Habakkuk
One line from Habakkuk, 'the just shall live by his faith' (2:4), ended up driving the Protestant Reformation.
Read this if you…
- want a prophet who actually argues with God instead of just transmitting messages
- like the problem of evil tackled head-on: why does a holy God use the wicked Babylonians as his instrument?
- care about a book that ends in a hymn of faith with no answer received — 'though the fig tree shall not blossom, yet I will rejoice in the Lord'
Skip this if you…
- don't want to read explicitly religious/Christian texts
Why It Matters
One line from Habakkuk, 'the just shall live by his faith' (2:4), ended up driving the Protestant Reformation. Paul quotes it in Romans and Galatians, and Luther built his whole theology around it.
Depicted in Art
Habakkuk sits with his lunch basket; an angel leans from the niche, grabs him by the hair, and points the way to Daniel.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1661
Carved wooden choir-stall back panel of Habakkuk standing with scroll, in low relief.
Felipe Bigarny
Woodcut bust of Habakkuk holding a banderole, from the Old Testament section of the Nuremberg Chronicle.
Michael Wolgemut, 1493
Castilian Renaissance panel of Jacob and Habakkuk in dialogue, robed and turning toward each other.
Maestro de Támara
Illuminated half-figure of Habakkuk on parchment, holding a scroll, from a folio of the Klosterneuburg Gospel Work.
1340
Spanish Renaissance panel of Habakkuk standing with scroll, robed and bearded, against an architectural backdrop.
Juan Correa de Vivar, 1534
Recommended Editions
King James Version
Cambridge University Press · 1611
The most influential and commonly quoted translation in English. The prose rhythm everyone else is responding to, even modern translations.
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Deep Dive
What It's About
This summary gives away plot details.
Notable Quotes
“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; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”