John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 10:37

"For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry." — Hebrews 10:37 (ASV)

For yet a little while, or, for yet a very little time, etc. So that it may not be grievous for us to endure, he reminds us that the time will not be long. Indeed, nothing does more to sustain our minds, if they should ever become faint, than the hope of a speedy and near end. Just as a general presents to his soldiers the prospect that the war will soon end, if they hold out a little longer, so the Apostle reminds us that the Lord will shortly come to deliver us from all evils, if our minds do not lose heart through lack of firmness.

And so that this consolation might have more assurance and authority, he cites the testimony of the Prophet Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:4). But as he follows the Greek version, he differs somewhat from the words of the Prophet. I will first briefly explain what the Prophet says, and then we will compare it with what the Apostle relates here.

When the Prophet had spoken of the dreadful overthrow of his own nation, being terrified by his prophecy, he had nothing to do but to, as it were, quit the world and go to his watchtower; and his watchtower was the Word of God, by which he was, as it were, raised into heaven.

Being thus placed in this position, he was commanded to write a new prophecy, which brought to the godly the hope of salvation. Yet because people are naturally unreasonable and so hasty in their wishes that they always think God is slow, however quickly He may act, He told them that the promise would come without delay. At the same time, He added, “If it tarries, wait for it.” By this he meant that what God promises will never come so quickly that it does not seem to us to tarry, according to an old proverb, “Even speed is delay to desire.”

Then follow these words: “Behold, his soul that is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” By these words he indicates that the ungodly, however much they may be fortified by defenses, will not be able to stand, for there is no secure life except by faith.

Let the unbelieving then fortify themselves as they please; they can find nothing in the whole world except what is fading, so that they must always be subject to trembling. But the faith of the godly will never disappoint them, because it rests on God. This is the meaning of the Prophet.

Now the Apostle applies to God what Habakkuk said about the promise. But as God, by fulfilling His promises, in a way shows who He is, there is not much difference regarding the subject itself. Indeed, the Lord comes whenever He extends His hand to help us. The Apostle follows the Prophet in saying that it would be shortly, because God does not defer His help longer than is expedient. For He does not deceive us by delaying, as people are accustomed to do; rather, He knows His own time, which He does not allow to pass by without coming to our aid at the required moment.

Now he says, He that cometh will come, and will not tarry. This has two clauses: by the first we are taught that God will come to our aid, for He has promised; and by the second, that He will do so in due time, not later than He should.