Habakkuk 2 · Verse 3

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 2:3, King James Version

Habakkuk 2:3 in other translations

BSB	For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
WEB	For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it, because it will surely come. It won’t delay.
ASV	For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.
YLT	For yet the vision is for a season, And it breatheth for the end, and doth not lie, If it tarry, wait for it, For surely it cometh, it is not late.
DARBY	For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but it hasteth to the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; for it will surely come, it will not delay.
BBE	For the vision is still for the fixed time, and it is moving quickly to the end, and it will not be false: even if it is slow in coming, go on waiting for it; because it will certainly come, it will not be kept back.
Webster	For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it may tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

What does Habakkuk 2:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. for--assigning the cause why it ought to be committed to writing: because its fulfilment belongs to the future. the vision is yet for an appointed time--(Da 10:14; 11:27, 35). Though the time appointed by God for the fulfilment be yet future, it should be enough for your faith that God hath spoken it (La 3:26). at the end it shall speak--Maurer translates, "it pants for the end." But the antithesis between, "it shall speak," and "not be silent," makes English Version the better rendering. So the Hebrew is translated in Pr 12:17. Literally, "breathe out words," "break forth as a blast." though it tarry, wait for it--(Ge 49:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 The vision is yet for an appointed time - The Chaldeans, who are to ruin Judea, shall afterwards be ruined themselves: but they must do this work before they receive their wages; therefore the vision is for an appointed time. But at the end it shall speak. When his work of devastation is done, his day of retribution shall take place. Though it tarry - Though it appear to be long, do not be impatient; it will surely come; it will not tarry longer than the prescribed time, and this time is not far distant. Wait for it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Habakkuk 2:1-4

When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by his word, his Spirit, and providences; what the Lord will say to our case. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what he will say unto them. All are…

Read the full comment on Habakkuk 2:1-4 →

Habakkuk 2:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֣יkiforH3588

ע֤וֹדodstillH5750

חָזוֹן֙cha.zOn[the] visionH2377

לַמּוֹעֵ֔דla.mo.'Ed[is] for the appointed timeH4150

וְיָפֵ֥חַve.ya.Fe.achand it will pantH6315

לַקֵּ֖ץla.Ketzto the endH7093

וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808

יְכַזֵּ֑בye.kha.Zevit will lieH3576

אִם\־'im-ifH518

יִתְמַהְמָהּ֙yit.mah.Mahit will delayH4102

חַכֵּה\־cha.keh-waitH2442

ל֔וֹlofor it

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588

בֹ֥אvo'surely <come>H935

יָבֹ֖אya.Vo'it will comeH935

לֹ֥אlo'notH3808

יְאַחֵֽר\׃ye.'a.Cherit will delayH309

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Habakkuk 2:3

Psalms 27:14
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Hebrews 10:36-37
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Ezekiel 12:25
For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.
Lamentations 3:25-26
The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
Psalms 102:13
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
Psalms 130:5-6
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Daniel 10:14
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
James 5:7-8
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Luke 18:7-8
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Micah 7:7
Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the vision.
Jer 27:7; Da 8:19; 9:24-27; 10:1,14; 11:27,35; Ac 1:7; 17:26; Ga 4:2
2Th 2:6-8
but.
Ex 12:41; Ps 102:13; Jer 25:12-14; Heb 10:36
wait.
2Ki 6:33; Ps 27:14; 130:5,6; Isa 30:18; La 3:25,26; Mic 7:7; Lu 2:25
Jas 5:7,8
it will surely.
Lu 18:7,8; 2Pe 2:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

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 2:3
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.

Read all of Habakkuk 2

Habakkuk 2:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Aunque la visión tardará aún por tiempo, mas al fin hablará, y no mentirá: aunque se tardare, espéralo, que sin duda vendrá; no tardará.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car la vision est encore pour un temps déterminé, et elle parle de la fin, et ne mentira pas. Si elle tarde, attends-la, car elle viendra sûrement, elle ne sera pas différée.
German Elberfelder 1871	denn das Gesicht geht noch auf die bestimmte Zeit, und es strebt nach dem Ende hin und lügt nicht. Wenn es verzieht, so harre sein; denn kommen wird es, es wird nicht ausbleiben.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quia adhuc visus procul; et apparebit in finem, et non mentietur: si moram fecerit, exspecta illum, quia veniens veniet, et non tardabit.