What does it mean that the righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4)?

Answer

Habakkuk 2:4 contains the famous statement “the righteous will live by faith.” What does this mean?

Understanding God’s intention in this passage is aided by the context. The complete verse states, “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” “His soul” symbolically refers to Babylonia. This nation had grown proud or “puffed up,” leading to unrighteousness and impending judgment from God. In contrast, the righteous (or the “just”) would live by placing their faith in God. The righteous, in God’s eyes, are humble and will not face God’s judgment.

Habakkuk 2:4 is referenced three times in the New Testament. Paul cites it in Romans 1:17, highlighting the concept that righteousness through faith applies to both Jews and Gentiles: “For in the gospel a righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

Furthermore, in Galatians 3:11, we find, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” In this instance, Paul emphasizes that justification or being made right before God occurs through faith, not by following the Law. As Habakkuk documented, salvation has always been through faith, not works. Habakkuk 2:4 is also quoted in Hebrews 10:38.

In the third century, Rabbi Simla observed that Moses established 365 prohibitions and 248 positive commands. David condensed them to eleven commands in Psalm 15; Isaiah reduced them to six (33:14-15); Micah summarized them into three (6:8); and Habakkuk consolidated them all into one, namely—“The righteous shall live by faith” (from P. L. Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, #1495).

Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and we walk in faith «(for we walk by faith, not by sight:) », (2 Corinthians 5:7). Only through faith in Christ are we made righteous «For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. », (Romans 5:19). Paul further elaborates on this truth in Galatians 2:16, stating, “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” It is Christ’s righteousness that saves us, and the only way to receive that gift is to trust in Him. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” «He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.», (John 3:36).

When Habakkuk wrote, “The righteous shall live by his faith,” he was echoing a timeless truth first exemplified in Abraham’s life «And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. », (Genesis 15:6). The righteous individual will “live” in that he will not face God’s judgment; instead, as a result of his faith in God, he has been granted eternal life.