Habakkuk 1:14-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

The prophet, having received of the Lord that which he was to deliver to the people, now turns to God, and again addresses himself to him for the ease of his own mind under the burden which he saw. And still he is full of complaints. If he look about him, he sees nothing but violence done by Israel; if he look before him, he sees nothing but violence done against Israel; and it is hard to say which is the more melancholy sight. His thoughts of both he pours out before the Lord. It is our duty... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:14

And makest men as the fishes of the sea ,.... That is, sufferest them to be used as the fishes of the sea, which are easily taken in the net, and are common to everyone; whosoever will may take them up, and kill them, and use them for their food; and which also among themselves are often hardly used, the lesser being devoured by the greater; and in like manner the prophet suggests, that the people of the Jews, who were men made after the image of God, and made for society and usefulness, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:15

They take up all of them with the angle ,.... The prophet continues the metaphor of fishing, and observes the different ways of taking fish; which is to be applied to the case he is speaking of: as fishermen take all they can with their angles, so "they" or "he", for it is in the singular number, Nebuchadnezzar and his army, take up all out of the sea of the world; are ambitious of getting all kingdoms and nations of the world under their power and dominion; particularly all Judea, and all... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:14

Makest men as the fishes of the sea - Easily are we taken and destroyed. We have no leader to guide us, and no power to defend ourselves. Nebuchadnezzar is here represented as a fisherman, who is constantly casting his nets into the sea, and enclosing multitudes of fishes; and, being always successful, he sacrifices to his own net - attributes all his conquests to his own power and prudence; not considering that he is only like a net that after having been used for a while, shall at last be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:14

Verse 14 He goes on, as it has been said, in his complaint; and by a comparison he shows that the judgement would be such as though God turned away from men, so as not to check the violence of the wicked, nor oppose his hand to their wantonness, in order to restrain them. Since, then, every one would oppress another as he exceeded him in power, and would with increased insolence rise up against the miserable and the poor, the Prophet compares man to the fish of the sea,—“What can this mean?” he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

§ 4. The prophet, in reply, beseeches the Lord not to suffer his people to perish, seeing that he has deigned to be in covenant with them, but to remember mercy even during the affliction at the hand of their rapacious enemies. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

The triumph of faith. I. HABAKKUK 'S GOD . ( Habakkuk 1:12 , Habakkuk 1:13 .) 1 . Eternal. From everlasting ( Psalms 93:2 ), and therefore to everlasting ( Psalms 90:1 ); hence immutable ( Malachi 3:6 ), without variableness or shadow cast by turning ( James 1:17 ), in respect of his being ( 1 Timothy 1:17 ), character ( Isaiah 63:16 ; Psalms 111:3 ), purpose ( Job 23:13 ), and promise ( Hebrews 6:17 ). 2 . Holy. In himself the absolutely and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:14

The prophet appeals movingly to God by showing the indignity with which the people are treated. As the fishes of the sea. Dumb and helpless, swept off by the fisherman. That have no ruler ever them. None to guide and protect them (comp. Proverbs 6:7 ; Proverbs 30:27 ). So the Jews seem to be deprived of God's care, and left to be the prey of the spoiler, as if of little worth, and no longer having God for their King (comp. Isaiah 63:19 , Revised Version). The "creeping things" are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:14-17

Rapacious selfishness in power. "And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them. 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," etc. In Nebuchadnezzar you have rapacious selfishness in power. He is here represented by implication as treating the Jewish people as a fisherman treats the fish in the sea. His aim is to catch them by "angle," "net," and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:15

They take up all men with the angle; he bringeth up all together with the hook ( Amos 4:2 ) The net. Any kind of net. Septuagint, ἄμφίβληστνον ," cast net." The drag ( σαγήνη ). The large drag net. At their own pleasure, unhindered, the Chaldeans make whole nations their prey, their fishing implements being their armies, with which they gather unto themselves countries, peoples, and booty. read more

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