Habakkuk 1:16

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 Living Translation (NLT)Then they will worship their nets and burn incense in front of them. “These nets are the gods who have made us rich!” they will claim.

Context of Habakkuk 1:16

14Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? 15They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful. 17Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity?

Habakkuk 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 1:11Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.”
• Deuteronomy 8:17then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
• Isaiah 10:13For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
• Isaiah 37:24By your servants you have reproached the Lord, And said, ‘By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; I will cut down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I will enter its farthest height, To its fruitful forest.
• Ezekiel 28:3(Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you!
• Ezekiel 29:3Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, Who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’
• Daniel 4:30The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
• Daniel 5:23And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.

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

• Covetousness
• Happiness
• Idolatry
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Possess
• Pure
• Scoff
• Wrong
• Fisher; Fisherman
• Habakkuk

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