Habakkuk 1:14-16 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:16

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 F7 Vid. Doughtaei Analect. Sacra, p. 494,495. . So Justin says F8 E Trogo, l. 43. c. 3,4. , originally the ancients... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:16

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. 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:16

Verse 16 The Prophet confirms the closing sentence of the last verse; for he explains what that joy was of which he had spoken, even the joy by which the wicked, as it were, designedly provoke God against themselves. It is indeed an abominable thing when the ungodly take delight in their vices; but it is still more atrocious when they deride God himself. Such, then, is the account now added by the Prophet, as though he had said, “Not only do the ungodly felicitate themselves while thou sparest... 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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:16

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:16

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

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