Habakkuk 2:5
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:
Original Language Analysis
וְאַף֙
H637
וְאַף֙
Strong's:
H637
Word #:
1 of 24
meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
2 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בּוֹגֵ֔ד
Yea also because he transgresseth
H898
בּוֹגֵ֔ד
Yea also because he transgresseth
Strong's:
H898
Word #:
4 of 24
to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage
גֶּ֥בֶר
man
H1397
גֶּ֥בֶר
man
Strong's:
H1397
Word #:
5 of 24
properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִנְוֶ֑ה
neither keepeth at home
H5115
יִנְוֶ֑ה
neither keepeth at home
Strong's:
H5115
Word #:
8 of 24
to rest (as at home); causatively (through the implied idea of beauty), to celebrate (with praises)
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִרְחִ֨יב
who enlargeth
H7337
הִרְחִ֨יב
who enlargeth
Strong's:
H7337
Word #:
10 of 24
to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative)
כִּשְׁא֜וֹל
as hell
H7585
כִּשְׁא֜וֹל
as hell
Strong's:
H7585
Word #:
11 of 24
hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates
נַפְשׁ֗וֹ
his desire
H5315
נַפְשׁ֗וֹ
his desire
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
12 of 24
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וְה֤וּא
H1931
וְה֤וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
13 of 24
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
כַמָּ֙וֶת֙
and is as death
H4194
כַמָּ֙וֶת֙
and is as death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
14 of 24
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִשְׂבָּ֔ע
and cannot be satisfied
H7646
יִשְׂבָּ֔ע
and cannot be satisfied
Strong's:
H7646
Word #:
16 of 24
to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף
but gathereth
H622
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף
but gathereth
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
17 of 24
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
19 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם
unto him all nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם
unto him all nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
20 of 24
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
Cross References
Proverbs 27:20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.Isaiah 2:17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.Isaiah 5:8Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!Isaiah 21:5Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.Isaiah 16:6We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.Psalms 138:6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.Ecclesiastes 5:10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.2 Kings 14:10Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
Historical Context
Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar II exemplified insatiable imperial ambition. Between 605-562 BC, Babylon conquered Egypt, Judah, Tyre, and numerous other nations, building the largest empire in Near Eastern history to that point. Neo-Babylonian inscriptions boast of endless conquests and tribute. Yet this empire, seemingly invincible, fell to Persia in 539 BC—just 66 years after Nebuchadnezzar's first conquest. The very greed and overreach that built the empire contributed to its collapse. The pattern repeats throughout history: empires driven by insatiable ambition eventually overextend and collapse. Rome, the Mongols, Napoleon, Hitler—all fell partly due to overreach born of uncontrolled ambition.
Questions for Reflection
- How does insatiable ambition—whether for power, wealth, or success—function as spiritual intoxication that leads to self-destruction?
- What are the modern equivalents of 'enlarging desire as hell'—never being satisfied regardless of achievement or acquisition?
- How does contentment function as spiritual protection against the destructive cycle of endless striving and consumption?
Analysis & Commentary
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. This verse introduces the five woes against Babylon (verses 6-20), beginning with a character portrait of the oppressor. He transgresseth by wine (יַיִן בּוֹגֵד/yayin boged)—wine is treacherous, making men faithless and unreliable. Wine represents intoxication with power and conquest, leading to betrayal of moral boundaries.
A proud man (גֶּבֶר יָהִיר/gever yahir) describes the arrogant tyrant who neither keepeth at home (לֹא יִנְוֶה/lo yinveh)—refuses to stay within proper boundaries, constantly expanding territory. Who enlargeth his desire as hell (הִרְחִיב כִּשְׁאוֹל נַפְשׁוֹ/hirchiv kishe'ol nafsho)—appetite as wide as Sheol, the grave that never says 'enough' (Proverbs 27:20). And is as death (וְהוּא כַמָּוֶת/vehu kammavet)—insatiable as death itself, which consumes all. This describes imperial greed that devours nations endlessly, never satisfied regardless of how much it conquers. The imagery warns that insatiable ambition ultimately destroys those who harbor it—Babylon's unchecked appetite would lead to its own demise.