Habakkuk 2:4

Proud Babylon was not right in doing what she did but was puffed up with pride and evil passions. In contrast, the righteous one will live by his faith (cf. Genesis 15:6). By implication, Babylon, the unrighteous one, would not live because she did not live by faith (trust in God) but by sight and might. She sought to gratify her ambitions by running over other people rather than by submitting to God’s sovereignty.

This verse appears three times in the New Testament. Paul quoted it in Romans 1:17 and emphasized "righteous." Faith in God results in righteousness for both Jews and Gentiles. He used it again in Galatians 3:11 but to stress "live." Rather than obtaining new life by obeying the Mosaic Law, the righteous person does so by faith. In Galatians Paul was addressing Gentiles mainly. The writer of Hebrews also quoted this verse in Hebrews 10:38, but his emphasis was on "faith." It is faith that God will reward in the righteous. In this case the original readers were primarily Jews. In all three cases "live" has the broader reference to eternal life, but here it is mainly physical life that is in view. Thus this verse is clearly an important revelation in the Bible, even its essential message.

"It takes three books to explain and apply this one verse!" [Note: Warren W. Wiersbe, "Habakkuk," in The Bible Exposition Commentary/Prophets, p. 411.]

This is the key verse in Habakkuk because it summarizes the difference between the proud Babylonians and their destruction with the humble faith of the Israelites and their deliverance. The issue is trust in God.

"’The just shall live by his faith’ was the watchword of the Reformation, and they may well be the seven most important monosyllables in all of church history." [Note: Ibid., p. 416.]

"The underlying theme of the book may be summarized as follows: A matured faith trusts humbly but persistently in God’s design for establishing righteousness in the earth." [Note: Robertson, p. 136. Italics omitted.]

Bruce stated the theme of the book as "the preservation of loyal trust in God in face of the challenge to faith presented by the bitter experience of foreign invasion and oppression." [Note: Bruce, p. 831.]

The Hebrew word ’emunah, "faith," can also mean "faithful" or "steadfast." It can also mean "integrity." [Note: Chisholm, Handbook on . . ., pp. 437-38.] Did the Lord mean that the righteous will live by his trust in God or by being faithful to God, by being a person of integrity? Scripture elsewhere reveals that both meanings are true: trust and integrity. However in this context "faith" or trust seems to be the primary meaning since the Babylonians did not trust God whereas the Israelites did. Both the Babylonians and the Israelites had been unfaithful to God.

"The discrepancy between ’faith’ and ’faithfulness’ is more apparent than real, however. For man to be faithful in righteousness entails dependent trust in relation to God (e.g., 1 Samuel 26:23-24); such an attitude is clearly demanded in the present context of waiting for deliverance (Habakkuk 2:3; Habakkuk 3:16-19)." [Note: Armerding, p. 513.]

"This is the first of three wonderful assurances that God gives in this chapter to encourage His people. This one emphasizes God’s grace, because grace and faith always go together. Habakkuk 2:14 emphasizes God’s glory and assures us that, though this world is now filled with violence and corruption (Genesis 6:5; Genesis 6:11-13), it shall one day be filled with God’s glory. The third assurance is in Habakkuk 2:20 and emphasizes God’s government. Empires may rise and fall, but God is on His holy throne, and He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 416.]