Habakkuk 1:17

Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Shall they therefore empty {H7324} their net {H2764}, and not spare {H2550} continually {H8548} to slay {H2026} the nations {H1471}?

Should they, therefore, keep emptying their nets? Should they keep slaughtering the nations without pity?

Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy?

Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?

Commentary

Context of Habakkuk 1:17

Habakkuk 1:17 concludes the prophet Habakkuk's second complaint to God. Earlier in the chapter, Habakkuk cried out to the Lord regarding the rampant violence and injustice within Judah (Habakkuk 1:2-4). God's surprising response was to reveal that He was raising up the fierce and swift Chaldeans (Babylonians) to punish Judah (Habakkuk 1:5-11). This divine solution, however, presented Habakkuk with an even greater dilemma: how could a holy and just God use a nation far more wicked and cruel than Judah to execute His judgment? The prophet questions God's tolerance for such unbridled evil, culminating in this verse where he asks if the Chaldeans will be allowed to continue their insatiable conquest indefinitely.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Problem of Evil and Divine Justice: Habakkuk grapples with the age-old question of why God permits profound injustice and violence, particularly when it seems to come from a source even more depraved. The verse highlights the prophet's perplexity regarding God's methods.
  • Insatiable Conquest and Arrogance: The imagery of emptying their "net" speaks to the Babylonians' relentless and greedy pursuit of power, spoils, and captives. They are depicted as an unstoppable force, acting without mercy or end, capturing nations like fish.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: Despite the Chaldeans' perceived autonomy and cruelty, the underlying theme of the book is God's ultimate control over all nations and their destinies. Habakkuk's complaint sets the stage for God's profound answer in the next chapter, assuring the prophet that the wicked will not go unpunished forever (Habakkuk 2:6-8).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "empty their net" uses a powerful metaphor. The Hebrew word for "net" (חֶרֶם, kherem) refers to a fishing net or a dragnet, emphasizing the ease and abundance with which the Chaldeans gather people and plunder as if they were mere fish. This imagery underscores their predatory nature and the overwhelming scale of their conquests. The question "and not spare continually to slay the nations?" emphasizes the seemingly endless and merciless nature of their military campaigns, highlighting their lack of compassion and their relentless aggression.

Practical Application

Habakkuk 1:17 resonates with believers today who witness widespread injustice, oppression, and violence in the world and question God's apparent silence or delayed intervention. This verse reminds us that:

  • It is permissible to question God: Habakkuk's honest wrestling with God's ways demonstrates that faith does not require blind acceptance but can include sincere inquiry and lament.
  • God's timing and methods are often beyond our understanding: While the Chaldeans seemed to be acting with impunity, God had a larger plan. Ultimately, their wickedness would lead to their own downfall, as described in Habakkuk 2.
  • Faith in God's ultimate justice is paramount: Even when evil seems to triumph, this verse encourages us to hold fast to the conviction that God is sovereign and will ultimately bring justice to all nations, as famously stated in "the just shall live by his faith."
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 14:6 (2 votes)

    He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, [and] none hindereth.

  • Jeremiah 46:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

  • Jeremiah 46:28 (2 votes)

    Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

  • Habakkuk 2:5 (2 votes)

    ¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

  • Habakkuk 2:8 (2 votes)

    Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and [for] the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

  • Habakkuk 2:17 (2 votes)

    For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, [which] made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

  • Isaiah 14:16 (2 votes)

    They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;