Habakkuk 2:4

Habakkuk 2:4 contains the oracle that the prophet is to write down. It is brief and enigmatic, but not unintelligible. 4a is translated more satisfactorily in R.V., “Behold his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him.” These words apply to the Chaldean. The righteous, or rather the destiny of the righteous, is described in the second part of the verse. Though in the one case the reference is to character, in the other to destiny, there seems insufficient reason for suspecting the accuracy of the text; the various emendations suggested do not improve it.

Lifted up [“puffed up”]… not upright His successes and conquests have made him proud, presumptuous, insincere, and treacherous in his dealings with other nations. This is all the oracle says, but comparison with the second clause enables us to complete the thought. Because the Chaldean is puffed up, glories in his might alone, and is insincere and treacherous, he lacks the principles and elements which alone assure permanence; he is doomed to perish. If destruction overtakes the Chaldeans in the end, the problem of the prophet is at least partly solved.

The second clause continues the solution.

The just [“righteous”] shall live by his faith Margin R.V., “in his faithfulness.” The righteous of this verse is identical with the “righteous” of Habakkuk 1:13, whose present and imminent lot causes the complaint of the prophet. While it is to be understood primarily of the righteous in Israel, it includes also those among the nations oppressed by the Chaldeans; and the assertion is equally true of the righteous everywhere and in all ages. “We shall not die” was Habakkuk’s cry of confidence (Habakkuk 1:12); Jehovah responds with a definite promise of life. Temporarily the ways of Jehovah may seem unintelligible, but a time of reckoning will come, when the godless oppressor will meet his doom, while the faithful oppressed, now delivered, will rejoice in new life. This is the vision and with it is joined the promise (Habakkuk 2:3) that it will surely be realized. The prophet seems satisfied.

In Galatians 3:11, Paul quotes the words of Habakkuk, but the Hebrew word here translated “faith” or “faithfulness” is not quite identical in meaning with the New Testament expression, which denotes faith as an active, inner principle of the spiritual life. In fact, the Hebrew has no word that exactly expresses the New Testament idea of faith. The Hebrew word means steadfastness, moral trustworthiness, fidelity, integrity of character under all provocations; but since these virtues in the case of the Israelites, especially in the time of adversity, would spring chiefly from their loyalty to Jehovah, their confidence in him, and their trust in the ultimate triumph of the good, the New Testament idea is not foreign to the Old Testament expression. For the righteous his integrity and fidelity constitute elements of permanency; they cannot perish; they will endure forever. This, then, is the reply to the prophet’s complaint: oppression, pride, insincerity will lead to destruction, integrity and faithfulness to life everlasting.