Minor Prophets · Chapter 2 of 3
Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk stations himself to hear God's reply. The LORD tells him to write the vision plainly, for it awaits an appointed time and will surely come. The proud soul is not upright, but the just shall live by faith. God then pronounces five woes against the Chaldean oppressor for plunder, greed, bloodshed, drunkenness, and idolatry, declaring the earth will be filled with the knowledge of his glory.
What happens in Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk takes his post on the tower to watch for God's answer. The LORD tells him to write the vision plainly so a runner can read it, for it awaits an appointed time and though it tarries will surely come. God contrasts two ways: the proud, puffed-up soul is not upright, but the just shall live by his faith. God then delivers five woes against the oppressor: to the one who piles up what is not his, whose creditors will suddenly rise; to the one who builds his house by evil gain, for the stones will cry out; to the one who builds a town with blood, while the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God's glory; to the one who shames his neighbor with drink, for the LORD's cup will come to him; and to the idolater who says to wood, Awake.
The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence.
Habakkuk 2 in context
This chapter delivers God's answer to Habakkuk's second complaint, assuring the prophet that Babylon's arrogance will not go unpunished. The instruction to write the vision so a runner can read it emphasizes its certainty and public importance. The five woes follow a common prophetic pattern of taunt-songs against a tyrant.
The pivotal statement that the just shall live by faith becomes one of the most influential verses in the Bible, later central to the New Testament understanding of salvation.
Main themes of Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk 2 (KJV)
1I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. 5Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! 7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 9Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! 10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. 11For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 12Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! 13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? 14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 15Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory. 17For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 18What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 20But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Verses to carry from Habakkuk 2
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”Habakkuk 2:3
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”Habakkuk 2:4
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”Habakkuk 2:14
New Testament quotation
How Habakkuk 2 points to Jesus
The declaration that the just shall live by his faith is quoted three times in the New Testament, becoming a cornerstone of the gospel. Paul cites it in Romans and Galatians to show that a person is justified before God through faith rather than works of the law, and Hebrews uses it to urge endurance. The verse God gave Habakkuk to steady him in a dark hour becomes the banner of salvation through Christ.
Habakkuk's assurance that the vision will surely come, though it tarry, is applied in Hebrews to the coming of Christ himself, the one who will come and not delay. The promise that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God's glory reaches toward the reign of Christ. This is unmistakably a New Testament quotation, and one of the most consequential lines in all Scripture.
Questions about Habakkuk 2
What does the just shall live by faith mean?
In context it means the righteous person endures and lives by trusting God's word and timing, unlike the proud who trust themselves. The New Testament draws out its fuller meaning, that right standing with God comes through faith in him rather than self-sufficiency. Paul and Hebrews both build on this verse, making Habakkuk's word in a crisis the foundation for understanding how sinners are justified through Christ.
How is waiting for the vision an act of faith?
God says the vision is for an appointed time and though it tarry, wait for it. The delay tests whether people will trust God's certainty or give up. Faith holds the promise as sure even when its fulfillment is unseen. Hebrews applies this directly to waiting for Christ, encouraging believers that the one who is coming will come and not tarry, so patience itself becomes an expression of trust.
Reflection
In your season of waiting, which soul are you becoming: the proud one relying on your own strength, or the just one living by faith? God's vision may tarry, but it will surely come. Write his promise where you can see it, keep silence before him in his holy temple, and trust his appointed time.
A prayer from Habakkuk 2
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