Psalms 68:21
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses.
American King James Version (AKJV)
But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses.
American Standard Version (ASV)
But God will smite through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
The heads of the haters of God will be crushed; even the head of him who still goes on in his evil ways.
Webster's Revision
But God will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
World English Bible
But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
English Revised Version (ERV)
But God shall smite through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.
Clarke's Psalms 68:21 Bible Commentary
The hairy scalp - קדקד שער kodkod sear. Does this mean any thing like the Indian scalping? Or does it refer to a crest on a helmet or headcap? I suppose the latter.
Barnes's Psalms 68:21 Bible Commentary
But God shall wound the head of his enemies - More properly, "God shall crush the head," etc. The idea is that of complete destruction, - as, if the head is crushed, life becomes ex tinct. See Genesis 3:15; compare Psalm 110:6.
And the hairy scalp - More literally, "the top of the hair." The Hebrew word used here for "scalp" means the vertex, the top, the crown, as of the head, where the hair "divides itself;" and the idea is properly, "the dividing of the hair." Gesenius, Lexicon. The allusion is to the top of the head; that is, the blow would descend on the top of the head, producing death.
Of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses - Of the man who perseveres in a course of wickedness. If he repents, God will be merciful to him; if he persists in sin, he will be punished. The literal rendering would be, "the hairy scalp going on, or going, sc. "about", in his trespasses." The reference is to a wicked man "continuing" in his transgressions.
Wesley's Psalms 68:21 Bible Commentary
68:21 Hairy - In ancient times many people used to wear long and shaggy hair, that their looks might be more terrible to their enemies.