חבקוק, פרק ב׳, פסוק י״ד

The ultimate destiny of the world involves a deep transformation in human awareness, where the recognition of God's presence and guidance will eventually encompass all of reality. This universal awakening does not happen without a cause. It is born from witnessing divine justice in action. When people see that power built on cruelty and wickedness offers no protection on the day of judgment, they naturally learn God's ways and begin to rely on Him [אבן עזרא].

This realization is deeply tied to historical shifts in power, most notably the dramatic fall of the Babylonian empire. The nations of the world witnessed God's glory through the sudden punishments of arrogant kings who had disgraced holy things. Events like the madness that struck Nebuchadnezzar and the swift death of Belshazzar after a mysterious message appeared on a wall served as clear proof. Later, when King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon, he publicly declared that God had granted him his empire. Through these events, the surrounding nations recognized God's ultimate power and understood that He judges every person according to their actions [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

While the collapse of Babylon provided an early glimpse of this awareness, the complete fulfillment of the vision is destined for the Messianic era. Following the great conflicts of the future, such as the war of Gog and Magog, God's justice will be fully revealed among all nations. At that time, every person on earth, regardless of their status, will achieve a clear and universal knowledge of God [רד״ק].

To capture the sheer scale of this future reality, a vivid physical image of the ocean is used. In this context, the sea refers not to the water itself, but to the vast, empty ocean floor. Just as water fills the deep basins of the earth completely, leaving no gaps or empty spaces, the people of the world will be entirely filled with the knowledge of God's glory, creating a reality where His presence is known comprehensively by everyone [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].