Habakkuk 2:2 kjv
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Habakkuk 2:2 nkjv
Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
Habakkuk 2:2 niv
Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
Habakkuk 2:2 esv
And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
Habakkuk 2:2 nlt
Then the LORD said to me, "Write my answer plainly on tablets,
so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.
Habakkuk 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hab 2:3 | For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. | Reinforces the fulfillment and patience for the vision. |
| Isa 8:1 | Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” | Command to write a prophetic message on a tablet for public display. |
| Deut 6:9 | You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. | Emphasizes the public and prominent display of God's words for all to see. |
| Deut 11:20 | And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, | Further command for visible display of God's words. |
| Exod 24:12 | The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.” | God gives inscribed tablets as a means of enduring divine communication. |
| Exod 31:18 | When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. | Highlights God's direct act of writing, establishing authoritative record. |
| Jer 30:2 | “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.’” | Command to Jeremiah to record prophecy in a lasting form. |
| Rev 1:19 | Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. | John is commanded to record his prophetic vision. |
| Rev 2:1 | “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand...’” | Further instance of commanding to write a divine message for dissemination. |
| Isa 30:8 | Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a perpetual witness. | Writing for future witness and enduring testimony. |
| Psa 45:1 | My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe. | Implies the skill and purpose in recording messages. |
| Job 19:23-24 | “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!” | Desire for permanence and widespread knowledge of words. |
| Prov 3:3 | Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Metaphorical writing, emphasizing internalization of truth. |
| Prov 7:3 | Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Calls for deep absorption of instruction. |
| Lk 1:63 | He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. | An example of writing a message plainly and for immediate recognition. |
| Ezra 7:11 | This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scholar of the words of the commandments of the Lord... | Illustrates the role of scribes in recording and transmitting authoritative texts. |
| Deut 27:8 | And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly. | Specific instruction for the law to be written plainly. |
| Isa 28:13 | And the word of the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. | In contrast, emphasizes how God's clear word can still be rejected. |
| Jn 13:20 | Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” | Connects to the idea of a messenger running with a message, bearing the authority of the sender. |
| Rom 10:14-15 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” | Highlights the necessity of a message being proclaimed and disseminated for belief. |
| 1 Cor 9:24 | Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. | Connects to the imagery of "running," emphasizing purposeful action. |
| 2 Cor 3:2-3 | You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all. You show that you are a letter from Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. | Contrast between external written tablets and the inward transformation of hearts. |
| Matt 10:27 | What I tell you in the dark, proclaim in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. | Similar emphasis on public and clear declaration of a message. |
| Act 17:11 | Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. | Implies the accessibility and readiness to scrutinize the written word. |
Habakkuk 2 verses
Habakkuk 2 2 Meaning
Habakkuk 2:2 conveys God's instruction to the prophet Habakkuk to clearly record the divine vision he is about to receive. The message must be inscribed distinctly on tablets, ensuring it is easily legible even by someone in haste, thereby facilitating swift understanding and widespread communication of its truth. This emphasizes the divine origin, clarity, and urgent nature of the revelation God is giving in response to Habakkuk's prayer.
Habakkuk 2 2 Context
Habakkuk chapter 2 directly follows Habakkuk's lament (Hab 1:12-17) where he questions God's inaction against Judah's injustice and His seemingly allowing the even more wicked Chaldeans to punish His people. Habakkuk stands "on my watch" (Hab 2:1), awaiting God's response. Verse 2 marks God's definitive reply. Historically, this prophecy arises during a turbulent period in Judah, facing the looming threat and eventual rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (Chaldeans), circa late 7th century BC. God's instruction to write the vision clearly sets the stage for a revelation that will address Habakkuk's concerns about divine justice, the future of Judah, and the fate of the oppressors, offering both judgment and a message of hope and patient faith for the righteous.
Habakkuk 2 2 Word analysis
- And the Lord answered me and said,
- The Lord: (Hebrew: `Yahweh` יהוה) refers to the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing His authority and faithful relationship. This highlights that the message is not merely human insight but a direct divine revelation.
- answered: (Hebrew: `‘ânâ` עָנָה) signifies God's direct reply to Habakkuk's complaint and persistent questioning (Hab 1:2-4, 12-17; 2:1). It underscores God's attentiveness to His prophets.
