Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Habakkuk 3:13 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 13. 13Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse states the theophany's purpose as salvation for God's people and anointed one while striking the wicked house.
Read It With
- Habakkuk 3:8-15
Read Habakkuk 3:13 with 3:8-15. This verse states the theophany's purpose as salvation for God's people and anointed one while striking the wicked house. The full unit establishes this movement: The poem depicts the LORD as a divine warrior whose cosmic battle is not anger at waters for their own sake but action for the salvation of his people and anointed one against the head of the wicked house.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The poem interprets divine power through salvation rather than spectacle alone and prepares the prophet's fearful yet hopeful waiting. Within that movement, this verse states the theophany's purpose as salvation for God's people and anointed one while striking the wicked house.
Read Habakkuk 3:8–15 together
Why these verses belong together: Questions about waters open a sustained divine-battle poem whose stated purpose is salvation.
Verse 8. 8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
Verse 9. 9 Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
Verse 10. 10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
Verse 11. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
Verse 12. 12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
Verse 13. 13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
Verse 14. 14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
Verse 15. 15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
Follow the Context
- Questions deny that rivers and sea are the ultimate target of wrath.
- The LORD rides with bow and chariots of salvation.
- Earth, waters, sun, and moon respond to divine action.
- Verse 13 names salvation for God's people and anointed one as the purpose.
- The wicked house is struck from foundation to neck.
- The enemy rushing to scatter the poor is pierced, and the LORD treads the sea.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“for the salvation of thy people”
In plain language: The explicit purpose line controls the surrounding battle imagery.
States the theophany's purpose as salvation for God's people and anointed one while striking the wicked house. Divine power in this poem is directed toward saving from predatory rule.
Why it matters: The wording carries textual, theological, ethical, or predictive risk that requires its full unit and stated limits.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The anointed one does not supply an uncontested original referent or authorize messianic military violence.
What Remains True
Divine power in this poem is directed toward saving from predatory rule.
How It Can Shape Life
- Judge uses of power by whether they protect vulnerable people through just means.
Teach It Back
Explain Habakkuk 3:13's contribution to Habakkuk 3:8-15: States the theophany's purpose as salvation for God's people and anointed one while striking the wicked house. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Habakkuk 3:8-15 — Divine Battle Is Directed toward SalvationSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The anointed may be king, a corporate people, or another figure, and the head/foundation image is difficult.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact displayed Scripture, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and canonical verse coverage.
Exact location: Habakkuk 3:8-15, repository-pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Habakkuk
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew wording, morphology, repeated terms, clause relationships, and base forms behind translation discussion.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Hab.xml, 3:8-15
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Habakkuk with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, Hebrew, text-critical, literary, historical, and uncertainty notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Habakkuk PDF, printed pp. 1775-1776, translation and notes on 3:8-15
Open source ↗