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Selected Verse: Habakkuk 1:8 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Hab 1:8 |
Strong Concordance |
Their horses [05483] also are swifter [07043] than the leopards [05246], and are more fierce [02300] than the evening [06153] wolves [02061]: and their horsemen [06571] shall spread [06335] themselves, and their horsemen [06571] shall come [0935] from far [07350]; they shall fly [05774] as the eagle [05404] that hasteth [02363] to eat [0398]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
swifter than the leopards--OPPIAN [Cynegeticks, 3.76], says of the leopard, "It runs most swiftly straight on: you would fancy it was flying through the air."
more fierce--rather, "more keen"; literally, "sharp."
evening wolves--wolves famished with fasting all day and so most keen in attacking the fold under covert of the approaching night (Jer 5:6; Zep 3:3; compare Gen 49:27). Hence "twilight" is termed in Arabic and Persian "the wolf's tail"; and in French, entre chien et loup.
spread themselves--proudly; as in Jer 50:11, and Mal 4:2, it implies strength and vigor. So also the Arabic cognate word [MAURER].
their horsemen . . . come from far--and yet are not wearied by the long journey. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Their horses are swifter - literally, lighter, as we say "light of foot"
Than leopards - The wild beast intended is the panther, the lightest, swiftest, fiercest, most bloodthirsty of beasts of prey "It runs most swiftly and rushes brave and straight. You would say, when you saw it, that it is borne through the air." Cyril: "It bounds exceedingly and is exceedingly light to spring down on whatever it pursues."
More fierce - o
Than the evening wolves - Compare Jer 5:6, i. e., than they are when fiercest, going forth to prey when urged to rabidness by hunger the whole day through. Such had their own judges been Zep 3:3, and by such should they be punished. The horse partakes of the fierceness of his rider in trampling down the foe .
Their horsemen shall spread themselves - literally, widespread are their horsemen
And their horsemen from far shall come - Neither distance of march shall weary them, nor diffusion weaken them. So should Moses' prophecy be again fulfilled (Deu 28:49-50, מרחוק occurs in both.) "The Lord shall raise against thee a nation from far, from the ends of the earth, as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young."
They shall fly as the eagle that hasteth - literally, hasting
To eat - Jerome: "not to fight, for none shall withstand; but with a course like the eagle's, to whom all fowl are subdued, hasting but to eat." Behold, Jeremiah says of Nebuchadnezzar Jer 48:40, he shall fly as an eagle and spread his wings over Moab; and, he repeats the words Jer 49:22, over Bozrah. Our pursuers, Jeremiah says Lam 4:19, are swifter than the eagles of the heavens. Ezekiel likens him to Eze 17:3 "a great eagle with great wings full of feathers;" in Daniel's vision he is Dan 7:4 "a lion with eagle's wings." |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The evening wolves - Which with fasting in the day, came out in the evening, fierce and ravenous. Shall spread - All over the land. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Their horses also are swifter than the leopards - The Chaldean cavalry are proverbial for swiftness, courage, etc. In Jeremiah, Jer 4:13, it is said, speaking of Nebuchadnezzar, "His chariots are as a whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles."
Oppian, speaking of the horses bred about the Euphrates, says, "They are by nature warhorses, and so intrepid that neither the sight nor the roaring of the lion appals them; and, besides, they are astonishingly fleet." The leopard, of all quadrupeds, is allowed to be the swiftest.
The evening wolves - The wolf is remarkable for his quick sight. Aelian says, Οξυωτεστατον εστι ζωον, και μεντοι, και νυκτος και σεληνης ουκ ουσης ὁδε ὁρᾳ; "The wolf is a very fleet animal; and, besides, it can see by night, even when there is no moonlight." Some think the hyena is meant: it is a swift, cruel, and untameable animal. The other prophets speak of the Chaldeans in the same way. See Deu 28:49; Jer 48:40; Jer 49:22; Eze 17:5; Lam 4:19. |
2 But unto you that fear [03373] my name [08034] shall the Sun [08121] of righteousness [06666] arise [02224] with healing [04832] in his wings [03671]; and ye shall go forth [03318], and grow up [06335] as calves [05695] of the stall [04770].
