Habakkuk 1:16

16 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.

Habakkuk 1:16 in Other Translations

16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.

16 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.

16 He praises his rod and reel, piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it! It's made his day, and he's going to eat well tonight!

16 Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.

16 That is why they sacrifice to their nets and burn incense to their dragnets. They are rich and well fed because of them.

16 That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet and burn incense to their fishing net, for by these things their portion is rich and their food plentiful.

16 They offer sacrifices to their nets. They burn incense to them. Their nets allow them to live in great comfort. They enjoy the finest food.

Habakkuk 1:16 Meaning and Commentary

Habakkuk 1:16

Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense
unto their drag
Either to their idols, to fortune and the stars, as Aben Ezra; imagining they gave them success, and prospered them in the arts and methods they used: or to their arms, as the Targum; nor was it unusual with the Heathens to worship their spears, sacrifice to them, and swear by them ^F7. So Justin says ^F8, originally the ancients worshipped spears for gods, in memory of whose religion spears are still added to the images of the gods. Lucian ^F9 asserts that the Scythians sacrificed to a scimitar; and Arnobius ^F11 says the same; and Ammianus Marcellinus ^F12 reports, that the Quadi worship their swords or daggers instead of gods; and that it was usual to swear by the spear is evident from others ^F13. Or else the sense is, they sacrificed to their own valour and courage, skill and conduct. Because by them their portion [is] fat, and their meat plenteous:
that is, by their angle, net, and drag; or by those things signified by them, the arts and methods they used to subdue nations, conquer kingdoms, and bring them into subjection to them; they enlarged their dominions, increased their riches and revenues, and had plenty of everything that was desirable for food and raiment, for pleasure and profit; or to gratify the most unbounded ambition, having everything that heart could wish for and desire: the allusion is to making sumptuous feasts, and rich banquets, on occasion of victories obtained.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Vid. Doughtaei Analect. Sacra, p. 494, 495.
F8 E Trogo, l. 43. c. 3, 4.
F9 In Jupiter Tragoedus.
F11 Adv. Gentes, l. 6. p. 232.
F12 Hist. l. 17.
F13 (omnusi d'ouicmhn) , Aeschylus.

Habakkuk 1:16 In-Context

14 You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler.

15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.

16 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.

17 Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 44:8