Habakkuk 1:15

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.

They take up {H5927} all of them with the angle {H2443}, they catch {H1641} them in their net {H2764}, and gather {H622} them in their drag {H4365}: therefore they rejoice {H8055} and are glad {H1523}.

The evil haul them all up with their hooks, catch them in their fish net, or gather them in their dragnet. Then they rejoice and make merry,

The foe pulls all of them up with a hook; he catches them in his dragnet, and gathers them in his fishing net; so he rejoices gladly.

He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is glad.

Commentary on Habakkuk 1:15 (KJV)

Habakkuk 1:15 is part of the prophet Habakkuk's initial lament and God's surprising response. The prophet cries out against the rampant injustice and violence within Judah, and God reveals He will use the Chaldeans (Babylonians) as His instrument of judgment. This verse vividly describes the ruthless and comprehensive methods of these invaders.

Historical and Cultural Context

The book of Habakkuk is set during a turbulent period in Judah's history, likely around the late 7th century BC, as the Neo-Babylonian Empire was rising to prominence. The Chaldeans were a formidable military power, known for their swift and brutal conquests. Habakkuk's complaint is that God is allowing such a wicked nation to triumph and inflict suffering, even on His own people. This verse captures the perspective of the oppressed, seeing the Chaldeans as an overwhelming force that captures nations as easily as fishermen catch fish.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Predatory Conquest: The Chaldeans are depicted as skilled and relentless hunters, using various tools to ensnare their victims. The imagery of fishing — "angle," "net," "drag" — emphasizes the ease and totality with which they conquer. They leave no escape for their prey.
  • Rejoicing in Oppression: The chilling aspect of this verse is that the Chaldeans "rejoice and are glad" in their destructive success. This highlights their lack of empathy and their satisfaction in their overwhelming power and material gain, a stark contrast to God's righteous standards.
  • Divine Instrument (Indirect): While the verse focuses on the Chaldeans' actions, the broader context of Habakkuk 1 indicates that these actions, though wicked in themselves, are permitted and even directed by God as part of His judgment. This speaks to God's sovereignty over nations and their rise and fall.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used reinforce the fishing metaphor:

  • "Angle" (חַכָּה, chak·kah): Refers to a fishing hook, suggesting individual, targeted capture.
  • "Net" (חֶרֶם, ḥerem): Denotes a fishing net, implying a broader, collective capture.
  • "Drag" (מִכְמֶרֶת, mikmereth): A large dragnet, used to sweep up everything in its path, signifying a complete and indiscriminate haul.

Together, these terms paint a picture of comprehensive and efficient subjugation, from individual targets to entire populations, all swept into the Chaldeans' control with ruthless efficiency.

Practical Application

Habakkuk 1:15 serves as a powerful reminder of the nature of unchecked power and the human tendency to find satisfaction in conquest and material gain, often at the expense of others. Even today, we see nations, corporations, or individuals who operate with a similar predatory mindset, exploiting the vulnerable for their own benefit and rejoicing in their accumulated wealth or power. This verse challenges us to:

  • Discern Injustice: To recognize and lament the injustices in the world, much like Habakkuk did.
  • Question Sources of Joy: To examine what brings us joy. Is it gain at any cost, or is it rooted in righteousness and love? The temporary gladness of the oppressor is often fleeting and condemned by God, as seen in other prophetic books like Jeremiah 17:11.
  • Trust God's Ultimate Plan: To remember that even when evil seems to prosper, God remains sovereign and will ultimately bring justice and accountability, though His methods and timing may be beyond our immediate understanding.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 16:16

    Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

  • Amos 4:2

    The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.

  • Psalms 10:9

    He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

  • Luke 5:5

    And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

  • Luke 5:10

    And so [was] also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

  • Ezekiel 25:6

    For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped [thine] hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;

  • Ezekiel 29:4

    But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.

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