- me: Refers to Habakkuk, indicating a personal communication between God and His prophet.
- said: Confirms the verbal, authoritative nature of God's communication.
- “Write the vision;
- Write: (Hebrew: `kâṯaḇ` כָּתַב) An imperative verb, commanding the prophet to commit the revelation to a permanent form. This ensures accuracy, preservation, and wide dissemination beyond immediate hearers. It signifies the lasting authority of the prophetic word.
- the vision: (Hebrew: `ḥāzôn` חָזוֹן) A divine communication, an oracle, or prophetic revelation. This is not a mere dream or imagination, but a seeing or beholding of God's revealed plan and purpose, encompassing future events and divine judgments. It carries God's full authority and intent.
- make it plain on tablets,
- make it plain: (Hebrew: `bā’ēr` בָּאֵר) Meaning to engrave clearly, to make legible, distinct, or explain fully. The verb implies making the message unambiguous and understandable to all, not just an educated elite or those with specific interpretation skills.
- on tablets: (Hebrew: `lûḥôṯ` לוּחוֹת) Refers to stone or clay tablets, which were common ancient writing surfaces, typically for public or durable records. Using tablets indicates the permanence and public nature of the message, making it accessible and verifiable. It suggests a message intended for open display and enduring memory, rather than a fleeting private utterance.
- so he may run who reads it.”
- so he may run: (Hebrew: `yārûṣ` יָרוּץ) Refers to physical running. This phrase is often interpreted in two primary ways, both implying urgency and ease of understanding:
- Reader runs with the message: The message is so clear that anyone reading it, even in haste, can grasp its content and quickly convey it to others, perhaps acting as a herald or messenger. This emphasizes the clarity and transportability of the word.
- Reader runs after the message (i.e., acts upon it): The message is so distinct and compelling that the reader is moved to immediate action, applying the truth to their life without delay. This highlights the practical and life-changing power of clearly understood divine revelation.
- who reads it: (Hebrew: `qôrē’` קֹרֵא) Refers to anyone who happens to read the inscription, indicating widespread accessibility and public proclamation of the vision.
- so he may run: (Hebrew: `yārûṣ` יָרוּץ) Refers to physical running. This phrase is often interpreted in two primary ways, both implying urgency and ease of understanding:
Habakkuk 2 2 Bonus section
The concept of writing divine revelations on tablets finds resonance in the biblical tradition, from the Ten Commandments given on stone tablets to Ezra the scribe preserving the law. This practice rooted God's message in tangible, public, and relatively permanent forms, guarding against distortion and ensuring its transmission across generations. The command to make it "plain" also implies a deliberate choice by God to counter the complexity or esotericism sometimes associated with divine messages or pagan oracles. God’s intention is not obfuscation but illumination. The imagery of someone "running" not only conveys the speed of proclamation but implicitly connects to the role of heralds and messengers in the ancient world, whose duty was to carry important news with great swiftness. This verse sets a standard for all divine communication: it should be clear, public, and inspire active response. It implicitly highlights the difference between fleeting human opinion and the immutable, purposeful word of God.
Habakkuk 2 2 Commentary
Habakkuk 2:2 is a foundational command for prophetic ministry. God instructs His prophet to transform a personal divine encounter into a public, tangible, and durable record. The emphasis on "writing" signifies the enduring nature and reliability of God's word, contrasting with the ephemeral human words or interpretations. The injunction to "make it plain on tablets" stresses clarity and accessibility; God desires His truth to be understood by all, not shrouded in mystery for a select few. This transparency serves a critical purpose: "so he may run who reads it." This dual meaning underscores the message's urgency, both in its rapid dissemination by a messenger and in the immediate, active response it demands from those who internalize it. In a time of national crisis and confusion, God provides a clear, verifiable, and action-demanding word, demonstrating His sovereignty over historical events and His commitment to revealing His plans to His people for their steadfastness and proclamation.
- Examples: A community struggling with waiting for justice needs to have God's promise written clearly for all to see and live by, rather than just spoken. Leaders share the vision of an initiative plainly, so team members can quickly grasp their role and "run" with their tasks.