New Living Translation
Habakkuk 2:1
1I 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.
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 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. 2Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
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 73:16So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
- Isaiah 21:8Then the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post.
- 2 Samuel 18:24While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them.
- 2 Kings 9:17The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, “I see a company of troops coming!” “Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace,” King Joram ordered.
- 2 Kings 17:9The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the Lord their God. They built pagan shrines for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest outpost to the largest walled city.
- Isaiah 21:5Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked!
- Isaiah 62:6O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.
- Habakkuk 1:12O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal— surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins.
- Psalms 85:8I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.
- 2 Corinthians 13:3I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you.
- Galatians 1:16to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.
- Job 23:5Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me.
- Job 31:35“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.
- Jeremiah 12:1Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?
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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