You went out for the salvation of your people,
Habakkuk 3:13
for the salvation of your anointed.
You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,
laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah
Habakkuk describes God riding out as a warrior to bring salvation to his people. Those who oppose him will pay the price. I want to focus on the second half of verse 13 today.
Mixed Metaphors
Even if you don’t know the original languages of the Bible, you can still infer more about what is going on by comparing multiple translations. The second half of Habakkuk 3:13 provides a nice example. Besides the ESV quoted about, here are a couple others by way of comparison:
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,
NIV
you stripped him from head to foot.
You crushed the head of the wicked house,
NRSV
laying it bare from foundation to roof.
While similar, there are some differences. The Hebrew word rosh is translated “leader” in the NIV while ESV & NSRV translate it “head”. While rosh literally means “head,” both are valid interpretations. We even use terminology in English, like referring to the head of an organization.
From Bottom to Top
The NSRV, however, takes the idea of a physical house (which can be a physical structure, but more often refers to a family or group) and carries it into how they translate the next line.
The word translated “thigh”, “foot”, or “foundation” is the Hebrew יְסוֹד (yesod), which is literally a foundation or base. It typically describes the foundation of a building, city, or object (in particular the base of the altar, like Exodus 29:12). After destroying Jericho, Joshua cursed anyone who built its foundations (Joshua 6:26, 1 Kings 16:34).
The word translated “neck”, “head”, and “roof” is the Hebrew צַוָּאר (tzava’r), which literally means “neck”. Falling on someone’s neck and weeping is a form of greeting, like Esau and Jacob (Genesis 33:4), Joseph and Benjamin (Genesis 45:14), or Joseph and Jacob (Genesis 46:29). Alternatively, binding someone’s neck symbolizes putting them in a state of submission. This includes placing a yoke on someone’s neck (Deuteronomy 28:48, Isaiah 10:27, Jeremiah 27:2, 30:8, Lamentations 1:14). When repairing the walls around Jerusalem, “their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord” (Nehemiah 3:5). Literally, they “did not bring their neck in the service of their lords”.
Lay Bare
Regardless of whether we want to read it as describing a person or structure, the final image is clear: the wicked will be “stripped” or “laid bare”. The Hebrew ערה (arah) carries the idea of stripping or uncovering. The adjective form, arom, describes Adam and Eve before the fall: naked (Genesis 2:25).
During Jerusalem’s destruction, Edom said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7). Just as Jerusalem was leveled, so will God ultimately level any who oppose him.
To Ponder…
We think of building a structure upon a firm foundation. What does it mean to have a firm foundation for our lives? Think of Jesus’ parable of two builders (Matthew 7:24-27). What is the difference between the two? What does it mean for us to trust him from our foundation up to our neck?