“burden.” The word of the Lord can be a burden to the prophet, and then, when it is spoken, can be a burden to the people. It might have been more clear in English to say “burdensome message” instead of “burden,” but the Hebrew word is “burden.”

[For more information on “burden,” see commentary on Malachi 1:1.]

“saw.” God gives revelation to people in different ways, and one of those ways is via a vision or vision with sound (Acts 10:9-13). That is the way that God gave the revelation of the future to Habakkuk; a vision with sound and dialogue.

[For more on revelation and how it is received, see commentary on Gal. 1:12.]