Habakkuk 1:16
in Habakkuk 1Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net, for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.
KJV
Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
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This verse in Habakkuk 1
Commentary
9 notes on this verse(Verses 15 and following) He lifted the whole thing on his hook, he pulled it into his net, and gathered it into his seine: over this he will rejoice and exult. Therefore he sacrifices to his seine, and offers to his net, for in them his portion has become fat, and his food is choice: because of this he spreads out his seine, and never stops killing nations.
This site's exposition
as the fishes of the sea
on Habakkuk 1:14-17
The chapter closes on humanity reduced to catch, men made as the fishes of the sea, hooked, netted, dragged, with no ruler over them to answer for their capture, so that the fisherman rejoices over the very cruelty of the haul. Habakkuk's sharpest charge follows, therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag, the Chaldean's own war machine turned into an object of worship because it delivers a fat portion and plenteous meat. Pusey and Wesley read the image as idolatry of power stated plainly, a nation worshiping the instrument of its own conquest rather than the God who permitted it. The chapter ends on a question left hanging, shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations, and chapter 2 opens with the prophet climbing his watchtower to wait for the answer.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Although, in general, this inflation of pride attacks many people, there are none who have to fear it more than those who have reached the perfection of virtues of the spirit or copious riches and highest offices in the flesh. It becomes all the greater …
The entire life of the saints is engaged in this war, for there happens in them what is written: "The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh." They, indeed, fight, but they are not overcome. What shall I say about wicked, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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 (g). So Justin says (h), originally the ancients worshipped spears for gods, in memory of whose religion spears are still added to the images of the gods.
3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
They 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 more decisive proof of this self-idolatry. Thebaid, lib. x.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
sacrifice unto their net--that is, their arms, power, and military skill, wherewith they gained their victories; instead of to God. Compare Hab 1:11, MAURER'S interpretation.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Therefore 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 Isa 10:13, Isa 10:15, “By the strength of my hand I did it; and by my wisdom, for I am prudent;” and God answered, “Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?” The coarse forms of idolatry only embody outwardly the deep inward idolatry of the corrupt human mind. The idol is Eze 14:4 “set up in the heart” first. There have not indeed been lacking savage nations, who in very deed worshiped their arms ; those of old worshiped spears as immortal gods ; Even now we are told of some North American Indians “who designate their bow and arrow as the only beneficent deities whom they know.” Among the civilized Romans, the worship of the eagles, their standards to whom they did sacrifice , was no other nor better. The inward idolatry is only a more subtle form of the same sin, the evil spirit which shapes itself in the outward show. Here the idolatry of self is meant, which did not join creatures with God as objects of worship; but denying, Him in practice or misbelief, became aged to itself . So Habakkuk had said, this his strength is his God. His idol was himself. Because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous - literally, is in the English margin, well-fed). […]
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| עַל־ | ʾal- | there- | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כֵּן֙ | ken | -fore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יְזַבֵּ֣חַ | yezabeach | he sacrifices | H2076 → | |
| לְחֶרְמ֔וֹ | lechermo | to net his | H2764 → | 38 times |
| וִֽיקַטֵּ֖ר | vikater | so he may make smoke | H6999 → | |
| לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ | lemikhmarto | to fishing net his | H4365 → | |
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בָהֵ֙מָּה֙ | vahemah | by them | ||
| שָׁמֵ֣ן | shamen | [is] fat | H8082 → | |
| חֶלְק֔וֹ | chelko | portion his | H2506 → | |
| וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹ | umaakhalo | and food his | H3978 → | |
| בְּרִאָֽה׃ | beriah | [is] fat | H1277 → |
עַל־there-
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כֵּן֙-fore
kenH3651 →771 times
יְזַבֵּ֣חַhe sacrifices
yezabeachH2076 →
לְחֶרְמ֔וֹto net his
lechermoH2764 →38 times
וִֽיקַטֵּ֖רso he may make smoke
vikaterH6999 →
לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹto fishing net his
lemikhmartoH4365 →
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
בָהֵ֙מָּה֙by them
vahemah
שָׁמֵ֣ן[is] fat
shamenH8082 →
חֶלְק֔וֹportion his
chelkoH2506 →
וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹand food his
umaakhaloH3978 →
בְּרִאָֽה׃[is] fat
beriahH1277 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 8:17You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 9:4
When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD…
- 1 Corinthians 4:7
For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
- Daniel 4:30
the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
- Isaiah 10:8–14
“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.
- Deuteronomy 7:17
You may say in your heart, “These nations are greater than we are; how can we drive them out?”
- Deuteronomy 9:4
Through
Daniel 4:30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 16:18
Through
Ezekiel 28:3Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!
it leads to
- Daniel 1:20
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
- Daniel 2:22
He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
- Daniel 1:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
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About Habakkuk
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 177:3; Edward Bouverie Pusey, The Minor Prophets: A Commentary; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Habakkuk; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Martin of Braga, ON PRIDE 8 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.