Isa 66:8, Hab 2:3, Act 1:7, Heb 10:37 | JFB | e4.org | 8. earth —rather, to suit the parallelism, "is a country (put for the people in it) brought forth in one day?" [LOWTH ]. In English Version it means, The earth brings forth its productions gradually, not in one day ( ). at once —In this case, contrary to the usual growth of the nations by degrees, Israel starts into maturity at once. for —rather, "is a nation born at once, that Zion has, so soon as she travailed, brought forth?" [MAURER ].

‏ Isaiah 66:8

8. earth—rather, to suit the parallelism, "is a country (put for the people in it) brought forth in one day?" [LOWTH]. In English Version it means, The earth brings forth its productions gradually, not in one day (Mr 4:28).

at once—In this case, contrary to the usual growth of the nations by degrees, Israel starts into maturity at once.

for—rather, "is a nation born at once, that Zion has, so soon as she travailed, brought forth?" [MAURER].

‏ Habakkuk 2:3

3. for—assigning the cause why it ought to be committed to writing: because its fulfilment belongs to the future.

the vision is yet for an appointed time— (Da 10:14; 11:27, 35). Though the time appointed by God for the fulfilment be yet future, it should be enough for your faith that God hath spoken it (La 3:26).

at the end it shall speak—MAURER translates, "it pants for the end." But the antithesis between, "it shall speak," and "not be silent," makes English Version the better rendering. So the Hebrew is translated in Pr 12:17. Literally, "breathe out words," "break forth as a blast."

though it tarry, wait for it— (Ge 49:18).

‏ Acts 1:7

7. It is not for you to know the times, &c.—implying not only that this was not the time, but that the question was irrelevant to their present business and future work.

‏ Hebrews 10:37

37, 38. Encouragement to patient endurance by consideration of the shortness of the time till Christ shall come, and God's rejection of him that draws back, taken from Hab 2:3, 4.

a little while— (Joh 16:16).

he that shall come—literally, "the Comer." In Habakkuk, it is the vision that is said to be about to come. Christ, being the grand and ultimate subject of all prophetical vision, is here made by Paul, under inspiration, the subject of the Spirit's prophecy by Habakkuk, in its final and exhaustive fulfilment.