Habakkuk 3:13

Thou wentest. — Here the verbs, though past, are best rendered by the English present.

Even for salvation... — Better, even for the salvation of Thine anointed — scil., Thy chosen people, as also, perhaps, in Psalms 105:15. The rendering of the Authorised Version has the support of Aquila and the Quinta. It is a possible rendering, but few impartial Hebraists will deny that the other is preferable. In the last half of the verse two figures are blended — those of a house and a human body. Literally, it runs, Thou crushest the head of the house of the wicked (comp. Psalms 110:6), laying bare the foundation even to the neck. The obvious meaning is that the house or race of the Chaldæans is to be destroyed, “root and branch.”