11 Because ye were glad [08055], because ye rejoiced [05937], O ye destroyers [08154] of mine heritage [05159], because ye are grown fat [06335] as the heifer [05697] at grass [01877] [01758], and bellow [06670] as bulls [047];
27 Benjamin [01144] shall ravin [02963] as a wolf [02061]: in the morning [01242] he shall devour [0398] the prey [05706], and at night [06153] he shall divide [02505] the spoil [07998].
3 Her princes [08269] within [07130] her are roaring [07580] lions [0738]; her judges [08199] are evening [06153] wolves [02061]; they gnaw not the bones [01633] till the morrow [01242].
6 Wherefore a lion [0738] out of the forest [03293] shall slay [05221] them, and a wolf [02061] of the evenings [06160] shall spoil [07703] them, a leopard [05246] shall watch [08245] over their cities [05892]: every one that goeth out [03318] thence shall [02007] be torn in pieces [02963]: because their transgressions [06588] are many [07231], and their backslidings [04878] are increased [06105].
4 The first [06933] was like a lion [0744], and had eagle's [05403] wings [01611]: I beheld [01934] [02370] till [05705] the wings [01611] thereof were plucked [04804], and it was lifted up [05191] from [04481] the earth [0772], and made stand [06966] upon [05922] the feet [07271] as a man [0606], and a man's [0606] heart [03825] was given [03052] to it.
3 And say [0559], Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; A great [01419] eagle [05404] with great [01419] wings [03671], longwinged [083] [0750], full [04392] of feathers [05133], which had divers colours [07553], came [0935] unto Lebanon [03844], and took [03947] the highest branch [06788] of the cedar [0730]:
19 Our persecutors [07291] are swifter [07031] than the eagles [05404] of the heaven [08064]: they pursued [01814] us upon the mountains [02022], they laid wait [0693] for us in the wilderness [04057].
22 Behold, he shall come up [05927] and fly [01675] as the eagle [05404], and spread [06566] his wings [03671] over Bozrah [01224]: and at that day [03117] shall the heart [03820] of the mighty men [01368] of Edom [0123] be as the heart [03820] of a woman [0802] in her pangs [06887].
40 For thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, he shall fly [01675] as an eagle [05404], and shall spread [06566] his wings [03671] over Moab [04124].
49 The LORD [03068] shall bring [05375] a nation [01471] against thee from far [07350], from the end [07097] of the earth [0776], as swift as the eagle [05404] flieth [01675]; a nation [01471] whose tongue [03956] thou shalt not understand [08085];
50 A nation [01471] of fierce [05794] countenance [06440], which shall not regard [05375] the person [06440] of the old [02205], nor shew favour [02603] to the young [05288]:
3 Her princes [08269] within [07130] her are roaring [07580] lions [0738]; her judges [08199] are evening [06153] wolves [02061]; they gnaw not the bones [01633] till the morrow [01242].
6 Wherefore a lion [0738] out of the forest [03293] shall slay [05221] them, and a wolf [02061] of the evenings [06160] shall spoil [07703] them, a leopard [05246] shall watch [08245] over their cities [05892]: every one that goeth out [03318] thence shall [02007] be torn in pieces [02963]: because their transgressions [06588] are many [07231], and their backslidings [04878] are increased [06105].
19 Our persecutors [07291] are swifter [07031] than the eagles [05404] of the heaven [08064]: they pursued [01814] us upon the mountains [02022], they laid wait [0693] for us in the wilderness [04057].
5 He took [03947] also of the seed [02233] of the land [0776], and planted [05414] it in a fruitful [02233] field [07704]; he placed [03947] it by great [07227] waters [04325], and set [07760] it as a willow tree [06851].
22 Behold, he shall come up [05927] and fly [01675] as the eagle [05404], and spread [06566] his wings [03671] over Bozrah [01224]: and at that day [03117] shall the heart [03820] of the mighty men [01368] of Edom [0123] be as the heart [03820] of a woman [0802] in her pangs [06887].
40 For thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, he shall fly [01675] as an eagle [05404], and shall spread [06566] his wings [03671] over Moab [04124].
49 The LORD [03068] shall bring [05375] a nation [01471] against thee from far [07350], from the end [07097] of the earth [0776], as swift as the eagle [05404] flieth [01675]; a nation [01471] whose tongue [03956] thou shalt not understand [08085];
13 Behold, he shall come up [05927] as clouds [06051], and his chariots [04818] shall be as a whirlwind [05492]: his horses [05483] are swifter [07043] than eagles [05404]. Woe [0188] unto us! for we are spoiled [07703].