( On the Meaning of wyfm in Habakkuk 3,14a Many commentators considered Hab 3,14 rtsmb yn[ lkal wmk µtxyl[ / ynxyphl wr[sy wzrp var wyfmb tbqn incomprehensible. Some provided an interpretation for the first colon but found the following three lines impossibly corrupt. For instance Albright says, “I do not venture to translate this line, whose obvious meaning can scarcely be correct” (1). Each word in the three lines is reasonably known, yet a literal rendering of the MT did not appear to yield an acceptable meaning in the context of the theophany. Hiebert summarized the situation thus, “The remainder of v. 14 [following the first three words] is the lengthiest textual puzzle of the chapter. The next four words of the MT are understood very differently by the Old Greek, and differently still by Barberini. And the final four words of the MT, though confirmed by the Old Greek and Barberini, are hard to understand in the context. The disparity among the versions at this point in the poem indicates an ancient disruption in the text, which may no longer be possible to correct. All that can be done until more information comes to light is to point out the nature of the difficulties and make some suggestions about avenues along which a solution might lie”(2). Recently Andersen observed, “This verse is largely unintelligible, and the second part is best left untranslated” (3). Hiebert’s assessment implies that the meaning of the first three words, and the first colon that they form, are known. The following sample of interpretations illustrates how far is Hiebert’s statement from being true. We find for wzrp var wyfmb tbqn Septuagint: diekoya" ejn ejkstavsei kefala;" dunastw'n v (Thou didst cut asunder the heads of princes with amazement) h[rp tyrçm yçyr hyrbgw hçmd hyrfwjb amy at[zb Targum: (You cleft the sea by Moses’ rod, and the mighty men, the captains of Pharaoh’s army) Peshitta: Thou didst break with his own staves the heads of his princes Vulgate: maledixisti sceptris eius capiti bellatorum (Thou hast cursed his sceptres, the head of his warriors) Haak: You pierce by his shafts the head of his warriors (4). Albright: Thou didst pierce head in the fight, while his followers (?) (5). ) W.F. ALBRIGHT, “The Psalm of Habakkuk”, Studies in Old Testament Prophecy 1 (ed. H.H. ROWLEY) (Edinburgh 1950) 17. (2) T. HIEBERT, God of My Victory. The Ancient Hymn in Habakkuk 3 (HSM 38; Atlanta 1986) 43. (3) F.I. ANDERSEN, Habakkuk (AB 25; New York 2001) 338. (4) R.D. HAAK, Habakkuk (VT.S 44; Leiden 1992) 93. (5) ALBRIGHT, “The Psalm of Habakkuk”, 13.