and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.
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
- Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!
- KJV
- Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
- WEB
- “Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies!
- ASV
- Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, [to thee] that addest thy venom, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
- DARBY
- Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that pourest out thy flask, and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
- BLB
- Woe [to] the one giving drink to his neighbor, pouring out your rage and even to make [him] drunk, in order to look upon his nakedness!
- ÅB
- Ve den som gir sin neste å drikke av sin brennende vredes skål, ja drikker dem drukne, for å se på deres blusel!
- OTB
- Ve ham som får sin nabo til å drikke;
Til deg som blander i din gift,
Selv for å gjøre dine naboer drukne
For å se på deres nakenhet! - B1930
- Ve den som gir sin næste å drikke av sin brennende vredes skål, ja drikker dem drukne, for å se på deres blusel!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 51:7
Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
Read in contextGenesis 9:22
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
Read in contextRevelation 18:3
All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”
Read in contextRevelation 17:2
The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
Read in contextHosea 7:5
The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
Read in contextRevelation 17:6
I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
Read in context2 Samuel 13:26–28
“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.
Read in contextGenesis 19:32–35
Come, let us get our father drunk with wine so we can sleep with him and preserve his line.”
Read in context