Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about a powerful army sweeping through; it reveals the profound spiritual blindness that comes with such might. The oppressors aren't just conquering; they're "guilty men, whose own might is their god," meaning they've completely replaced the true God with their own strength and achievements. This highlights how unchecked power can intoxicate people, leading them to deify themselves and their capabilities, making them blind to any higher authority or moral accountability.
Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Habakkuk is grappling with God's use of the Babylonians to punish Judah, questioning why a righteous God would employ such a wicked instrument. In this passage, God describes the Babylonians as a fierce, unstoppable force, like the wind, who sweep through nations with brutal efficiency. The prophet's subsequent lament will focus on how this seemingly unstoppable power, which deifies itself, also raises further questions about God's justice.
Imagine a force so powerful it sweeps everything in its path, leaving devastation behind. This verse paints a vivid picture of such a force, but with a crucial warning.
The Chaldeans, depicted here as an unstoppable force, are described as sweeping by 'like the wind.' This imagery emphasizes their swiftness, their destructive power, and their seeming lack of restraint.
An Overwhelming Flood
Commentators compare this imagery to an overflowing river or a powerful windstorm that knows no bounds. They don't just pass through; they 'pass over,' indicating a transgression of all limits, both human and divine.
The Prophet's Astonishment
Habakkuk is witnessing and recounting this terrifying advance. It's not just a military campaign; it's a force that overruns everything in its path, driven by a terrifying self-reliance.
What happens when human power and success become the object of worship? This verse reveals the ultimate spiritual arrogance and its dire consequences.
The chilling core of this verse lies in the declaration that these 'guilty men' make 'their own might their god.' This isn't just about military strength; it's a profound spiritual sickness.
Deifying Human Ability
Instead of acknowledging a higher power or a Creator, these conquerors elevate their own strength, their own achievements, and their own will to the status of divinity. Their 'might' becomes their sole source of authority and meaning.
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The Source of Guilt
This self-deification is the root of their guilt. By making their own power their god, they reject the true God and His authority. It's a rebellion that seals their fate, even in the midst of their triumphs. Nebuchadnezzar's own words are echoed here, where he proclaimed his kingdom built by his 'own mighty power.'
Understand the original words
asham · Hebrew Adjective
A Hebrew term referring to individuals who have violated God's law, bearing the responsibility and consequences of their offenses. It implies a state of moral failure and objective standing before a righteous Judge.
The verse speaks of a proud, self-deifying conqueror, a description that vividly matches the historical reality of Chaldean rulers like Nebuchadnezzar II, whose immense power and arrogance led them to attribute their successes to their own might rather than to any divine source.
c. 721-709 BC
Chaldean King Merodach-Baladan's Rule
Merodach-Baladan, a Chaldean prince, occupies the throne of Babylon, challenging Assyrian dominance and establishing a period of Chaldean influence in the region.
c. 626 BC
Nabopolassar Establishes Chaldean Dynasty
Nabopolassar, a Chaldean leader, seizes control of Babylon, rebelling against the declining Assyrian Empire and founding the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon decisively defeats the Egyptian and Assyrian forces, securing Babylonian hegemony over the Near East and marking the start of Babylonian imperial expansion.
605-562 BC— this verse
Reign of Nebuchadnezzar II
Nebuchadnezzar II's reign is characterized by military campaigns, extensive building projects in Babylon, and the consolidation of the Chaldean empire, during which time the prophet Habakkuk likely lived and ministered.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroying the Temple and exiling a significant portion of the Jewish population to Babylon, a major event in the history of Judah.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Neo-Babylonian Empire falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia, ending Chaldean rule and marking a new era in Mesopotamian history.
This passage directly parallels Habakkuk 1:11 by showing Nebuchadnezzar's pride in his own accomplishments, declaring 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power to be a royal residence?'
Isaiah 10:13This verse echoes the theme of self-reliance and pride in power, as the Assyrian king boasts, 'By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.'
Ezekiel 28:2-5The description of the King of Tyre's inflated pride, 'Your heart is lifted up because of your beauty... you made yourself like God,' directly mirrors the sin of making one's own might a god.
1 Corinthians 1:18-20This New Testament passage contrasts human wisdom and strength, which are seen as foolishness by God, with the 'power of God' found in the cross, highlighting the futility of relying on one's own might.
Psalm 20:7This Psalm provides a counterpoint to Habakkuk's observation, reminding us that true confidence is not in chariots or horses (human might) but in the name of the Lord our God, emphasizing reliance on divine power.
barnesHabakkuk 1:11: "Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god."
Then shall his mind change - or, better, "Then he sweeps by, חלף châlaph is used of the overflowing of a river, Isaiah 8:8 , of a wind chasing, Isaiah 21:1 , of the invisible presence of God passing by, Job 9:11 , or a spirit, Job 4:15 , of the swift passing of our days, like ship or eagle, Job 10:26 , of idols utterly passing away. Isaiah 2:18 , of rain past and gone, Sol 2:…
clarkeHabakkuk 1:11: "Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god."
Then shall his mind change - This is thought to relate to the change which took place in Nebuchadnezzar, when "a beast's heart was given to him," and he was "driven from the dwellings of men." And this was because of his offending - his pride and arrogance; and his attributing all his success, etc., to his idols.
This verse isn't just about a powerful army sweeping through; it reveals the profound spiritual blindness that comes with such might. The oppressors aren't just conquering; they're "guilty men, whose own might is their god," meaning they've completely replaced the true God with their own strength and achievements. This highlights how unchecked power can intoxicate people, leading them to deify themselves and their capabilities, making them blind to any higher authority or moral accountability.
Habakkuk is grappling with God's use of the Babylonians to punish Judah, questioning why a righteous God would employ such a wicked instrument. In this passage, God describes the Babylonians as a fierce, unstoppable force, like the wind, who sweep through nations with brutal efficiency. The prophet's subsequent lament will focus on how this seemingly unstoppable power, which deifies itself, also raises further questions about God's justice.
Habakkuk is grappling with God's use of the Babylonians to punish Judah, questioning why a righteous God would employ such a wicked instrument. In this passage, God describes the Babylonians as a fierce, unstoppable force, like the wind, who sweep through nations with brutal efficiency. The prophet's subsequent lament will focus on how this seemingly unstoppable power, which deifies itself, also raises further questions about God's justice.
"Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”" — This verse isn't just about a powerful army sweeping through; it reveals the profound spiritual blindness that comes with such might. The oppressors aren't just conquering; they're "guilty men, whose…
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Last reviewed October 2026