Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, October 31st, 2024
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Habakkuk 1:16

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Happiness;   Idolatry;   Wicked (People);   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Happiness of the Wicked, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Habakkuk;   Nets;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Fish;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Dragnet;   Habakkuk;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nets;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Drag;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fisher;   Habakkuk;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Fish and Fishing;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
His net helps him live like the rich and enjoy the best food. So the enemy worships his net. He makes sacrifices and burns incense to honor his net.
New American Standard Bible
Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net And burn incense to their fishing net, Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful.
New Century Version
The enemy offers sacrifices to his net and burns incense to worship it, because it lets him live like the rich and enjoy the best food.
Update Bible Version
Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; because by them their portion [is] fat, and their food plenteous.
Amplified Bible
Therefore, they offer sacrifices to their net And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large and they live luxuriously, And their food is plentiful.
English Standard Version
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.
World English Bible
Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfore he schal offere to his greet net, and schal make sacrifice to his net; for in hem his part is maad fat, and his mete is chosun.
English Revised Version
Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his meat plenteous.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore they sacrifice to their dragnet and burn incense to their fishing net, for by these things their portion is sumptuous and their food is rich.
Contemporary English Version
that he offers sacrifices to his fishing nets, because they make him rich and provide choice foods.
American Standard Version
Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.
Bible in Basic English
For 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
offering sacrifices to their fishnet and burning incense to their dragnet; because through them they live in luxury, with plenty of food to eat.
Darby Translation
therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; for by them his portion is become fat, and his meat dainty.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and offer unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous.
King James Version (1611)
Therefore they sacrifice vnto their net, and burne incense vnto their drag: because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
New Life Bible
So they give gifts in worship to their net. They burn special perfume to their fishing net, because their net catches all the good things and good food they need.
New Revised Standard
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his seine; for by them his portion is lavish, and his food is rich.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore they sacrifice vnto their net, and burne incense vnto their yarne, because by them their portion is fat & their meat plenteous.
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore they sacrifice to their net and burn incense to their drag, because by them their portion is made rich, and their food dainty.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
On which account, he is glad and exulteth: on which account, he sacrificeth to his Net, and burneth incense to his Drag; because, thereby, rich, is his portion, and his food - fatness!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and his meat dainty.
Revised Standard Version
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his seine; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore they sacrifice vnto their net, and burne incense vnto their yarne: because by them their portion is fat, and their meate plenteous.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore will he sacrifice to his drag, and burn incense to his casting-net, because by them he has made his portion fat, and his meats choice.
Good News Translation
They even worship their nets and offer sacrifices to them, because their nets provide them with the best of everything.
Christian Standard Bible®
That is why they sacrifice to their dragnetand burn incense to their fishing net,for by these things their portion is richand their food plentiful.
Hebrew Names Version
Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.
King James Version
Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
Lexham English Bible
Therefore he sacrifices to his fishnet and makes offerings to his dragnet, for by them he makes a good living and his food is rich.
Literal Translation
So he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his seine; because by them his portion is fat, and his food rich.
Young's Literal Translation
Therefore he doth sacrifice to his net, And doth make perfume to his drag, For by them [is] his portion fertile, and his food fat.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore offre they vnto their net, and do sacrifice vnto their yarne: because that thorow it their porcion is become so fat, and their meate so pleteous.
New English Translation
Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat.
New King James Version
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful.
Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their netAnd burn incense to their fishing netBecause through these things their portion is richAnd their food is fat.

Contextual Overview

12 O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal— surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord , our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. 13 But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they? 14 Are we only fish to be caught and killed? Are we only sea creatures that have no leader? 15 Must we be strung up on their hooks and caught in their nets while they rejoice and celebrate? 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. 17 Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they: Habakkuk 1:11, Deuteronomy 8:17, Isaiah 10:13-15, Isaiah 37:24, Ezekiel 28:3, Ezekiel 29:3, Daniel 4:30, Daniel 5:23

plenteous: or, dainty, Heb. fat

Reciprocal: Judges 7:2 - Mine own Judges 16:24 - praised 1 Samuel 5:2 - of Dagon 1 Samuel 30:23 - which the Lord Job 21:7 - Wherefore Job 31:25 - because Ezekiel 28:4 - General Daniel 1:2 - and he Hosea 2:8 - she Hosea 12:8 - I have Amos 4:2 - he will Amos 6:13 - which Luke 12:19 - Soul Romans 1:21 - they glorified 1 Timothy 6:17 - that they

Cross-References

Genesis 1:7
And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.
Genesis 1:8
God called the space "sky." And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.
Deuteronomy 4:19
And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don't be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.
Job 31:26
"Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway,
Job 38:7
as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Psalms 8:3
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place—
Psalms 19:6
The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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. Lucian i asserts that the Scythians sacrificed to a scimitar; and Arnobius k says the same; and Ammianus Marcellinus l 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 m. 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.

g Vid. Doughtaei Analect. Sacra, p. 494, 495. h E Trogo, l. 43. c. 3, 4. i In Jupiter Tragoedus. k Adv. Gentes, l. 6. p. 232. l Hist. l. 17. m ομνυσι δ'ουιχμην, Aeschylus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 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 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 Ezekiel 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). All the choicest things of the world stood at his command, as Nebuchadnezzar boasted (Daniel 4:30, compare 22), and all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, all the knowledge and wisdom and learning of the world, and the whole world itself, were Satan’s lawful prey Luke 4:6; John 12:31; Isaiah 49:24 Cyril: “Nebuchadnezzar, as by a hook and meshes and line, swept into his own land both Israel himself and other nations, encompassing them. Satan, as it were, by one line and net, that of sin, enclosed all, and Israel especially, on account of his impiety to Christ. “His food was choice.” For Israel was chosen above the rest, as from a holy root, that of the fathers, and having the “law as a schoolmaster,” and being called to the knowledge of the one true God. Yet he, having this glory and grace, was taken with the rest. They became his prey by error; but Israel, knowing Him who is by nature God, in an ungodly manner, slaying Him who was by nature His Begotten Son and who came as Man, were taken in his nets.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Habakkuk 1:16. They sacrifice unto their net — He had no God; he cared for none; and worshipped only his armour 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. x. 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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile