Hebrews 10:38
but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse emphasizes that "my righteous one shall live by faith" and then immediately warns, "if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." This isn't a contradiction, but a profound statement: true righteousness isn't static; it's a continuous, active reliance on God, and wavering from that path disconnects one from divine favor.
The author is building a powerful argument for perseverance in faith, quoting the prophet Habakkuk to illustrate the principle. He's contrasting those who hold fast to God's promises with those who turn away in fear or doubt, emphasizing that God delights in the former but not the latter. This verse serves as a stark warning against apostasy, directly following the affirmation of God's faithfulness and the promise of salvation for those who trust Him.
When God speaks about faithfulness, He uses a personal pronoun. What does 'my righteous one' reveal about His relationship with believers?
This verse emphasizes God's personal claim on those who are righteous. The original wording, likely 'my righteous one,' highlights that righteousness isn't just a characteristic, but a designation given by God. It points to individuals who are declared righteous through faith in Him, reflecting His will and character. This isn't about self-righteousness, but about a transformed life aligned with God's purposes, a life that 'does the will of God.'
We often think of faith as a single act, but this verse speaks of a continuous life. What does it mean to 'live by faith'?
The phrase 'shall live by faith' isn't just about initial belief, but about sustained, active trust in God. It's a life characterized by continued confidence, especially during trials and confusion. This faith isn't passive; it's a steadfast obedience that trusts God's promises and His faithfulness, even when circumstances are difficult. It's about persevering in trust, not shrinking back from the challenges that arise in living out one's commitment to God.
God's pleasure is a significant theme in Scripture. What happens when a righteous person 'shrinks back,' and what does it mean for God's pleasure?
This verse contains a stark warning: 'if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' 'Shrinking back' implies a withdrawal from commitment, a refusal to persevere in faith, perhaps due to fear or persecution. It's a failure to maintain the active trust and obedience that characterizes the righteous. When this happens, God's pleasure is withdrawn. This doesn't necessarily mean total apostasy for everyone, but it signals a serious breach in the relationship, a loss of divine favor and approval because the person has moved away from the very foundation of their relationship with God: faith.
Understand the original words
dikaios · Greek Adjective
The state of being justified, righteous, or acquitted before God; one who has been made right with God through faith.
pistis · Greek Noun
Trust, reliance, or confident commitment to God and His promises; the primary means by which believers are justified and live their daily lives.
hypostellō · Greek Verb
To draw back, recoil, or withdraw in cowardice or fear, particularly from a commitment to Christ; apostasy.
This verse is a pivotal quote from the prophet Habakkuk, originally addressing the imminent Babylonian conquest. The author of Hebrews repurposes it, applying Habakkuk's message of endurance through faith to believers facing persecution and the temptation to abandon Christ.
c. 600 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and begins deporting Jewish leaders and skilled workers to Babylon, initiating the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation
A second wave of exiles, including the prophet Ezekiel, are taken to Babylon, intensifying the sense of national crisis and divine judgment.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, a catastrophic event that profoundly shapes Jewish identity, theology, and hope for restoration.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Habakkuk's Prophecy
The prophet Habakkuk laments the wickedness in Judah and questions God's justice before prophesying that judgment is coming via the Babylonians, but that the righteous will endure by faith.
This is the original Old Testament passage from which Hebrews 10:38 is quoted, offering the foundational context for understanding the concepts of living by faith and the consequences of 'drawing back'.
Romans 1:17Paul directly quotes the first half of this verse ('the righteous shall live by faith') in Romans, emphasizing that salvation comes through faith, providing a key theological link to the author's message.
Galatians 3:11Similar to Romans, this passage again cites the 'live by faith' principle, contrasting it with the impossibility of being justified by the law, reinforcing the central theme of faith over works.
Ezekiel 18:24This Old Testament passage addresses the concept of a righteous person turning away from righteousness and perishing, offering a parallel to the idea of 'drawing back' and its severe consequences described in Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:4-6This passage in Hebrews explores the extreme difficulty, if not impossibility, of restoring to repentance those who have fallen away after experiencing God's grace, directly relating to the warning against 'drawing back' in chapter 10.
ellicottHebrews 10:38: "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
(38) Now the just shall live by faith. —The Greek text of this clause is not perfectly certain, but it is probable that the word “my” should be added, so that the translation of the verse will be as follows, But my righteous one shall live by faith. In the Hebrew the first part of the verse is altogether different: “Behold his soul is lifted up, it is not upright in him; but the r…
vincentHebrews 10:38: "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
Now the just shall live by faith (ὁ δὲ δίκαιός (μου) ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται)Cited by Paul, Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11. In the original prophecy the just man is contrasted with the haughty Chaldaean invaders, who are puffed up and not upright. Through his steadfast obedience to God he shall be kept alive in the time of confusion and destruction.But if any man draw back (καὶ ἐ…
The verse emphasizes that "my righteous one shall live by faith" and then immediately warns, "if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." This isn't a contradiction, but a profound statement: true righteousness isn't static; it's a continuous, active reliance on God, and wavering from that path disconnects one from divine favor.
The author is building a powerful argument for perseverance in faith, quoting the prophet Habakkuk to illustrate the principle. He's contrasting those who hold fast to God's promises with those who turn away in fear or doubt, emphasizing that God delights in the former but not the latter. This verse serves as a stark warning against apostasy, directly following the affirmation of God's faithfulness and the promise of salvation for those who trust Him.
The author is building a powerful argument for perseverance in faith, quoting the prophet Habakkuk to illustrate the principle. He's contrasting those who hold fast to God's promises with those who turn away in fear or doubt, emphasizing that God delights in the former but not the latter. This verse serves as a stark warning against apostasy, directly following the affirmation of God's faithfulness and the promise of salvation for those who trust Him.
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c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, eventually leading to the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
"but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”" — The verse emphasizes that "my righteous one shall live by faith" and then immediately warns, "if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." This isn't a contradiction, but a profound statement…
