Habakkuk 1 · Verse 16

Habakkuk 1:16

Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
Habakkuk 1:16, King James Version

Habakkuk 1:16 in other translations

BSBTherefore 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.
WEBTherefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious and his food is good.
ASVTherefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.
YLTTherefore he doth sacrifice to his net, And doth make perfume to his drag, For by them is his portion fertile, and his food fat.
DARBYtherefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; for by them his portion is become fat, and his meat dainty.
BBEFor this reason he makes an offering to his net, burning perfume to his fishing-net; because by them he gets much food and his meat is fat.
WebsterTherefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous.

What does Habakkuk 1:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 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. Ades, O mihi dextera tantum Tu praeses belli, et inevitabile Numen, Te voco, te solum Superum contemptor adoro. "Only thou, my right hand, be my aid; I contemn the gods, and adore thee as the chief in battle, and the irresistible deity." The poet tells us that, for his impiety, Jupiter slew him with thunder. This was an ancient idolatry in this country, and has existed till within about a century. There are relics of it in different parts of Europe; for when military men bind themselves to accomplish any particular purpose, it is usual to lay their hand upon their sword: but formerly they kissed it, when swearing by it. With most heroes, the sword is both their Bible and their God. To the present day it is a custom among the Hindoos annually to worship the implements of their trades. See Ward.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Habakkuk 1:12-17

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…

Read the full comment on Habakkuk 1:12-17 →

Habakkuk 1:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַל\־'al-there-H5921
כֵּן֙ken-foreH3651
יְזַבֵּ֣חַye.za.Be.achhe sacrificesH2076
לְחֶרְמ֔וֹle.cher.Moto net hisH2764
וִֽיקַטֵּ֖רvi.ka.Terso he may make smokeH6999
לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹle.mikh.mar.Toto fishing net hisH4365
כִּ֤יkiforH3588
בָהֵ֙מָּה֙va.He.mahby them
שָׁמֵ֣ןsha.Men[is] fatH8082
חֶלְק֔וֹchel.Koportion hisH2506
וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹu.ma.'a.kha.Loand food hisH3978
בְּרִאָֽה\׃be.ri.'Ah[is] fatH1277

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Habakkuk 1:16

  • Daniel 4:30

    The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

  • Habakkuk 1:11

    Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

  • Ezekiel 28:3

    Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

  • Deuteronomy 8:17

    And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

  • Isaiah 37:24

    By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.

  • Isaiah 10:13-15

    For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

  • Daniel 5:23

    But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

  • Ezekiel 29:3

    Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
11; De 8:17; Isa 10:13-15; 37:24; Eze 28:3; 29:3; Da 4:30; 5:23
plenteous. or, dainty. Heb. fat.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Habakkuk 1:15

    They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

  • Habakkuk 1:16

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

  • Habakkuk 1:17

    Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Read all of Habakkuk 1

Habakkuk 1:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por esto hará sacrificios á su red, y ofrecerá sahumerios á su aljerife: porque con ellos engordó su porción, y engrasó su comida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		c’est pourquoi il sacrifie à son filet, et brûle de l’encens à son rets, parce que, par leur moyen, sa portion est grasse et sa nourriture succulente.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum opfert er seinem Netze und räuchert seinem Garne, denn durch sie ist sein Teil fett und seine Speise feist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Propterea immolabit sagenæ suæ, et sacrificabit reti suo, quia in ipsis incrassata est pars ejus, et cibus ejus electus.