God’s Word Translation
Habakkuk 2:1
1I will stand at my guard post. I will station myself on the wall. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what answer I will get to 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.
- 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. I will station myself on the wall. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what answer I will get to my complaint. 2Then the Lord answered me, “Write the vision. Make it clear on tablets so that anyone can read it quickly. 3The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie. If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late.
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 tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me.
- Isaiah 21:8The watchman called, “Sir, I stand on the watchtower every day. Every night, I stand guard at my post.
- 2 Samuel 18:24David was sitting between the two gates while the watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. As he looked, he saw a man running alone.
- 2 Kings 9:17The watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops coming. He said, “I see some troops.” So Joram said, “Take a chariot driver, send him to meet them, and ask, ‘Is everything alright?’ ”
- 2 Kings 17:9The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that weren’t right: They built for themselves illegal places of worship in all of their cities, from the ⌞smallest⌟ watchtower to the ⌞largest⌟ fortified city.
- Isaiah 21:5Set the table. Spread the rugs ⌞by the table⌟. Eat. Drink. Get up, you leaders! Prepare your shields for battle!
- Isaiah 62:6I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. Whoever calls on the Lord, do not give yourselves any rest,
- Habakkuk 1:12Didn’t you exist before time began, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? We will not die! O Lord, you have appointed the Babylonians to bring judgment. O Rock, you have destined them to correct us.
- Psalms 85:8I want to hear what God the Lord says, because he promises peace to his people, to his godly ones. But they must not go back to their stupidity.
- 2 Corinthians 13:3Since you want proof that Christ is speaking through me, that’s what you’ll get. Christ isn’t weak in dealing with you. Instead, he makes his power felt among you.
- Galatians 1:16to show me his Son. He did this so that I would tell people who are not Jewish that his Son is the Good News. When this happened, I didn’t talk it over with any other person.
- Job 23:5I want to know the words he would use to answer me. I want to understand the things he would say to me.
- Job 31:35“If only I had someone who would listen to me! Look, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me. Let the prosecutor write ⌞his complaint⌟ on a scroll.
- Jeremiah 12:1O Lord, even if I would argue my case with you, you would always be right. Yet, I want to talk to you about your justice. Why do wicked people succeed? Why do treacherous people have peace and quiet?
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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