Habakkuk 2:2-20

The LORD’s Answer

2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald^[a] may run with it.

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it^[b] will certainly come and will not delay.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness^[c] —

5 indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.

6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, “ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’

7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.

8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!

10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!

13 Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORDas the waters cover the sea.

15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!

16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed^[d] ! The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.

17 The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.

19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”

20 The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

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Habakkuk 2:2-20 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

Cross References 46

1. S Isaiah 30:8; S Jeremiah 36:2; S Ezekiel 24:2; S Romans 4:24; Revelation 1:19
2. Daniel 11:27
3. Daniel 8:17; Daniel 10:14
4. S Psalms 27:14
5. S Ezekiel 12:25; Hebrews 10:37-38
6. S Ezekiel 18:9
7. Romans 1:17*; Galatians 3:11*; Hebrews 10:37-38*
8. S Proverbs 20:1
9. S Isaiah 2:11
10. S Proverbs 27:20; S Proverbs 30:15-16
11. Habakkuk 1:9
12. S Isaiah 14:4
13. Amos 2:8
14. S Proverbs 29:1
15. Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 50:17-18; S Obadiah 1:15; Zechariah 2:8-9
16. ver 17
17. S Ezekiel 39:10
18. S Jeremiah 22:13
19. S Jeremiah 51:13
20. S Job 39:27; S Isaiah 10:14
21. Jeremiah 26:19
22. ver 16; S Nahum 3:6
23. S Joshua 24:27; Zechariah 5:4; Luke 19:40
24. S Ezekiel 22:2; S Micah 3:10
25. Isaiah 50:11
26. S Isaiah 47:13
27. S Exodus 16:7; S Numbers 14:21
28. S Isaiah 11:9
29. S Proverbs 23:20
30. S ver 10
31. S Ezekiel 23:32-34; Hosea 4:7
32. S Leviticus 10:9
33. S Lamentations 4:21
34. S Psalms 16:5; S Isaiah 51:22
35. S Jeremiah 51:35
36. S Jeremiah 50:15
37. ver 8
38. S 1 Samuel 12:21
39. S Judges 10:14; S Isaiah 40:19; S Jeremiah 5:21; S Jeremiah 14:22
40. S Leviticus 26:1
41. Psalms 115:4-5; Jeremiah 10:14; 1 Corinthians 12:2
42. 1 Kings 18:27
43. S Jeremiah 10:4
44. S Daniel 5:4,23; S Hosea 4:12
45. S Psalms 11:4
46. S Isaiah 41:1

Footnotes 4

[a]. Or "so that whoever reads it"
[b]. Or "Though he linger, wait for him;" / "he"
[c]. Or "faith"
[d]. Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint) "and stagger"