Who Is the Prophet Habakkuk in the Bible?
Who Is the Prophet Habakkuk in the Bible? Habakkuk questioned God about injustice and violence, and God answered that the righteous shall live by faith even when circumstances seem unjust.
Key verse: Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
Habakkuk questioned God about injustice and violence, and God answered that the righteous shall live by faith even when circumstances seem unjust.
Habakkuk questioned God about injustice and violence, and God answered that the righteous shall live by faith even when circumstances seem unjust.
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." — Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
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The Biblical Answer
Habakkuk is unique among the prophets because rather than delivering God's message to the people, he brought the people's questions to God. He asked why God allowed violence and injustice to flourish in Judah, and why God would use the even more wicked Babylonians as instruments of judgment. God's response taught Habakkuk that divine justice operates on God's timeline, and that 'the just shall live by his faith' (Habakkuk 2:4)—a verse that became foundational to Paul's theology of justification by faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11). Habakkuk's book ends with a magnificent prayer of trust in God regardless of circumstances.
Key Scripture References
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines... yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Are the Minor Prophets in the Bible?
The twelve Minor Prophets—Hosea through Malachi—are called 'minor' not because of lesser importance but because of the shorter length of their books.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Who Was King David?
David was the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, known as 'a man after God's own heart' and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Habakkuk. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Habakkuk on day 213 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “Who Is the Prophet Habakkuk in the Bible?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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