angle = hook. drag = a fish-net. Occurs only here (verses: Habakkuk 1:15 , Habakkuk 1:16 ) and in Isaiah 19:8 . Greek. sagene. See App-122 . Italian seine sagena, whence (with a different vowel) the Greek verb sageneuo = to sweep [a country] clear. read more
fat = fertile, or rich. plenteous = fat. read more
"And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?"This verse is a continuation of Habakkuk 1:13, being the last part of the question, "Wherefore lookest thou (the perfect and righteous God) upon him that swalloweth the righteous... and makest men as the fishes? etc." It is not necessary to press this metaphor down upon all fours. As Luther said, "These hooks, nets, and fishing nets are nothing more than the great and powerful armies"[30] coming upon... read more
"He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catches them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag; therefore he rejoiceth and is glad."The successful mopping up of whole populations by the ruthless invader is metaphorically described. Since Habakkuk was NOT describing what he had already seen in the past, but was uttering a prophecy of what would appear in the future, it was essential that metaphor be employed. The use of such language establishes it as having been written before the events... read more
"Therefore, he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous."Most of the commentators suppose that this language is altogether metaphorical, as is the preceding verse. "It means that the Babylonians recognized not God's hand, but attributed their success to the means which they employed... There is no evidence in Chaldean monuments of their paying divine honors to weapons, etc."[31] Any person, or any people, who trust... read more
Habakkuk 1:14. And makest men, &c.— By delivering them to Nebuchadnezzar, who takes them in his net as a fisherman takes fishes. These creatures suffer themselves to be taken without resistance, because they have no power to defend themselves; no chief to conduct or guard them; as reptiles, who have no protector or guardian. The Hebrews give the common name of reptiles to all fishes. See Calmet. read more
Habakkuk 1:15. Therefore they rejoice and are glad— Therefore he rejoices and triumphs. The whole verse may he rendered in the singular number. read more
Habakkuk 1:16. Therefore, &c.— Therefore will he sacrifice to his net, and burn incense to his drag; because by them is his portion fat, and his meat delicious. The meaning is, that he attributes all his good success to his valour, his courage, his conduct, and good fortune; or else to that god, whose statue he erected in the plains of Dura. See Daniel 3:1. read more
14. And—that is, And so, by suffering oppressors to go unpunished, "Thou makest men as the fishes . . . that have no ruler"; that is, no defender. All may fish in the sea with impunity; so the Chaldeans with impunity afflict Thy people, as these have no longer the God of the theocracy, their King, to defend them. Thou reducest men to such a state of anarchy, by wrong going unpunished, as if there were no God. He compares the world to the sea; men to fishes; Nebuchadnezzar to a fisherman ( :-). read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Habakkuk 1:14
men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . read more