Habakkuk 2:5

and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Habakkuk addresses the arrogant Babylonian oppressor amid his vision of coming divine judgment, contrasting the proud ruler with the righteous. The prophet records this oracle as part of a dialogue with God concerning national suffering and impending reckoning.

The words — בּוֹגֵד (bo.Ged) denotes one who is treacherous or betrays, and יִנְוֶה (yin.Veh) describes a man who never stays at home. These terms characterize the oppressor’s restless, unfaithful nature.

The thread — The imagery of insatiable appetite echoes Proverbs 27:20, which notes that Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied. The warning against wine’s treachery parallels Proverbs 20:1 and the early rising for strong drink in Isaiah 5:11.

Why it lands — The text declares that the oppressor’s wealth ultimately betrays him and his appetite remains eternally unsatisfied. It demands recognition that human ambition cannot secure lasting possession of nations or peace.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאַף֙ve./'Afand/ also כִּֽי־ki-for הַיַּ֣יִןhai./Ya.yin<the>/ wine בּוֹגֵ֔דbo.Ged[is] treacherous גֶּ֥בֶרGe.vera man יָהִ֖ירya.Hirarrogant וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ [who] not יִנְוֶ֑הyin.Vehhe stays at home אֲשֶׁר֩'a.Sherwho הִרְחִ֨יבhir.Chivhe has made large כִּשְׁא֜וֹלki/sh.'ollike/ Sheol נַפְשׁ֗וֹnaf.Sh/othroat/ his וְה֤וּאve./Hu'and/ he כַמָּ֙וֶת֙kha./Ma.vet[is] like <the>/ death וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not יִשְׂבָּ֔עyis.Ba'he is satisfied וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ףva/i.ye.'e.Sofand/ he has gathered אֵלָיו֙'e.La/vto/ himself כָּל־kol-all הַגּוֹיִ֔םha./go.Yimthe/ nations וַיִּקְבֹּ֥ץva/i.yik.Botzand/ he has assembled אֵלָ֖יו'e.La/vto/ himself כָּל־kol-all הָעַמִּֽים׃ha./'a.Mimthe/ peoples

King James Version

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

Cross-references

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Proverbs 27:20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine.
Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
2 Kings 14:10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
Proverbs 23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Proverbs 30:13 There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
Isaiah 2:11 The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.