God’s Word Translation
Habakkuk 1:16
16That is why they sacrifice to their nets and burn incense to their dragnets. They are rich and well fed because of them.
Habakkuk 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful.
Context of Habakkuk 1:16
14You make all people like the fish in the sea, like schools of sea life that have no ruler. 15The Babylonians pull them all up with fishhooks, drag them away in nets, and gather them in dragnets. So they rejoice and are happy. That is why they sacrifice to their nets and burn incense to their dragnets. They are rich and well fed because of them. 17Will they keep on emptying their nets and always kill nations without mercy?
Read all of Habakkuk 1Habakkuk 1:16 word by word
עַל־כֵּן֙ יְזַבֵּ֣חַ לְחֶרְמ֔וֹ וִֽיקַטֵּ֖ר לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י בָהֵ֙מָּה֙ שָׁמֵ֣ן חֶלְק֔וֹ וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹ בְּרִאָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore they sacrificeזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
- unto their netחֵ֫רֶםchêrem cherem · netH2764
- and burn incenseקָטַרqâţar · to offer: offerH6999
- unto their dragמִכְמֶ֫רֶתmikmereth mikmôreth · netH4365
- because by themהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
- their portionחֵ֫לֶקchêleq · portionH2506
- fatשָׁמֵןshâmên · richH8082
- and their meatמַאֲכָלma'ăkâl · foodH3978
- plenteousבָּרִיאbârîy' · fatH1277
Cross-references for Habakkuk 1:16
- Habakkuk 1:11They will move quickly and pass through like the wind. So they will be guilty, because their own strength is their god.
- Deuteronomy 8:17You may say to yourselves, “I became wealthy because of my own ability and strength.”
- Isaiah 10:13The king will say, “I did this with my own two powerful hands. I did this with my wisdom, because I am so clever. I’ve eliminated the boundaries of nations. I’ve looted treasuries. I’ve brought down people like a mighty man.
- Isaiah 37:24Through your servants you defy the Lord and say, “With my many chariots I’ll ride up the high mountains, up the slopes of Lebanon. I’ll cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypresses. I’ll come to its most distant heights and its most fertile forests.
- Ezekiel 28:3You think that you are wiser than Daniel and that no secret can be hidden from you.
- Ezekiel 29:3Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt. You are like a monster crocodile lying in the Nile River. You say, “The Nile River is mine. I made it for myself.”
- Daniel 4:30The king thought, “Look how great Babylon is! I built the royal palace by my own impressive power and for my glorious honor.”
- Daniel 5:23But you made yourself greater than the Lord of heaven. You had the utensils from his temple brought to you. You, your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them. You praised your gods made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, or stone. These gods can’t see, hear, or know anything. You didn’t honor God, who has power over your life and everything you do.
Commentaries on Habakkuk 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16They sacrifice unto their net - He had no God; he cared for none; and worshipped only his armor and himself. King Mezentius, one of the worst characters in the Aeneid of Virgil, is represented as invoking his own right hand and his spear in battle. Aen. 10:773. Dextra mihi Deus, et telum quod missile libro, Nunc adsint. "My strong right hand and sword, assert my stroke. Those only gods Mezentius will invoke." Dryden. And Capaneus, in Statius, gives us a…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag - literally he sacrifices unto his, etc. Whatever a man trusts in is his god. If a man relies to compass his end by his strength, or his wisdom, or his forethought, or his wealth, his armies or navies, these his forces are his God. So the Assyrian said Isaiah 10:13, Isaiah 10:15, “By the strength of my hand I did it; and by my wisdom, for I am prudent;” and God answered, “Shall the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 However matters may be, yet God is the Lord our God, our Holy One. We are an offending people, he is an offended God, yet we will not entertain hard thoughts of him, or of his service. It is great comfort that, whatever mischief men design, the Lord designs good, and we are sure that his counsel shall stand. Though wickedness may prosper a while, yet God is holy, and does not approve the wickedness. As he cannot do iniquity himself, so he is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16See study note on Habakkuk 1:11; compare 1 John 5:21.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. sacrifice unto their net--that is, their arms, power, and military skill, wherewith they gained their victories; instead of to God. Compare Ha 1:11, Maurer's interpretation. They idolize themselves for their own cleverness and might (De 8:17; Is 10:13; 37:24, 25). by them--by their net and dragnet. their portion--image from a banquet: the prey which they have gotten.Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Habakkuk 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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