1.5 KiB
General Information:
Yahweh continues to answer Habakkuk and to speak of the Chaldeans as if they were one man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
the one who carves out evil gains
A person making a profit by violent means is spoken of as if he were "carving out" gains from something. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
the one who carves out evil gains for his house
Possible meanings are 1) the word "house" is a metaphor in which the Babylonian empire is spoken of as if it were a house that the man builds by means of profits that he gained through violence. AT: "the one who builds his house with riches that he gained through violence" or 2) the word "house" is a metonym for "family" and the man has made his family rich through violence. AT: "the one who makes his family rich by violent means" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
so he can set his nest on high to keep himself safe from the hand of evil
The person who builds his house is spoken of as if he were a bird that builds its nest in a high place. The man thinks that his house is secure and free from danger, just as predators are unable to reach the nest. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
safe from the hand of evil
Here the word "hand" is a metonym for power, and the word "evil" is a metonym for people who do evil things. AT: "safe from the power of evil" or "safe from people who will harm him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)