The Meaning of Habakkuk 2:20 Explained

Habakkuk 2:20

KJV: But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

YLT: And Jehovah is in His holy temple, Be silent before Him, all the earth!

Darby: But Jehovah is in his holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him!

ASV: But Jehovah is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the LORD  [is] in his holy  temple:  let all the earth  keep silence  before  him. 

What does Habakkuk 2:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In contrast to lifeless idols stands the living and true God. Yahweh lived in His heavenly temple, not in the works of human hands. Therefore all the earth, everything in it, should be quiet before Him out of respect and awe (fear; cf. Habakkuk 2:1; Habakkuk 3:16). There is no need to try and coax Him to come to life or to speak (cf. Habakkuk 2:19).
"This contrasts with the frenetic activity of man to create "speaking" gods, and the tumultuous cries of worshippers to make dumb idols respond. Lifeless idols approached in clamour are silent, while the living God, approached in silence and reverence, speaks." [1]
The implication of Yahweh"s majestic sovereignty is that He would take care of Babylon; the Israelites did not have to concern themselves with that (cf. Habakkuk 3:16).
"God sometimes uses evil people to accomplish His larger purpose in life. But He never condones evil, and those who do evil He holds accountable for their actions." [2]
"The verse provides a bridge to the next major section of the prophecy in that it turns to the positive, looking at God, after the negative, attention to Babylon"s sin." [1]

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 2:20 mean?

But Yahweh is in temple His holy let keep silence before Him all the earth -
וַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּהֵיכַ֣ל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ הַ֥ס מִפָּנָ֖יו כָּל־ הָאָֽרֶץ פ

וַֽיהוָ֖ה  But  Yahweh  is 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּהֵיכַ֣ל  in  temple 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
קָדְשׁ֑וֹ  His  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
הַ֥ס  let  keep  silence 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הַס 
Sense: (Piel) hush, keep silence, be silent, hold peace, hold tongue, still v.
מִפָּנָ֖יו  before  Him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation