Habakkuk 1:14

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.

American Standard Version (1901)

and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

Bible in Basic English

He has made men like the fishes of the sea, like the worms which have no ruler over them.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things that have no ruler.

Free Bible Version

You make people become like fish in the sea, or like crawling insects, that have no ruler.

Geneva Bible 1599

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things, that haue no ruler ouer them.

King James (Authorized) Version

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

Translation for Translators

Do you consider that we are like fish in the sea, or like other creatures in the sea, that have no ruler?

Unlocked Literal Bible

You make men like fish in the sea, like creeping things without a ruler over them.

Noah Webster Bible

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping animals that have no ruler over them?

World English Bible

and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things that have no ruler over them?

Young's Literal Translation

And Thou makest man as fishes of the sea, As a creeping thing — none ruling over him.

Context

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

¹³Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? ¹⁴You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler. ¹⁵The 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.

Summary

This verse reflects the prophet Habakkuk's lament over the wickedness and violence he sees in Judah. He questions why God tolerates evil and injustice, seemingly allowing the righteous to suffer. Habakkuk's cry for justice resonates with those who struggle to understand God's ways amidst a world filled with turmoil. Ultimately, this verse prompts reflection on the sovereignty of God and the importance of trusting His wisdom and timing, even when circumstances seem bleak.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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 thrown by as useless, or burnt in the fire.

John Gill Bible Commentary

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 moreover were God's covenant people; and it might have been expected, that a more special providence would have attended them, more than other men, and especially than what attended the fishes of the sea; yet it looked as if there were no more care taken of them than of these: as the creeping things that have no ruler over them; not the creeping things of the earth, but of the water, the lesser sort of fishes that move in the water; or those that more properly creep, as crabs, prawns, and shrimps; see Psa 104:25 who have none to protect and defend them, and restrain others from taking and hurting them: this may seem contrary to what Aristotle (d) and Pliny (e) say of some fishes, that they go in company, and have a leader or governor; but, as Bochart (f) observes, it is one thing to be a leader of the way, a guide and director, which way to steer their course in swimming; and another thing to be as the general of an army, to protect and defend, or under whose directions they might defend themselves; such an one the prophet denies they had: and so, the prophet complains, this was the case of the Jews; they were exposed to the cruelty of their enemies, as if there was no God that governed in the world, and no providence to direct and order things for the preservation of men, and to keep good men from being hurt by evil men; or those that were weak and feeble from being oppressed by the powerful and mighty; this he reasons with the Lord about, and was desirous of an answer to it. (d) Hist. Animal. l. 8. c. 13. (e) Nat. Hist. l. 9. c. 15. (f) Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 1. c. 6. col. 39.

Habakkuk 1:14

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.

American Standard Version (1901)

and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

Bible in Basic English

He has made men like the fishes of the sea, like the worms which have no ruler over them.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things that have no ruler.

Free Bible Version

You make people become like fish in the sea, or like crawling insects, that have no ruler.

Geneva Bible 1599

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things, that haue no ruler ouer them.

King James (Authorized) Version

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

Translation for Translators

Do you consider that we are like fish in the sea, or like other creatures in the sea, that have no ruler?

Unlocked Literal Bible

You make men like fish in the sea, like creeping things without a ruler over them.

Noah Webster Bible

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping animals that have no ruler over them?

World English Bible

and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things that have no ruler over them?

Young's Literal Translation

And Thou makest man as fishes of the sea, As a creeping thing — none ruling over him.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Habakkuk 1:14

Verse

Context

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Habakkuk 1:14

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes