Habakkuk 2:1-6

1 I will take my post; I will position myself on the fortress. I will keep watch to see what the Lord says to me and how he^[a] will respond to my complaint.

The LORD responds

2 Then the LORD answered me and said, Write a vision, and make it plain upon a tablet so that a runner can read it.^[b]

3 There is still a vision for the appointed time; it testifies to the end; it does not deceive. If it delays, wait for it; for it is surely coming; it will not be late.

4 Some people's desires are truly audacious; they don't do the right thing. But the righteous person will live honestly.

5 Moreover, wine betrays an arrogant man. He doesn't rest. He opens his jaws like the grave; like death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations to himself and collects all peoples for himself.

6 Won't everyone tell parables about him or mocking poems concerning him? They will say: Doom to the one who multiplies what doesn't belong to him and who increases his own burden. How long?

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Habakkuk 2:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 2

This chapter contains an answer from the Lord to the expostulations, pleadings, and reasonings of the prophet, in the name of the people. The preparation of the prophet to receive this answer is described, Hab 2:1 then follows the answer itself, in which he is bid to write and make plain the vision he had, that it might be easily read, Hab 2:2 and a promise is made, that vision should still be continued to the appointed time, at which time the Messiah would come; and this the righteous man, in opposition to the vain and proud man, is encouraged to live in the faith of, Hab 2:3,4 and then the destruction of the enemies of the people of God is threatened for their pride, ambition, covetousness, oppression, and murder, Hab 2:5-12 which would be unavoidable, Hab 2:13 and issue in the spread of the knowledge of the glory of God in the world, Hab 2:14 and also the ruin of other enemies is threatened, for drawing men into apostasy, and for their violence and idolatry, Hab 2:15-19 upon which would follow an universal silence in the earth, Hab 2:20.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 6

[a]. Syr he; MT I
[b]. Or a reader can run with it
[c]. Heb uncertain; antecedants to pronouns in 2:3-6 are uncertain.
[d]. Heb uncertain
[e]. Or throat
[f]. Heb Sheol