Habakkuk 2:3 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

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.

For - assigning the cause why it ought to be committed to writing: because its fulfillment belongs to the future.

The vision is yet for an appointed time - (Daniel 10:14; Daniel 11:27; Daniel 11:35, "Because it is yet for a time appointed"). Though the time appointed by God for the fulfillment be yet future, it should be enough for your faith that God hath spoken it (Lamentations 3:26, "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord').

But at the end it shall speak - Maurer translates [yaapeeach], 'it pants for the end.' But the antithesis between "it shall speak" and "not lie" (i:e., not fail to speak) makes the English version the better rendering. So the Hebrew is translated, Proverbs 12:17. Literally, 'breathe out words,' 'break forth as a blast.' Moreover, the obvious parallelism between "yet for an appointed time," and "at the end," confirms the English version. Also, the phrase "at the end" is expressed by Daniel in an expanded form, "at the time of the end."

Though it tarry, wait for it - (Genesis 49:18, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord").

Habakkuk 2:3

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.