The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith

Hab. 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

As an introduction to the woeful taunt-songs Habakkuk was instructed to record, God gave His summary condemnation of the conceited character of the Babylonian:

Behold,...

הִנֵּה

hinnêh

hin-nay'

Prolonged for if, lo; lo!: - behold, lo, see.

his (fallen) soul...

נֶפֶשׁ

nephesh

neh'-fesh

From to breathe; properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): - any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-] contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

God’s Condemnatory Revelation

He is puffed up. Like a bloated toad, these arrogant people hopped along toward destruction. They were swollen (the Heb. verb ‛āp̱al is used only here in the OT) with evil passions.

which is lifted up...

עָפַל

‛âphal

aw-fal'

A primitive root; to swell; figuratively be elated: - be lifted up, presume.

Their desires were not upright.

is not upright...

יָשַׁר

yâshar

yaw-shar'

A primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (causatively to make) right, pleasant, prosperous: - direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (well), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly).

לֹה לוֹא לֹא

lô' lô' lôh

lo, lo, lo

lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles: - X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig [-norant], much, less, nay, neither, never, no ([-ne], -r, [-thing]), (X as though . . . , [can-], for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

in him (us): but the just...

צַדִּיק

tsaddı̂yq

tsad-deek'

From to be; just: - just, lawful, righteous (man).

shall live...

חָיָה

châyâh

khaw-yaw'

A prim root (compare to live, life); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively to revive: - keep (leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, (X God) save (alive, life, lives), X surely, be whole.

Yahweh then declared that a righteous person, by stark contrast, will live by his faith (ĕmûnâh, “steadfastness or faithfulness”). A righteous Israelite who remained loyal to God’s moral precepts and was humble before the Lord enjoyed God’s abundant life. To “live” meant to experience God’s blessing by enjoying a life of security, protection, and fullness. Conversely, an apparently victorious but proud and perverse Babylonian would die. Faithfulness (NIV marg.) and faith are related. One who trusts in the Lord is one who relies on Him and is faithful to Him.

by his (ours) faith...

אֱמֻנָה אֱמוּנָה

'ĕmûnâh 'ĕmûnâh

em-oo-naw', em-oo-naw'

Feminine of established, that is; literally firmness; figuratively security; moral fidelity: - faith (-ful, -ly, -ness, [man]), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

The key clause “the righteous will live by his faith” sparkles like a diamond in a pile of soot. In the midst of God’s unrelenting condemnations of Babylon stands a bright revelation of God’s favor that is quoted three times in the New Testament (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). In those passages the words “will live” have a broader meaning than in Habakkuk. In the New Testament they mean to enjoy salvation and eternal life. In contrast with the self-reliant, boastful ways of the unrighteous, the righteous are found to be reliant on God and faithful to Him.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

Rom. 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 Introductory Matters

Epistolary greetings

The customary formula for letters in ancient times included (a) naming and identifying the author, (b) naming and identifying the recipient, and (c) a word of salutation. Paul followed this formula in this letter to the Romans despite the lengthy digression precipitated by the word “gospel.” The same formula is used in all the New Testament letters except Hebrews and 1 John.

Paul identified himself first as a servant of Christ Jesus. “Servant” (doulos) means slave, a person owned by another. Paul wore this title gladly (Gal. 1:10; Tit. 1:1), reveling in the Old Testament picture of a slave who in love binds himself to his master for life (Exo. 21:2-6).

Paul also identified himself as an apostle - one sent with delegated authority (cf. Mat. 10:1-2) - a position to which he was called. (Lit., the Gr. is, “a called apostle.”) This calling was from God (Acts 9:15; Gal. 1:1), though it was acknowledged by men (Gal. 2:7-9). It involved being set apart (from aphorizō; cf. Acts 13:2) for the gospel of God, the message of good news from God that centered on “His Son” (Rom. 1:2, 1:9) which Paul was “eager to preach” (Rom. 1:15) without shame (Rom. 1:16). This setting apart did not keep Paul from making tents to support himself and his companions (Acts 20:34; 1Th. 2:9; 2Th. 3:8) nor from mingling freely with all levels of pagan society. It was a setting apart to something - a commitment and dedication, not from things in isolation like the Pharisees. (Interestingly the word “Pharisee” means “separated one” in the sense of being isolated and segregated.)