English Standard Version
Habakkuk 2:1
1I 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.
Context of Habakkuk 2:1
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. 2And the Lord answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Read all of Habakkuk 2Habakkuk 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 73:16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
- Isaiah 21:8Then he who saw cried out: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.
- 2 Samuel 18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up 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 company of Jehu as he came and said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'"
- 2 Kings 17:9And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.
- Isaiah 21:5They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield!
- Isaiah 62:6On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest,
- Habakkuk 1:12Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.
- Psalms 85:8Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
- 2 Corinthians 13:3since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
- Galatians 1:16was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
- Job 23:5I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.
- Job 31:35Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!
- Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
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
In the dictionaries
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
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