Habakkuk 1:12 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Bible Comments

Art Thou not... ? Note the change of subject, as shown in the Structure above.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

we shall not die. This is one of the eighteen emendations of the Sopherim (see App-33), which they say they made because it was considered offensive to say this of Jehovah; hence, the one word of the primitive text "who diest not" was changed to "who die not" (rendered in Authorized Version, Revised Version, and American Revised Version, "we shall not die"). This is the only one of the eighteen emendations which the Revised Version and American Revised Version notice, and speak of it in the margin as "an ancient Jewish tradition", whereas. list of such emendations is given in the Massorah. The change from the second person to the first did more than avoid the supposed irreverent expression; it transferred to mortal men the truth which, apart from resurrection, pertains to God alone, "Who only hath immortality" (1 Timothy 6:16). Compare 1 Corinthians 15:53; 1 Corinthians 15:54.

O mighty God. O Rock. Compare Deuteronomy 32:4; Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 32:18; Deuteronomy 32:30. 1Sa 2:2. 2 Samuel 23:3.Psalms 18:2; Psalms 18:31; Psalms 18:46; Psalms 19:14, &c.

Habakkuk 1:12

12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.