Habakkuk — The Watchman Who Waited for Justice

Series: 30 Prophets of the Bible - Dr. Randy White

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I. Identity of Habakkuk

Name and Known Facts

“Habakkuk” (Hebrew: חֲבַקּוּק, Chavaqquq) is usually connected with the root “to embrace” or “to clasp.”
Scripture gives almost no biography: he is named only in Habakkuk 1:1 and 3:1.
He is explicitly called “Habakkuk the prophet” (1:1), but no father, hometown, tribe, office, or royal connection is given.
His life is therefore known chiefly through his burden, his questions, his watch, and his prayer.

Prophetic Role

Habakkuk functions as a watchman: he sees Judah's violence, cries to God, and then waits for the Lord's answer (1:2-4; 2:1).
Unlike many prophets, he records a dialogue with God about divine justice.

II. Historical Setting

Timeframe

Commonly placed around c. 625 BC, before Jerusalem's fall.
Assyria was declining, Nineveh would fall in 612 BC, and Babylon/Chaldea was rising as the next great power.
Habakkuk likely overlapped Zephaniah, Nahum, and Jeremiah.

Judah's Condition

Habakkuk saw “violence,” iniquity, grievance, spoiling, strife, and contention in Judah (1:2-4).
The law was slackened and judgment was perverted; the wicked surrounded the righteous.