Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Habakkuk 2:5 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 5. 5Yea 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:
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse transitions from the proud contrast to the woes by portraying an insatiable conqueror who gathers nations like death.
Watch, write it plain, and wait without a calendar
This verse is one part of that explanation in Habakkuk 2:1-5. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- Habakkuk 2:1-5
Read Habakkuk 2:5 with 2:1-5. This verse transitions from the proud contrast to the woes by portraying an insatiable conqueror who gathers nations like death. The full unit establishes this movement: Habakkuk waits for correction; the LORD orders a durable, readable vision for an appointed time, contrasts proud distortion with the righteous person's life by faithfulness, and exposes the conqueror's death-like appetite for peoples.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The answer shifts the prophet from demanding an immediate explanation to faithful waiting under a public vision whose moral contrast prepares the oppressor's judgment. Within that movement, this verse transitions from the proud contrast to the woes by portraying an insatiable conqueror who gathers nations like death.
Read Habakkuk 2:1–5 together
Why these verses belong together: Watchful waiting, written vision, appointed time, faithful life, and proud appetite form the answer and transition to the woes.
Verse 1. 1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
Verse 2. 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Verse 3. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Verse 4. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Verse 5. 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:
Follow the Context
- Habakkuk stands watch to hear and answer reproof.
- The LORD commands the vision to be written clearly on tablets.
- The appointed vision may seem delayed, but the hearer is told to wait.
- Pride's inner distortion is contrasted with the righteous living by faithfulness.
- The arrogant conqueror's appetite is as unsatisfied as death and gathers nations.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“enlargeth his desire as hell”
In plain language: Sheol and death picture appetite that never says enough.
Transitions from the proud contrast to the woes by portraying an insatiable conqueror who gathers nations like death. Endless appetite is a sign of instability, not abundant life.
Why it matters: The wording carries textual, theological, ethical, or predictive risk that requires its full unit and stated limits.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The verse does not condemn every use of wine or every ambition; its target is proud, deceptive, death-like appetite.
What Remains True
Endless appetite is a sign of instability, not abundant life.
How It Can Shape Life
- Set limits on acquisition and examine whom expansion consumes.
Teach It Back
Explain Habakkuk 2:5's contribution to Habakkuk 2:1-5: Transitions from the proud contrast to the woes by portraying an insatiable conqueror who gathers nations like death. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read Habakkuk 2:1-5 — Watch, Write, Wait: The Proud and the RighteousSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The Hebrew may read wine or, by another construal and ancient reception, wealth; both link arrogance with insatiability.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact displayed Scripture, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and canonical verse coverage.
Exact location: Habakkuk 2:1-5, repository-pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Habakkuk
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew wording, morphology, repeated terms, clause relationships, and base forms behind translation discussion.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Hab.xml, 2:1-5
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Habakkuk with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, Hebrew, text-critical, literary, historical, and uncertainty notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Habakkuk PDF, printed pp. 1771-1772, translation and notes on 2:1-5
Open source ↗