Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Study Note
Study Note
The declaration 'the righteous person will live by his faithfulness' (or 'by faith') is one of the most theologically loaded short sentences in the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew 'emunah' (faithfulness/faith) spans the range from active trust to consistent fidelity; in context it contrasts the arrogant Babylonian conqueror with the person who maintains covenant faithfulness under oppression. Paul quotes the verse in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11 as the scriptural foundation for justification by faith; the author of Hebrews cites it in 10:38 for endurance. These three New Testament citations made this verse the most heavily freighted proof text of the Reformation, central to Luther's theological breakthrough.
Other Translations
Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Lo, a presumptuous one! Not upright is his soul within him, And the righteous by his stedfastness liveth.
As for the man of pride, my soul has no pleasure in him; but the upright man will have life through his good faith.
Cross References
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before …
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, …
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways …
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom …
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth …
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just …
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, …