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Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6), emphasizing the twofold answer to the prophet's prayer: the fate of the wicked in the coming judgment, and the preservation and eternal lot of the righteous. Supply the Ellipsis: "Behold [the proud one]".

his: i.e. the Chaldean's of Habakkuk 1. or the lawless one described in Hab. and in the verses which follow.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

the just. a righteous one. Quoted in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 1:3; Galatians 1:11. Compare Hebrews 10:38.

live: i.e. live for ever in resurrection life. See notes on Leviticus 18:5. The wicked go on living, without faith, if it refers to this life; therefore "live" must refer to. future life. The Hebrew accents place the emphasis on "shall live"; not "the just by his faith", but "a just one, by his faith, will live", and make the contrast not between faith and unbelief, but between the fate of each perishing and living for ever. In Romans 1:17 the context places the emphasis on " the righteous "; in Galatians 1:3; Galatians 1:11 it is placed on "faith".

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See also Habakkuk 2:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 4. _BEHOLD, HIS SOUL_ WHICH _IS LIFTED UP_] Hee that presumes on his safety without any special warrant from God, is a _proud_ _man_; and whatever he may profess, or think of himself, his _mind...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BEHOLD, HIS SOUL WHICH IS LIFTED UP - literally, swollen IS NOT UPRIGHT IN HIM - The construction is probably that of a condition expressed absolutely. Lo, swollen is it, not upright is his soul in hi...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 2 The Ungodliness of the Chaldeans and Their Destruction _ 1. The waiting prophet and the message he received (Habakkuk 2:1) _ 2. The five-fold woe upon the Chaldeans (Habakkuk 2:5) Habakku...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ORACLE FROM YAHWEH. Unable to explain the mystery, the prophet stations himself on his watch-tower, and looks for the revelation of God's purpose. Soon the oracle comes, and he is asked to write i...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _WOE TO THOSE THAT ARE GREEDY AND COVETOUS -- HABAKKUK 2:1-11:_ After Habakkuk spoke his second message he said he would stand guard on the watchtower and wait for the Lord's answer. He would stand bo...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1223 FAITH AND UNBELIEF CONTRASTED Habakkuk 2:4. _Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith_. THE sense of these words is not very obv...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BEHOLD, HIS SOUL, &C.— _Behold, if any one draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him,_ &c. Houbigant however renders it, _But if any one shall withdraw himself, his soul shall not overcome: but...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    JEHOVAH'S ANSWER. Habakkuk 2:1-20 RV. I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint. And...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. BEHOLD, HIS SOUL WHICH IS LIFTED UP - the Chaldean's soul (Maurer). The unbelieving Jew's soul (Hen...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FAITH TRIUMPHANT 1-4. The view from the watchtower. 1. The prophet climbs his tower, for he must reach a vantage point, if he is to contemplate with real understanding and insight the confusion about...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE PROBLEM OF ASSYRIA Habakkuk _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ CHAPTER 2 V1 I will stand and I will watch. I will stay on the walls (of the city). I will look to see what (God) will say to me. And I will see...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BEHOLD HIS SOUL.... — Better, _Behold his soul within him is puffed up, it is not upright._ The soul of the Chaldæan invader is inflated with pride, self-dependence ousting from his mind all thoughts...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הִנֵּ֣ה עֻפְּלָ֔ה לֹא ־יָשְׁרָ֥ה נַפְשֹׁ֖ו בֹּ֑ו...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Habakkuk 1:1 Habakkuk 1:2; Habakkuk 2:1 (or 8) Yet it is the first piece which raises the most difficult questions. All admit that it is to be dated somewhere along the line of Jeremiah's long career...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” Habakkuk 2:1-20 Having prayed, the prophet expected an answer and looked out for it. When it came, there would be no mistaking it. But until we see eye to eye, we must...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In this first division of the Book we have the prophet's statement of the problems which vexed his soul. The first was the apparent indifference of Jehovah both to his prayer and to the condition of p...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Behold, (d) his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (d) To trust in himself, or in any worldly thing, is never to be at peace: for the only rest is t...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Unbelieving. Protestants, "lifted up." (Haydock) --- The king's vain projects shall fail. Roman Septuagint, "If he withdraw himself, my soul shall not have pleasure in him. But my just man shall live...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    What vision is this? The whole prophecy of Isaiah is called a vision. Isaiah 1:1. And that we know to have been concerning the Lord Jesus and his gospel. And is not this the same? Was not Jesus sent f...