But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!”
- KJV But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
- NKJV “Butthe Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
- NASB “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.”
- NLT But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In contrast to dead idols, the Lord is in His holy temple, and all the earth must be silent before Him. It calls for reverent silence and submission before the living, sovereign God.
Overview
Against the mute, lifeless idols, the true God reigns in His holy temple, demanding the worshipful silence of all creation. This call to hush before God answers the clamor of Habakkuk's complaints with the assurance that God is enthroned and in control. Such reverent stillness is the proper response to His majesty, and it prepares the way for the prayer of awe and trust that fills chapter 3.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Zech 2:13Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”
- Zeph 1:7Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests.
- Ps 46:10“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
- Ps 11:4The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.
- Isa 6:1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.
- Jonah 2:7As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple.
- Mic 1:2Hear, O peoples, all of you; listen, O earth, and everyone in it! May the Lord GOD bear witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple.
- Ps 76:8–9From heaven You pronounced judgment, and the earth feared and was still
- Ps 132:13–14For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:
- Eph 2:21–22In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
- Ps 115:3Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
- Isa 66:1This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?
- Isa 66:6Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!
- Jonah 2:4At this, I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.’
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Christ at the center
'The righteous shall live by his faith' (2:4) becomes a cornerstone of the gospel in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews — the faith that lays hold of Christ.
How Habakkuk 2:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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