Habakkuk 2:1

Habakkuk 2:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
• New International Version (NIV)I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

Context of Habakkuk 2:1

I will stand at my guard post And station myself on the tower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, And what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved. 2Then the Lord answered me and said, “Write the vision And engrave it plainly on [clay] tablets So that the one who reads it will run. 3For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:1 word by word

עַל־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י אֶעֱמֹ֔דָה וְאֶֽתְיַצְּבָ֖ה עַל־מָצ֑וֹר וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה לִרְאוֹת֙ מַה־יְדַבֶּר־בִּ֔י וּמָ֥ה אָשִׁ֖יב עַל־תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I will standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• upon my watchמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתmishmereth · chargeH4931
• and setיָצַבyâtsab · to standH3320
• me upon the towerמָצוֹרmâtsôr mâtsûr · siegeH4692
• and will watchצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
• to seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• what he will sayדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• unto me, and what I shall answerשׁוּבshûb · to return: replyH7725
• when I am reprovedתּוֹכַ֫חַתtôkêchâh tôkachath · argumentH8433

Cross-references for Habakkuk 2:1

• Psalms 73:16When I considered how to understand this, It was too great an effort for me and too painful
• Isaiah 21:8And the lookout called like a lion, “O Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower by day, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.
• 2 Samuel 18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the lookout went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he raised his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.
• 2 Kings 9:17Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the crowd with Jehu as he approached, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Send a horseman to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’ ”
• 2 Kings 17:9The Israelites ascribed things to the Lord their God which were not true. They built for themselves high places [of worship] in all their towns, from [the lonely] lookout tower to the [populous] fortified city.
• Isaiah 21:5They set the table [for the doomed banquet], they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains [of Belshazzar’s court], oil your shields [for battle, for your enemy is at the gates]!”
• Isaiah 62:6On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed and stationed watchmen (prophets), Who will never keep silent day or night; You who profess the Lord, take no rest for yourselves,
• Habakkuk 1:12Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, My Holy One? We will not die. O Lord, You have appointed the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon] to execute [Your] judgment, And You, O Rock, have established them to correct and chastise.
• Psalms 85:8I will hear [with expectant hope] what God the Lord will say, For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones— But let them not turn again to folly.
• 2 Corinthians 13:3since you seek [forensic] proof that Christ is speaking in and through me. He is not weak or ineffective in dealing with you, but powerful within you.
• Galatians 1:16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].
• Job 23:5I would learn the words which He would answer, And understand what He would say to me.
• Job 31:35Oh, that I had one to listen to me! Look, here is my signature (mark); Let the Almighty answer me! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].
• Jeremiah 12:1You, O Lord are [uncompromisingly] righteous and consistently just when I plead my case with You; Yet let me discuss issues of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are those who deal in treachery (deceit) at ease and thriving?

Commentaries on Habakkuk 2:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1I will stand upon my watch - The prophets are always represented as watchmen, watching constantly for the comfort, safety, and welfare of the people; and watching also to receive information from the Lord: for the prophetic influence was not always with them, but was granted only at particular times, according to the will of God. When, in doubtful cases, they wished to know what God was about to do with the country, they retired from society and gave…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1I will stand - , i. e. I would stand now, as a servant awaiting his master, Upon my watch - or, keep (Isaiah 21:8. משׁמר in the same sense Jeremiah 51:12), and “set me (plant myself firmly) upon the tower” (literally, fenced place, but also one straitened and narrowly hemmed in), “and will watch” (it is a title of the prophets, as spying by God‘s enabling, things beyond human ken); I will spy out, to see a long way off, to see with the inward eye, what He…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Habakkuk must wait in faith. (1-4) Judgments upon the Chaldeans. (5-14) Also upon drunkenness and idolatry. (15-20) Verses 1-4 When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by his word, his Spirit, and providences; what the Lord will say to our case. God will not disappoint the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1I will stand at my guard post: Like a sentinel on duty (a guard who watches for danger), Habakkuk waited with care and expectation to see how the Lord would answer his complaint. He was ready to listen, even if the Lord corrected him (see also 2 Samuel 18:24–28; 2 Kings 9:17–20; Ezekiel 33:2–6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-201. stand upon ... watch--that is, watch-post. The prophets often compare themselves, awaiting the revelations of Jehovah with earnest patience, to watchmen on an eminence watching with intent eye all that comes within their view (Is 21:8, 11; Jr 6:17; Eze 3:17; 33:2, 3; compare Psa 5:3; 85:8). The "watch-post" is the withdrawal of the whole soul from earthly, and fixing it on heavenly, things. The accumulation of synonyms, "stand upon ... watch ... set me…Read the comment

Topics related to Habakkuk 2:1

• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Blood
• Consult
• Put
• Teach
• Weary
• Wood
• Fortification; Fort; Fortified Cities; Fortress
• Habakkuk
• Jehoiakim
• Revelation

Commentaries on Habakkuk 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings