What does Habakkuk 2:2 mean?
"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
"Habakkuk 2:2" from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads: "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."
This verse comes from the Book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament, which is a relatively short book with only three chapters. Habakkuk was a prophet who lived in Judah during a time of great political and social upheaval. The book is a dialogue between the prophet and God, as Habakkuk questions the justice of God and the suffering of the righteous.
Habakkuk 2:2 is part of God's response to Habakkuk, instructing him to "write the vision, and make it plain upon tables" so that others can read and understand it. This verse is significant as it emphasizes the importance of clear communication and the sharing of God's message with others.
One of the central themes of Habakkuk 2:2 is the importance of vision and revelation. In this context, "vision" refers to the divine message or revelation that God has given to Habakkuk. The verse instructs Habakkuk to write down this vision and make it plain, or clear, so that others can understand and "run" with it. This emphasizes the idea that God's message is meant to be shared and acted upon, not kept hidden or obscured.
The verse also speaks to the idea of divine communication and the role of prophets in delivering God's message to the people. By instructing Habakkuk to "write the vision," God is emphasizing the importance of recording and preserving divine revelation for future generations. The phrase "make it plain upon tables" suggests that the vision should be written clearly and prominently, so that it can be easily read and understood by all who encounter it.
Additionally, the verse highlights the idea of active participation in the communication and dissemination of God's message. The phrase "that he may run that readeth it" emphasizes the urgency and importance of the vision, suggesting that it should inspire action and movement in those who read and understand it. This speaks to the transformative power of God's word and the potential for it to drive people to live according to his will.
Symbolically, the act of writing down the vision can be seen as a form of recording and preserving divine truth. This reflects the broader theme of the importance of scripture and the written word in conveying God's message to humanity. The use of the word "tables" in the verse may also hold symbolic significance, as it points to the idea of public proclamation and the sharing of God's message in a visible and accessible manner.
In terms of context, Habakkuk 2:2 should be understood within the larger narrative of the book of Habakkuk. The verse is part of God's response to Habakkuk's questions and concerns, and it serves as an affirmation of the importance of divine revelation and the role of the prophet in communicating God's message to the people. When read in the context of the whole book, this verse can be seen as a call to faithfulness and a reminder of the power of God's word to bring about transformation and renewal.
In conclusion, Habakkuk 2:2 is a verse that emphasizes the importance of clear communication and the sharing of God's message with others. It speaks to the transformative power of God's word and the role of prophets in delivering divine revelation to the people. The verse also underscores the urgency and importance of acting upon God's vision. Understanding this verse in its broader context and considering its themes of divine communication and the recording of scripture, we can see it as a powerful reminder of the significance of God's message and the role of faithful believers in sharing it with the world.
Have questions about Habakkuk 2:2?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Habakkuk 2:2 Artwork
Habakkuk 2:2 - "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."
Habakkuk 2:2-3 - "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."
"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
"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." - Habakkuk 2:2-3
Habakkuk 2:1-3
Habakkuk 2:12 - "¶ Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!"
Habakkuk 2:14 - "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Habakkuk 2:11 - "For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it."
Habakkuk 2:20 - "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
Habakkuk 2:13 - "Behold, 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?"
Habakkuk 2:4 - "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
Habakkuk 2:3 - "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."
Habakkuk 2:7 - "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?"
Habakkuk 2:10 - "Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul."
Habakkuk 2:15 - "¶ Woe 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!"
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14
"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." - Habakkuk 2:1
"¶ Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!" - Habakkuk 2:12
Habakkuk 2:9 - "¶ Woe 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!"
Habakkuk 1:2 - "O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!"
Habakkuk 2:19 - "Woe 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."
Habakkuk 2:18 - "¶ What 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?"
Habakkuk 2:17 - "For 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."
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14
Habakkuk 2:8 - "Because 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."
Habakkuk 2:1 - "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."
Habakkuk 3:2 - "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."
"For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it." - Habakkuk 2:11
Habakkuk 2:6 - "Shall 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!"
"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him." - Habakkuk 2:20