Who Is the Prophet Habakkuk in the Bible — In Biblical Context
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)
The Biblical Context
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.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Habakkuk 2:4, sits inside Habakkuk 2. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
Supporting Passages
"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."
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