Habakkuk: Habakkuk 2:13-The Lord Ruling Over the Armies Will Judge the Nations

Habakkuk 2:13 Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? (NIV)

Habakkuk 2:13 “Behold, does it not in fact originate from the decree of the Lord ruling over the armies that the peoples are working hard in exchange for the fire of God’s judgment so that the nations are exhausting themselves for absolutely nothing?” (Pastor’s translation)

The Lord, God of Israel in Habakkuk 2:13 continues His response to Habakkuk’s argument against His choice of the Babylonians to discipline the apostate citizenry of the southern kingdom of Judah and which argument is recorded in Habakkuk 1:12-17.

This response began in Habakkuk 2:2 and ends in Habakkuk 2:20.

Habakkuk 2:2-20 presents the Lord’s decision to judge the Babylonian empire in the future for their unrepentant sinful behavior.

Specifically, He will judge them because of their evil treatment of those nations they conquered in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian regions of the world at the end of the seventh century B.C. and at the beginning of the sixth century B.C.

Habakkuk 2:13 contains a solemn rhetorical question that demands an emphatic positive response from the prophet Habakkuk and the faithful remnant of Judah.

The Lord asks them “does it not in fact originate from the decree of the Lord ruling over the armies that the peoples are working hard in exchange for fire so that the nations are exhausting themselves for absolutely nothing?”

The reference to “fire” is figurative language for the judgment of God.

Therefore, this rhetorical question is emphatically asserting that the Lord ruling over the armies has sovereignly decreed that the peoples of the earth are working hard in exchange for the fire of God’s judgment so that the nations are exhausting themselves for absolutely nothing.

The masculine plural form of the noun ʿam (עַם), “the peoples” refer of course the Gentile peoples residing on planet earth in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian regions of the world in 605 B.C. in Habakkuk’s day and ultimately it refers to the Gentiles peoples throughout history-past, present and future.

The noun dǎy (דַּי) means “nothing, in vain” since the word is a marker of not having a proper result.

The masculine singular absolute common noun ʾēš (אֵשׁ) means “fire” but as we noted, it is used in a figurative sense for God’s judgment.

The noun dǎy is the object of the preposition b (בְּ) which indicates the price for something.

Therefore, this prepositional phrase indicates that the peoples of the earth work hard in exchange for God’s judgment rather than a reward from Him.

Within this rhetorical question in Habakkuk 2:13, we have a result clause, which presents the result of the rhetorical question, and states that the nations are exhausting themselves in exchange for absolutely nothing.

Therefore, this indicates that the nations of the earth exhausting themselves for absolutely nothing is the direct result of the peoples of these nations working hard for the fire of God’s judgment.

The masculine plural absolute common noun leʾōm (לְאֹם), “the nations” refers of course the Gentile nations residing on planet earth in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian regions of the world in 605 B.C. in Habakkuk’s day and ultimately it refers to the Gentiles nations throughout history-past, present and future.

The noun dǎy (דַּי) also appears in this result clause and again means “nothing, in vain” since the word is a marker of not having a proper result.

The singular absolute common noun rîq (רִיק) means “absolutely nothing” since the word pertains to the state of containing absolutely nothing.

The noun dǎy (דַּי) is the object of the preposition b (בְּ), which indicates the price for something.

Therefore, this prepositional phrase indicates that the nations of the earth are exhausting themselves for absolutely nothing by working hard in exchange for God’s judgment rather than a reward from Him.

Notice in Habakkuk 2:13 that the Lord is not describing the Babylonian army alone but rather all the nations and peoples who follow their example of cruel, evil imperialistic behavior.

In other words, the Lord is saying that any nation or people that behaves in the manner that Babylon behaves will face the fire of God’s judgement and consequently all their efforts and accomplishments as a people and nation are in vain.

In fact, this is true of any nation in history-past, present and future, that is it is true of all generations.

O. Palmer Robertson writes “Although directed specifically to Babylon, this text includes nations and peoples of all generations. Fire from the Lord consumed the debauched luxury of the cities of the plain (Gen. 19:14). God went before Israel as a consuming fire, destroying all its enemies (Deut. 9:3). Even the nation privileged to be called by God’s own name in its turn had its cities burned in the fire for persisting in disobedience (Isa. 1:7; Amos 2:5). So the Lord shall come with fire at the last judgment, utterly destroying all his enemies (Isa. 66:15; cf. 2 Pet. 3:10). Every human culture in its turn prides itself in its achievements won by discipline, devotion, and hard labor. But in the end the rotten core of violence done against other human beings—ironically, for the sake of achieving humanistic goals—shall be exposed and the whole of the corrupted metropolis destroyed.”[1]

Now, in Habakkuk 2:13, the expression yhwh ṣeḇā·ʾôṯʹ (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת), “the decree of the Lord ruling over the armies” contains a strong association with military action and the sovereignty of God.

This is indicated by the fact that proper noun yhwh means “Lord” which is the covenant-keeping personal name of God and is used here in connection with His covenant relationship with the nation of Israel and in particular the remnant of Judah.

Specifically, it is used in connection with Habakkuk’s covenant relationship to God.

Thus, it also expresses God’s sovereignty over the kingdom of Judah as well as Babylon and all the nations in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian regions of the world in Habakkuk’s day.

This word contains the figure of metonymy which means that the Lord is put for the sovereign decree of the Lord.

Also, the noun ṣābāʾ means “armies” since it pertains in this context to a military congregation as a large fighting or combat unit.

The word denotes a large organized body of armed personnel trained for war especially on land.

These armies refer to both human and angelic armies because we are speaking in the context of God.

Therefore, the implication of the presence of this expression here in Habakkuk 2:13 indicates that the Lord God of Israel is sovereign over all the nations of the world including Babylon and all the armies of heaven and of earth are under the authority of the Lord for Him to do as He desires.

Thus, coupled with the idea that of the fire of God’s judgment in this verse, this expression yhwh ṣeḇā·ʾôṯʹ (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת), “the decree of the Lord ruling over the armies” implies that the Lord of God Israel will judge Babylon and any nation which follows their example.

He will do so by war and destruction.

He will do this with the army of another evil nation which is under the authority Satan and the fallen angels since Satan is the temporary god of this world (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4).

God is the sovereign authority over every nation and human army as well as every angelic tribe and army including those under the direction of Satan.

In fact, Habakkuk 3:8-15 describes the God of Israel as the greatest warrior.

The language here in Habakkuk 2:13 which implies the impending judgment of Babylon by God is reminiscent of the language of Jeremiah 51:58 which also speaks of this impending destruction of this nation.

Jeremiah 51:58 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Babylon’s thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the peoples exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.” (NIV)

[1] Robertson, O. P. (1990). The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah (p. 197). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.