The Meaning of Habakkuk 2:1 Explained

Habakkuk 2:1

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.

YLT: On my charge I stand, and I station myself on a bulwark, and I watch to see what He doth speak against me, and what I do reply to my reproof.

Darby: I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer as to my reproof.

ASV: I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint.

Discover Habakkuk 2:1

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Habakkuk 2:1?

MEANING: What does Habakkuk 2:1 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Habakkuk 2:1 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Habakkuk 2:1?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Habakkuk 2:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Habakkuk compared himself to a sentinel on a city wall watching the horizon for the approach of a horseman. He purposed to watch and wait expectantly for the Lord to reply to this second question, as He had the first, so he could report it to his people (cf. Habakkuk 3:16). He prepared himself for a discussion with the Lord about the situation as well as for the Lord"s answer that he expected in a vision or dream (cf. Job 13:3; Job 23:4).
"Only by revelation can the genuine perplexities of God"s dealings with human beings be comprehended." [1]
"Yahweh"s response to those who inquire of him is never automatic. They must be willing to wait in order to hear "what God the LORD will speak" ( Psalm 85:9 8])." [2]

Context Summary

Habakkuk 2:1-20 - "the Just Shall Live By Faith"
Having prayed, the prophet expected an answer and looked out for it. When it came, there would be no mistaking it. But until we see eye to eye, we must live by simple faith in God. Note that wonderful clause in Habakkuk 2:4, which is referred to so often afterward. See Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:11. Life in this age, as in that, may be obtained and maintained by faith in the ever-living God. Through long waiting-times the only source of continued life is the faith which draws all from God. From Habakkuk 2:5 onwards, the prophet enumerates Babylon's sins: her pride, love of strong drink, rapacity, and violence. It could not be God's will that the mighty city should flourish on the anguish of the world.
From scenes of anarchy and riot which foretell Chaldea's doom, we pass into Jehovah's temple, where peaceful silence reigns! Let us live in that secret place! "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Habakkuk 2

1  Unto Habakkuk, waiting for an answer, is shown that he must wait by faith
5  The judgment upon the Chaldean for unsatiableness,
9  for covetousness,
12  for cruelty,
15  for drunkenness,
18  and for idolatry

What do the individual words in Habakkuk 2:1 mean?

On my watch I will stand and set myself the rampart and watch to see what He will say to me and what I will answer when I am corrected
עַל־ מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י אֶעֱמֹ֔דָה וְאֶֽתְיַצְּבָ֖ה מָצ֑וֹר וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה לִרְאוֹת֙ מַה־ יְדַבֶּר־ בִּ֔י וּמָ֥ה אָשִׁ֖יב עַל־ תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי

מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י  my  watch 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁמֶרֶת  
Sense: guard, charge, function, obligation, service, watch.
אֶעֱמֹ֔דָה  I  will  stand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
וְאֶֽתְיַצְּבָ֖ה  and  set  myself 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: יָצַב 
Sense: to place, set, stand, set or station oneself, present oneself.
מָצ֑וֹר  the  rampart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָצֹור 
Sense: siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment, siege works.
וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה  and  watch 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: צָפָה  
Sense: to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch.
לִרְאוֹת֙  to  see 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
יְדַבֶּר־  He  will  say 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בִּ֔י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וּמָ֥ה  and  what 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אָשִׁ֖יב  I  will  answer 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי  I  am  corrected 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: תֹּוכֵחָה 
Sense: rebuke, correction, reproof, punishment, chastisement.

What are the major concepts related to Habakkuk 2:1?

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Similar Scriptures for Habakkuk 2:1

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