The Meaning of Habakkuk 2:3 Explained

Habakkuk 2:3

KJV: 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.

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.

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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Habakkuk 2:3 Mean?

Study Notes

appointed time
To the watching prophet comes the response of the "vision" Habakkuk 2:2-20 ). Three elements are to be distinguished:
(1) The moral judgment of Jehovah upon the evils practised by dispersed Israel (Hab 5-13,15-19).
(2) The future purpose of God that, practised by dispersed Israel ( Habakkuk 2:5-13 ; Habakkuk 2:15-19 ).
(2) The future purpose of God that, "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea" ( Habakkuk 2:14 ). That this revelation awaits the return of the Lord in glory is shown
(a) by the parallel passage in Isaiah 11:9-12 and
(b) by the quotation of Habakkuk 2:3 in Hebrews 10:37 ; Hebrews 10:38 where the "it" of the "vision" becomes "he" and refers to the return of the Lord. It is then, after the "vision" is fulfilled, that "the knowledge of the glory," etc, shall fill the earth. But
(3) meantime, "the just shall live by his faith." This great evangelic word is applied to Jew and Gentile in Romans 1:17 to the Gentiles in Galatians 3:11-14 and to Hebrews (especially) in Hebrews 10:38 . This opening of life to faith alone, makes possible not only the salvation of the Gentiles during the dispersion of Israel "among the nations"; Habakkuk 1:5 ; Galatians 3:11-14 but also makes possible a believing remnant in Israel while the nation, as such, is in blindness and unbelief, with neither priesthood nor temple, and consequently unable to keep the ordinances of the law. Such is Jehovah! In disciplinary government His ancient Israel is cast out of the land and judicially blinded 2 Corinthians 3:12-15 but in covenanted mercy the individual Jew may resort to the simple faith of Abraham; Genesis 15:6 ; Romans 4:1-5 and be saved. But this does not set aside the Palestinian See Scofield " Deuteronomy 30:3 " and Davidic See Scofield " 2 Samuel 7:16 ". Covenants, for "the earth shall be filled," etc. ( Habakkuk 2:14 ),and Jehovah will again be in His temple ( Habakkuk 2:20 ). Cf.; Habakkuk 2:14 ; Habakkuk 2:20 ; Romans 11:25-27
cast
That Israel has not been forever set aside is the theme of this chapter.
(1) The salvation of Paul proves that there is still a remnant ( Romans 11:1 )
(2) The doctrine of the remnant proves it ( Romans 11:2-6 ).
(3) The present national unbelief was foreseen ( Romans 11:7-10 ).
(4) Israel's unbelief is the Gentile opportunity ( Romans 11:11-25 ).
(5) Israel is judicially broken off from the good olive tree, Christ ( Romans 11:17-22 ).
(6) They are to be grafted in again ( Romans 11:23 ; Romans 11:24 ).
(7) The promised Deliverer will come out of Zion and the nation will be saved ( Romans 11:25-29 ). That the Christian now inherits the distinctive Jewish promises is not taught in Scripture. The Christian is of the heavenly seed of Abraham; Genesis 15:5 ; Genesis 15:6 ; Galatians 3:29 and partakes of the spiritual blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant.
(See Scofield " Genesis 15:18 ") but Israel as a nation always has it own place, and is yet to have its greatest exaltation as the earthly people of God. See "Israel" Genesis 12:2 ; Romans 11:26 "Kingdom"; Genesis 1:26-28 ; Zechariah 12:8 .
For Another Point of View: See Topic 301242

Verse Meaning

The vision Habakkuk was about to receive concerned events to take place in the future. Though it was a prophecy that would not come to pass immediately, it would materialize eventually. Habakkuk was to wait for its fulfillment because it would indeed come at the Lord"s appointed time.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews quoted this verse ( Hebrews 10:37). He used it to encourage his readers to persevere in their commitment to Jesus Christ since what God has predicted will eventually come to pass, which in the context of Hebrews is the Lord"s return.

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 2:3 mean?

For yet the vision [is] for an appointed time but it will speak at the end and not it will lie Though it tarries wait for it because surely it will come not it will tarry
כִּ֣י ע֤וֹד חָזוֹן֙ לַמּוֹעֵ֔ד וְיָפֵ֥חַ לַקֵּ֖ץ וְלֹ֣א יְכַזֵּ֑ב אִם־ יִתְמַהְמָהּ֙ חַכֵּה־ ל֔וֹ כִּֽי־ בֹ֥א יָבֹ֖א לֹ֥א יְאַחֵֽר

ע֤וֹד  yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
חָזוֹן֙  the  vision  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָזׄון  
Sense: vision.
לַמּוֹעֵ֔ד  for  an  appointed  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
וְיָפֵ֥חַ  but  it  will  speak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: פּוּחַ 
Sense: to breathe, blow.
לַקֵּ֖ץ  at  the  end 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֵץ  
Sense: end.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְכַזֵּ֑ב  it  will  lie 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּזַב  
Sense: to lie, tell a lie, be a liar, be found a liar, be in vain, fail.
אִם־  Though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
יִתְמַהְמָהּ֙  it  tarries 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָהַהּ  
Sense: (Hithpalpel) to linger, tarry, wait, delay.
חַכֵּה־  wait 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָכָה  
Sense: to wait, wait for, await.
ל֔וֹ  for  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בֹ֥א  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
יָבֹ֖א  it  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
יְאַחֵֽר  it  will  tarry 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָחַר  
Sense: to delay, hesitate, tarry, defer, remain behind.