Who Was the Prophet Habakkuk?

This evening and tomorrow (Friday, the 24th of Elul) mark the anniversary of the passing of the prophet Habakkuk, a lesser-known yet deeply influential figure in Jewish tradition. Despite the brevity of his biblical book and the mystery surrounding his life, Habakkuk's words have echoed through generations, offering profound insights into faith, resilience, and Divine justice.

The Book of Habakkuk, one of the Twelve Minor Prophets, offers almost no biographical detail. As the medieval commentator Ibn Ezra famously wrote, “We know neither the era nor the family of this prophet.” Yet rabbinic tradition, particularly the Zohar (44b), identifies him as the son of the Shunamite woman, who was brought back to life by the prophet Elisha, as recounted in the Second Book of Kings. This identification adds a miraculous dimension to Habakkuk’s origins, suggesting that his very life was a Divine sign.

His name, too, is steeped in meaning. According to various interpretations, “Habakkuk” is derived from the Hebrew root chibuk (“embrace”), which is a reference to the embrace Elisha gave the revived child. The name itself becomes a symbol of Divine compassion and restoration, themes that run through his prophetic message.

The timeline of Habakkuk’s prophetic mission is also debated. The Seder Olam Rabbah places him during the reign of King Manasseh, a king notorious for his wickedness. This may explain why his book omits any royal attribution, perhaps as a deliberate omission out of disdain. Alternatively, if we follow the approach that ties him to the Shunamite woman, Habakkuk may have lived during the reign of King Jehu, in the time of Elisha.

While his book spans just three chapters, it carries weight far beyond its size. The eighth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, Habakkuk addresses themes of injustice, Divine silence, and ultimate redemption. His most famous verse: “But the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) is a cornerstone of Jewish thought. The Talmud (Makkot 24) recounts that while Moshe received 613 commandments, and later prophets like David and Isaiah each distilled them into fewer guiding principles, Habakkuk reduced them to one: faith. The Maharal explains that this wasn’t a reduction in content but a concentration of spiritual purpose. The Meiri adds that this singular focus reflects the core aim of all mitzvot: to serve and cleave to God through unwavering belief.

One of the most powerful and poetic moments in the book is Habakkuk’s prayer in Chapter 3. Though often mistaken for a psalm, it is uniquely his and is recited in many Jewish communities on the eve of Yom Kippur. The Malbim, in his commentary, divides the prayer into three sections: the pain of exile, the hidden hand of God during suffering, and the promise of redemption. In this way, the prayer becomes not just a lament, but a map for spiritual endurance and national hope.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, in Sefer HaMidot, notes that Habakkuk’s prayer is a remedy for an unsettled mind. Its cadence and imagery carry a calming, almost meditative effect. Despite its ancient language, its message speaks to modern anxieties and the human longing for clarity and connection.

The prophet’s vision does not end in despair. On the contrary, his concluding words are full of strength and optimism: “God… will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon my high places.” The Malbim interprets this as a yearning to return swiftly to the Land of Israel and to sing once again in the rebuilt Temple. This powerful image connects personal faith with national redemption, a theme central to Jewish eschatology.

According to tradition, the final resting place of the Prophet Habakkuk lies in the village of Yakuk, nestled in the hills of the Lower Galilee, west of Kibbutz Hukok. The serenity of this site belies the power of the prophet buried there; a man whose legacy lives not in dramatic stories, but in a single, enduring call to faith.

As we commemorate the yahrzeit (anniversary of death) of this extraordinary yet enigmatic prophet, his central message remains profoundly relevant: faith is not merely belief, it is life itself. In a world where uncertainty often reigns, Habakkuk’s words continue to offer strength, purpose, and hope.