Habakkuk 2:10

Authorized King James Version

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Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

Original Language Analysis

יָעַ֥צְתָּ Thou hast consulted H3289
יָעַ֥צְתָּ Thou hast consulted
Strong's: H3289
Word #: 1 of 8
to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve
בֹּ֖שֶׁת shame H1322
בֹּ֖שֶׁת shame
Strong's: H1322
Word #: 2 of 8
shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication (specifically) an idol
לְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ to thy house H1004
לְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ to thy house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 3 of 8
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
קְצוֹת by cutting off H7096
קְצוֹת by cutting off
Strong's: H7096
Word #: 4 of 8
to cut off; (figuratively) to destroy; (partially) to scrape off
עַמִּ֥ים people H5971
עַמִּ֥ים people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 5 of 8
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
רַבִּ֖ים many H7227
רַבִּ֖ים many
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 6 of 8
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וְחוֹטֵ֥א and hast sinned H2398
וְחוֹטֵ֥א and hast sinned
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 7 of 8
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ against thy soul H5315
נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ against thy soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 8 of 8
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

Analysis & Commentary

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. The verdict on the second woe: attempts to secure your house have consulted shame (יָעַצְתָּ בֹּשֶׁת/ya'atsta boshet)—planned or devised disgrace. The verb יָעַץ (ya'atz) means to counsel, advise, plan. You thought you were securing glory but actually planned shame. By cutting off many people (קְצוֹת עַמִּים רַבִּים/qetzot ammim rabbim)—by destroying numerous peoples. The verb קָצָה (qatzah) means to cut off, terminate, destroy completely—genocide.

And hast sinned against thy soul (וְחוֹטֵא נַפְשֶׁךָ/vechote nafshekha)—you have sinned against your own life. The crimes committed against others ultimately damage the perpetrator. This profound psychological insight recognizes that perpetrating violence dehumanizes the violent, that committing atrocities corrupts the soul. You cannot destroy others without destroying yourself. Oppression damages the oppressor's humanity as much as the oppressed's. The supposed security gained through violence is actually self-destruction—you have 'sinned against' your own nephesh (life-force, soul, being). Proverbs 8:36 warns that those who sin against wisdom wrong their own soul and love death.

Historical Context

Babylon's attempt to secure its dynasty through conquest resulted in the opposite—disgrace and destruction. Within a generation of Nebuchadnezzar's death, Babylon fell, and his dynasty ended. Belshazzar, during whose reign Babylon fell, died the night Cyrus entered the city (Daniel 5:30). The name 'Babylon' became synonymous with pride, oppression, and divine judgment—used throughout Scripture as the archetype of rebellious, violent empire (Isaiah 13-14, Jeremiah 50-51, Revelation 17-18). Rather than eternal glory, Babylon gained eternal infamy. Modern parallels abound: Nazi Germany sought thousand-year Reich, gained permanent disgrace. The principle holds: seeking security through violence brings shame, not honor; destruction, not preservation.

Questions for Reflection