Habakkuk 1:16 kjv

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 nkjv

Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful.

Habakkuk 1:16 niv

Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food.

Habakkuk 1:16 esv

Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.

Habakkuk 1:16 nlt

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.

Habakkuk 1 verses

Habakkuk 1 16 Meaning

Habakkuk 1:16 describes the Chaldeans' extreme arrogance and idolatry, as perceived by Habakkuk. They attribute their military successes, victories, and abundant provisions not to the LORD, but to their own instruments of war and cunning. Their "net" and "dragnet" symbolize their strategic military prowess and trapping of nations, while their "sword" represents their destructive power. By "sacrificing" and "burning incense" to these instruments, they demonstrate self-worship and the belief that their strength, rather than God's hand, is the sole source of their prosperity and plunder. This portrays them as highly impious, failing to acknowledge divine providence, and worshipping the works of their own hands, a common theme of idolatry in the Old Testament.

Habakkuk 1 16 Context

Habakkuk 1:16 is a critical part of the prophet Habakkuk’s first lament to the LORD (Hab 1:2-11) and God's subsequent response (Hab 1:5-11). Habakkuk cries out against the violence and injustice prevalent in Judah, questioning why God seems silent. In response, God reveals that He is raising up the Chaldeans (Babylonians), "that fierce and impetuous nation," to punish Judah. Habakkuk is deeply disturbed by this revelation. He cannot reconcile how a righteous God would use a nation even more wicked and brutal than Judah to bring judgment. Verses 12-17 articulate Habakkuk's renewed complaint, where he highlights the Chaldeans' ruthlessness and idolatry. Verse 16 specifically targets their hubris, showing that they attribute their military success and bounty entirely to themselves and their instruments of war, not to any divine power, much less the true God. This self-deification of their military power deeply offends Habakkuk and presents a moral dilemma for him concerning God's justice.

Habakkuk 1 16 Word analysis

• Therefore: Hebrew: ʿal-kēn (עַל־כֵּן). This conjunction signifies a conclusion or consequence based on the preceding descriptions of the Chaldeans' might and effective methods of conquest (Hab 1:7-11, 15). It links their ruthless efficiency directly to their prideful actions.
• they sacrifice: Hebrew: yizbeḥu (יִזְבְּחוּ). From the root zāḇaḥ (זָבַח), meaning to slaughter, offer, or sacrifice. This term is strongly associated with cultic religious rituals of offering sacrifices to deities. Here, it is used metaphorically but pointedly to convey a profound act of worship, elevating their instruments of war to a god-like status.
• to their net: Hebrew: la-ḥerem (לְחֶרְמָם). While ḥerem can also refer to consecrated property for destruction, here it is understood as ḥekhmâ (חֶרֶם), which means a net, specifically for fishing or trapping. This refers metaphorically to their strategic military campaigns, traps, sieges, and cunning tactics used to capture and conquer nations. It represents their tactical genius and effectiveness in war.
• and burn incense: Hebrew: wîḳaṭṭeʾrū (וַיְקַטְּרוּ). From the root qāṭar (קָטַר), meaning to burn sacrifice, make smoke, or offer incense. Like zāḇaḥ, this term describes a specific act of worship, involving the pleasant aroma rising to a deity. This intensifies the idolatrous implication, signifying homage and veneration.
• to their dragnet: Hebrew: ûlĕ-mḵûrtām (וּלִמְכוּרְתָּם). This word (mākmeret or mikmorah in other contexts) also refers to a large fishing net or dragnet. It parallels "net" (ḥerem) and emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their conquests. The repeated imagery of fishing nets underscores how easily they "catch" entire nations, gathering immense plunder and human captives like a fisherman gathers fish.
• For by them: Hebrew: kî bā-hem (כִּי בָהֵמָה). "For by them" provides the reason for their idolatrous worship. Their prosperity and power, in their view, originate directly from these instruments. This highlights their rejection of any higher divine power.
• their portion: Hebrew: ḥelqām (חֶלְקָם). "Portion" refers to their allocated share, their livelihood, or the results of their labor. In this context, it signifies the spoils of war, the abundance of food, and the wealth they gain from their conquests. It suggests divine provision that they incorrectly attribute to their tools.
• is plump: Hebrew: šmēnâ (שְׁמֵנָה). Meaning "fat," "rich," "fertile," or "prosperous." This implies extreme abundance, flourishing, and the richness of their bounty. It speaks of physical well-being and material opulence derived from their conquests.
• and their food: Hebrew: û-maʾăḵālām (וּמַאֲכָלָם). From ʾākāl (אָכַל), meaning food, eating. This refers specifically to their sustenance, their provisions, and the daily sustenance derived from the plundered nations. It grounds their idolatry in their practical dependence on their war implements for their very existence and luxury.
• is rich: Hebrew: brîʾâ (בְּרִיאָה). From bārāʾ (בָּרָא), which can mean to be fat, well-fed, or to create. Here, it refers to abundance, health, or richness. Combined with "plump," it underscores the exceptional luxury and ease with which they live due to their conquests.

