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

HABAKKUK 2:20KJV
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Habakkuk 2:20 (KJV)

What does Habakkuk 2:20 mean?

Habakkuk 2:20 says that the LORD is present in his holy temple, and because of this, everyone on earth should be silent and show reverence before him. The verse calls for a respectful stillness in recognition of God's authority and holiness.

The prophet Habakkuk is speaking here, contrasting the living LORD (H3068) with the powerless idols described earlier in the chapter. The setting is a vision where God responds to Habakkuk’s questions about injustice and evil. This verse closes a section by reminding everyone that, despite the chaos and wrongdoing in the world, God remains in control and deserves awe and respect.

The Hebrew behind Habakkuk 2:20

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name for the God of Israel, emphasizing that the true, living God—not an idol—is being addressed.
  • holy (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh): This word means "set apart" or "sacred," highlighting the unique and pure nature of God's temple.
  • silence (הַס, has): This word means "hush" or "be silent," and it is a strong command for quietness, suggesting deep respect or awe in God's presence.
  • before (לְפָנָיו, lefanav): This means "in front of" or "in the presence of," making it clear that the silence is an act of reverence directly before God.

Why Habakkuk 2:20 matters

  • Habakkuk 2:20 shifts the focus from human complaints and the emptiness of idols to the reality of God’s presence and authority.
  • The verse emphasizes that God’s holiness and rule call for a response of humble silence, not argument or noise.
  • This verse brings the previous warnings against idolatry to a climax, showing that only the LORD is truly worthy of worship and reverence.

Where else these words appear

“silence” Hebrew H2013 · used in 8 verses

  • Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
  • Nehemiah 8:11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
  • Amos 8:3 And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.

“temple” Hebrew H1964 · used in 76 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
  • Nehemiah 6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
  • Ezekiel 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.