What does Habakkuk 2:20 mean?
"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him." - Habakkuk 2:20
"Habakkuk 2:20 (KJV) - But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
This verse from the Book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament of the Bible is a powerful declaration of the awe-inspiring nature of God. The prophet Habakkuk is expressing his understanding of the greatness and holiness of God, and calling on all the earth to respond in humble reverence before him.
The Book of Habakkuk is set in a time of great turmoil and injustice, and the prophet is questioning God about the suffering of the righteous and the seeming impunity of the wicked. In response, God reveals to Habakkuk that he will bring judgement and justice, and that the righteous will live by their faith. The verse in question comes at the end of a vision of the future destruction of the enemies of Judah, reminding the people to acknowledge the power and presence of the Lord.
The theme of the holiness and sovereignty of God is central to this verse. The phrase "the LORD is in his holy temple" emphasizes the sacred and unapproachable nature of God. In the ancient Jewish tradition, the temple was the dwelling place of God on earth, and only the high priest was allowed to enter the most sacred chamber. This verse conveys the idea that God's presence demands reverence and awe, and that all the earth should be hushed in acknowledgment of his greatness.
The call for silence before God is a powerful symbol of submission and humility. In many cultures, silence is a sign of deep respect and reverence. By calling on all the earth to keep silence before God, Habakkuk is emphasizing the need for humans to recognize their place in the presence of the divine. It is a reminder that in the face of God's holiness, all human boasting and noise should fade away.
The context of this verse is important for understanding its significance. Habakkuk was speaking to a people who were experiencing the consequences of their sin and rebellion against God. The prophet's message was a call to repentance and a reminder of the holiness and justice of God. By acknowledging the greatness of God and calling for silence before him, Habakkuk was urging the people to recognize their need for humility and contrition in the presence of the Almighty.
The Book of Habakkuk as a whole addresses themes of justice, faith, and the sovereignty of God. The verse in question serves as a powerful conclusion to the prophet's message, encapsulating the central themes of the book. It calls on the people to acknowledge the greatness and holiness of God, and to respond with humility and reverence. It is a reminder that in the face of the divine, all human striving and noise should be silenced.
In conclusion, Habakkuk 2:20 is a powerful declaration of the holiness and sovereignty of God. It is a call to humility and reverence in the presence of the Almighty, and a reminder of the need for repentance and submission. The verse serves as a fitting conclusion to the prophet's message, encapsulating the central themes of the book and pointing to the greatness of God. It continues to inspire awe and reverence in those who read it, reminding us of the transcendent nature of the divine.
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Habakkuk 2:20 - "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him." - Habakkuk 2:20
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 2:2 - "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."
Habakkuk 2:13 - "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 2:3 - "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 2:4 - "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
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
"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 2:8 - "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 2:2-3 - "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."
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!"
Habakkuk 2:16 - "Thou 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."