Words-group analysis:

• they sacrifice to their net and burn incense to their dragnet: This phrase forcefully conveys the Chaldeans' self-deification. By applying sacred terminology (sacrifice, incense) to military instruments, they are depicted as making idols of their own prowess and tools of destruction. This is an explicit indictment of their pagan worship and their ultimate trust in themselves, rather than God. This also forms a strong polemic against the notion that success automatically validates one's actions; their "success" (plump portion, rich food) leads them to idolatry.
• For by them their portion is plump and their food is rich: This explains the motivation behind their idolatry. They attribute their material wealth, luxurious living, and successful military outcomes entirely to their own effective warfare, symbolizing their reliance on self and refusal to acknowledge any higher divine sovereignty in their victories. This directly contrasts with biblical principles that all blessings come from the LORD.

Habakkuk 1 16 Bonus section

• The "net" and "dragnet" imagery connects to Jer 16:16 and Ezek 12:13, where prophets use similar metaphors for enemies catching or God catching His people. However, here, the Chaldeans are the ones using the net, then worshipping it.
• The concept of sacrificing to one's own works is a reversal of true worship and is profoundly blasphemous from a biblical perspective. It is the ultimate expression of human pride against divine sovereignty.
• The "plump portion" and "rich food" also imply a disregard for the means by which this abundance is obtained – through violence, conquest, and oppression of others. They luxuriate in ill-gotten gains and worship the tools that provided them.
• This verse provides a profound theological question about the justice of God in using wicked instruments. It's not a question of if God uses nations, but how He uses them without endorsing their evil, and when He will hold them accountable. This is explored further in Habakkuk chapter 2.

Habakkuk 1 16 Commentary

Habakkuk 1:16 masterfully captures the essence of the Chaldean spirit, highlighting their profound arrogance and self-worship. The prophet employs vivid metaphors from hunting and fishing (net, dragnet) combined with highly religious language (sacrifice, incense) to portray a people who elevate their own strength, ingenuity, and tools of conquest to the level of gods. This is not mere pride, but an active, pseudo-religious devotion to their own military prowess. They do not attribute their immense gains—their "plump portion" and "rich food"—to divine favor, but solely to their own methods and might. This verse serves as a critical point in Habakkuk's dilemma: How can God, who is "too pure to behold evil," use such a thoroughly ungodly and idolatrous nation to judge His chosen people, Judah? The Chaldeans' boastful reliance on themselves stands in stark contrast to the God of Israel, who demands humility and acknowledges Himself as the source of all blessing and true power. This deep-seated idolatry of self and might foreshadows their eventual downfall, as the LORD will not long tolerate such profound spiritual rebellion, even if He uses them as an instrument for a time. Ultimately, this verse underscores the fundamental difference between faith in God and the arrogant self-sufficiency of nations devoid of divine truth.