Judgment

Habakkuk 2:2-20

Habakkuk · ~605 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65%
“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
King James Version · the opening — all 19 verses are below
More of Habakkuk 2 on this siteHabakkuk 2:3 · Habakkuk 2:14

God's assurance that the vision of judgment will certainly come at the appointed time, quoted in Hebrews about Christ's return.

Read the whole passage — all 19 verses (KJV)

2:2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

2:3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

2:4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

2:5Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

2:6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

2:7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

2:8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

2:9Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

2:10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

2:11For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

2:12Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!

2:13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

2:14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

2:15Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

2:16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

2:17For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

2:18What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

2:19Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

2:20But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Fulfillment References

Romans 1:17 Galatians 3:11 Hebrews 10:37-38

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalTwo summits. 'The just shall live by his faith' (2:4) — the verse Paul makes the heart of the gospel (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38): righteousness and life come by faith, fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. And 'the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea' (2:14) — the consummation, when all know the glory of God in the face of Christ. The vision waits for its appointed time: 'it will surely come' (cf. Heb. 10:37).
JewishGod's answer to the prophet's complaint — the righteous live by their faithfulness, the proud fall, and the earth will be filled with God's glory; the vision is sure though it tarries.
Catholic'The just shall live by faith' read of justification and perseverance; the earth filled with God's glory at the consummation.
ProtestantHabakkuk 2:4 is the Reformation's cornerstone (Rom. 1:17) — the just live by faith; justification by faith alone, fulfilled in Christ.
AcademicHab. 2:4 (cited thrice in the NT) and its Qumran pesher (1QpHab) are heavily studied; the meaning of 'emunah' (faith/faithfulness) is debated.
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.