Habakkuk 3:6

3:6 He takes his battle position ¹  and shakes ²  the earth;

with a mere look he frightens ³  the nations.

The ancient mountains disintegrate; ⁴ 

the primeval hills are flattened.

He travels on the ancient roads. ⁵ 

Habakkuk 3:13

3:13 You march out to deliver your people,

to deliver your special servant. ⁶ 

You strike the leader of the wicked nation, ⁷ 

laying him open from the lower body to the neck. ⁸  Selah.

[3:6]  ¹ tn Heb “he stands.”

[3:6]  ² tn This verb has been traditionally understood as “measure” (from מוּד, mud), but the immediately following context (vv. 6b-7) favors the meaning “shake” from מָוד (mavd; see HALOT 555 s.v.).

[3:6]  ³ tn Heb “makes [the nations] jump [in fear].”

[3:6]  ⁴ tn Or “crumbled,” broke into pieces.”

[3:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “ancient ways [or, “doings”] are his.” The meaning of this line is unclear. Traditionally it has been translated, “his ways are eternal.” However, in this context (see vv. 3, 7) it is more likely that the line speaks of the Lord taking the same route as in the days of Moses and Deborah (see Deut 33:2; Judg 5:4). See J. J. M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (OTL), 154.

[3:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “anointed one.” In light of the parallelism with “your people” in the preceding line this could refer to Israel, but elsewhere the Lord’s anointed one is always an individual. The Davidic king is the more likely referent here.

[3:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “you strike the head from the house of wickedness.”

[3:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “laying bare [from] foundation to neck.”