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Lectures on the Minor Prophets. W. Kelly. There is no prophetic delivery among the twelve lesser books more peculiar and characteristic than that of Habakkuk. It has no longer the occupation with the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    This verse stands connected with the last, for the Prophet means to show that nothing is better than to rely on God’s word, how much soever may various temptations assault our souls. We hence see that...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    There the prophet stops, that God in His time may explain this; watches, like a sentinel, to receive the answer of God to the anxiety of his soul. God, in order to comfort His prophet and all His fait...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BEHOLD, HIS SOUL [WHICH] IS LIFTED UP IS NOT UPRIGHT IN HIM,.... This and the following clause describe two sorts of persons differently affected to the Messiah, and the promise of his coming. Here it...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Ver. 4. _Behold, his soul which is lifted up_] _Ebulat, protuberat,_ which swelleth like a bubble, a...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Behold, his soul which is lifted up_ That does not humbly adore and acquiesce in the justice and wisdom of the divine dispensations, but contends against them, and provides for his safety in a way of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE INTRODUCTION AND THE FIRST WOE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, that is, the conqueror is puffed up, he is not sincere in his attitude over against God; BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH, that is, he wh...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-4 When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must obser...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BEHOLD; note it: there are two sorts of persons who concern themselves in this puzzling question of the Divine providence; some object. and quarrel contest with God, proudly, discontentedly, and impat...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Habakkuk 2:4 proud H6075 (H8795) soul H5315 upright H3474 (H8804) just H6662 live H2421 (H8799) faith...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    HABAKKUK LOOKS ANXIOUSLY FOR THE ANSWER TO HIS QUESTIONS (HABAKKUK 2:1) Habakkuk 2:1 ‘I will stand on my watch, And settle myself on the tower, And look out to see what he will say to me, And wha...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Zechariah 2:4 This is one of those texts of which there are so many in the Bible, which, though they were spoken originally to one particular man, yet are meant for every man. They are worldwide and w...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Zechariah 2:3 A large space of the Church's history, and of every believer's experience, is occupied by waiting. The whole of the Old Testament was a waiting for one dispensation. The whole of the New...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Habakkuk 2:1. _I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved._ «I shall look to God, and I shall al...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jehovah's response to Habakkuk's testimony. Vision of coming woes. CHARACTERS: God, Habakkuk. CONCLUSION: The lusts of the flash, the lusts of the eye and the pride of life are the entangl...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Zechariah 2:1. _I will stand upon my watch._ The ancient nations often had no great confidence in what is now called, The faith of treaties. The Israelites kept a watchman on the tower of Jezreel; oth...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The Just shall live by his faith._ FAITH AND THE HIGHER LIFE All men live by faith, and in our world man is the only creature who lives by faith. A world altogether without faith, where no man could...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    HABAKKUK 2:2 God’s Response. The Lord assures Habakkuk that he will punish all the wicked, at the right time. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 2:4 HIS SOUL. The singular form refers to the Babylonian nation as a whole, but with a primary reference to the king. A proud person relies on himself, whereas a righteous pe...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.] Habakkuk 2:4.] Judgment announced. LIFTED] Puffed up, then haughty or presumptuous. UPRIGHT] Not straight, not without turning or trickery. The heart of the enemy was proud and displ...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION HABAKKUK 2:1 § 5. _The prophet, waiting for an answer to his expostulation, is bidden to write the oracle in plain characters, because its fulfilment is certain._ HABAKKUK 2:1 Habakkuk s...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn at this time to the book of Habakkuk. Very little is known concerning the personal background of Habakkuk. Very little, nothing is known. We don't know really anything about his backgrou...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 5:10; 1 Peter 5:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 4:30; Daniel 4:

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Which is lifted up — That proudly contests with the justice and wisdom of the Divine Providence, and provides for his own safety by his own wit. The just — The humble and upright one, who adores the d...

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