The Book of Habakkuk
Habakkuk wrestles honestly with God over injustice — 'why dost thou shew me iniquity?' — and learns to live by faith, rejoicing in God even when circumstances fail.
- Testament
- Old (3 chapters)
- Type
- Minor Prophet
- Author
- Habakkuk; little else known.
- Date
- Around 612-589 BC, on the eve of Babylon's rise.
Honest argument with God
Habakkuk does not pretend. He asks God hard questions — why does evil prosper? — and God answers, and Habakkuk argues some more. The book validates the prayer of complaint as a form of faith.
The just shall live by faith
'The just shall live by his faith' (2:4) is one of the most quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament — anchoring Paul's argument in Romans (1:17) and Galatians (3:11), and Luther's reformation. Faith is not absence of questions; it is trust amid them.
Key verses (KJV)
“The just shall live by his faith.” — Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” — Habakkuk 2:14 (KJV)
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines... yet I will rejoice in the LORD.” — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (KJV)
How to read Habakkuk
Three chapters — read in one sitting. The closing prayer-poem (3:17-19) is one of the great expressions of faith in suffering anywhere in Scripture.
Read Habakkuk on your iPhone
Read the full book of Habakkuk in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
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