Bible Commentaries
Habakkuk 2

Verse 1

watch = watch-tower; referring to the place.

set me = take my station.

tower = fortress.

watch = look out; referring to the act = keep outlook.

unto: or, in.

answer when I am reproved: or, get back because of my complaint.

Verse 2

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Write, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 27:8 ). App-47 and App-92 .

the vision. Supply the logical Ellipsis : "[which I am about to reveal to thee]". Compare Habakkuk 1:1 .

upon tables: i.e. boxwood tables smeared with wax. Compare Luke 1:63 .

that he may run that readeth it = that he that readeth it may flee. Hebrew. ruz = to run as a messenger (Job 9:25 .Jeremiah 23:21 ; Jeremiah 51:31 .Zechariah 2:4; Zechariah 2:4 ); or, to flee for refuge (Psalms 18:10 ), as in Haggai 1:9 .

Verse 3

yet = deferred.

appointed: i.e. fixed by Jehovah for its fulfillment.

and not lie. Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

it will not tarry. Some codices, with five early printed editions (one Rabbinic, margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and will not tarry".

Verse 4

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), emphasizing the twofold answer to the prophet's prayer: the fate of the wicked in the coming judgment, and the preservation and eternal lot of the righteous. Supply the Ellipsis: "Behold [the proud one]".

his: i.e. the Chaldean's of Habakkuk 1:0 ; or the lawless one described in Hab 1 and in the verses which follow.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

the just = a righteous one. Quoted in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:11 . Compare Hebrews 10:38 .

live: i.e. live for ever in resurrection life. See notes on Leviticus 18:5 . The wicked go on living, without faith, if it refers to this life; therefore "live" must refer to a future life. The Hebrew accents place the emphasis on "shall live"; not "the just by his faith", but "a just one, by his faith, will live", and make the contrast not between faith and unbelief, but between the fate of each perishing and living for ever. In Romans 1:17 the context places the emphasis on " the righteous "; in Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:11 it is placed on "faith".

Verse 5

transgresseth = = is transgressing, or is acting deceitfully.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

man = strong man.

desire = soul. Hebrew. nephesh.

hell = Sheol. See App-35 . Compare Isaiah 5:14 .

is = he [is].

people = peoples

Verse 6

parable. Hebrew. mashal.

proverb = enigma. Hebrew. hidah, as in Psalms 78:2 .

Woe. Note the five woes in verses: Habakkuk 2:6 , Habakkuk 2:9 , Habakkuk 2:12 , Hab 6:15 , Hab 6:19 .

how long? i.e. for his time is short.

thick clay = pledges. Reference to Pentateuch App-92 . Occurs in this form only here. Compare other forms in Deuteronomy 15:0 and 24, where it occurs nine times with a cognate meaning, and in Joel 2:7 .

Verse 7

bite: or, exact usury.

vex = shake.

Verse 9

coveteth . . . covetousness = extorteth a gain.

set his nest on high. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:21 ).

power = hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the power exercised by it.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .

Verse 10

consulted = counselled, or devised.

shame = a shameful thing.

sinned against thy soul. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 16:38 ).

sinned. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .

Verse 12

iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . Not the same word as in Habakkuk 1:3 , Habakkuk 1:13 .

Verse 13

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. (with ' eth) = Jehovah of Hosts Himself. App-4 . See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

Verse 14

the earth shall be filled, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 14:21 ). App-92 . This is the fifth and last occurance of this wondrous prophecy: Numbers 14:21 .Psalms 72:19 . Isaiah 6:3 (= shall be); Hab 11:9 , and Habakkuk 2:14 .

glory. Compare Isaiah 66:18 , Isaiah 66:19 . Ezekiel 28:22 ; Ezekiel 39:13 , Ezekiel 39:21 .

Verse 15

that puttest thy bottle to him = that addest (or pourest) thy fury or venom (Hebrew construct form of hemah = heat, wrath; not of hemeth = bottle) thereto. See Oxford Gesenius, p. 705, under saphak.

makest him drunken, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 9:22 ).

Verse 16

let thy foreskin be uncovered: i.e. be as one uncircumcised: i.e. uncovenanted.

Verse 17

violence of Lebanon: i.e. violence [done to] Lebanon by felling its trees.

which made them afraid: or, shall make thee afraid.

Verse 18

trusteth = confideth. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

dumb idols. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Hebrew. 'elilim illemim = nothings [that] say nothing. Compare Jeremiah 14:14 .

Verse 19

Woe unto him, &c. "The sequence of thought" would not be improved, as suggested, by making Habakkuk 2:19 precede Habakkuk 2:18 . See the Structure above.

breath = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. See App-9 . Compare Psalms 115:4-7 ; Psalms 135:17 . Jeremiah 10:14 .

Verse 20

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

keep silence = Hush! Be still! So Zephaniah 1:7 . Zechariah 2:13 .