New English Translation
Habakkuk 2:20
20But the Lord is in his majestic palace. The whole earth is speechless in his presence!”
Habakkuk 2:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him."
- New King James Version (NKJV)“But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
Context of Habakkuk 2:20
18What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute, worthless things? 19The one who says to wood, ‘Wake up!’ is as good as dead – he who says to speechless stone, ‘Awake!’ Can it give reliable guidance? It is overlaid with gold and silver; it has no life’s breath inside it. But the Lord is in his majestic palace. The whole earth is speechless in his presence!”
Read all of Habakkuk 2Habakkuk 2:20 word by word
וַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּהֵיכַ֣ל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ הַ֥ס מִפָּנָ֖יו כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Habakkuk 2:20
- Psalms 11:4The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his eyes examine all people.
- Psalms 115:3Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases!
- Psalms 132:13Certainly the Lord has chosen Zion; he decided to make it his home.
- Isaiah 6:1In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple.
- Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: “The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest?
- Jonah 2:4I thought I had been banished from your sight, that I would never again see your holy temple!
- Ephesians 2:21In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
- Psalms 46:10He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!”
- Psalms 76:8From heaven you announced what their punishment would be. The earth was afraid and silent
- Zephaniah 1:7Be silent before the Lord God, for the Lord’s day of judgment is almost here. The Lord has prepared a sacrificial meal; he has ritually purified his guests.
- Zechariah 2:13Be silent in the Lord’s presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place.
Commentaries on Habakkuk 2:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The Lord is in his holy temple - Jehovah has his temple, the place where he is to be worshipped; but there there is no image. Oracles, however, are given forth; and every word of them is truth, and is fulfilled in its season. And this temple and its worship are holy; no abomination can be practiced there, and every thing in it leads to holiness of heart and life. Let all the earth keep silence before him - Let all be dumb. Let none of them dare to open…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20And now having declared the nothingness of all which is not God, the power of man or his gods, he answers again his own question, by summoning all before the presence of the majesty of God. But the Lord - He had, in condemning them, pictured the tumult of the world, the oppressions, the violence, bloodsheddings, covetousness, insolence, self-aggrandizement of the then world-empire, and had denounced woe upon it; we see man framing his idols, praying to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 A severe woe is pronounced against drunkenness; it is very fearful against all who are guilty of drunkenness at any time, and in any place, from the stately palace to the paltry ale-house. To give one drink who is in want, who is thirsty and poor, or a weary traveller, or ready to perish, is charity; but to give a neighbour drink, that he may expose himself, may disclose secret concerns, or be drawn into a bad bargain, or for any such…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The taunt songs end with a statement: The ruler of all nations is not a Babylonian idol but God who is holy (Habakkuk 2:18–20). Unlike the lifeless Babylonian idols, the living God resides in his holy temple. God's presence fills his heavenly sanctuary (Isaiah 6:1–5). During Habakkuk's time, God's presence filled the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:10–11). God controls all the earth and expects people to worship him in humble submission (Psalm 63:1–4…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. But the Lord--Jehovah; in striking contrast with the idols. in his holy temple--"His place" (Is 26:21); heaven (Psa 11:4; Jon 2:7; Mi 1:2). The temple at Jerusalem is a type of it, and there God is to be worshipped. He does not lie hid under gold and silver, as the idols of Babylon, but reigns in heaven and fills heaven, and thence succors His people. keep silence--in token of reverent submission and subjection to His judgments (Job 40:4; Psa 76:8…Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 2:20
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries