Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. New Living Translation Are we only fish to be caught and killed? Are we only sea creatures that have no leader? English Standard Version You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. Berean Standard Bible You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler. King James Bible And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? New King James Version Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? New American Standard Bible Why have You made people like the fish of the sea, Like crawling things that have no ruler over them? NASB 1995 Why have You made men like the fish of the sea, Like creeping things without a ruler over them? NASB 1977 Why hast Thou made men like the fish of the sea, Like creeping things without a ruler over them? Legacy Standard Bible And You have made men like the fish of the sea, Like creeping things without a ruler over them. Amplified Bible Why do You make men like the fish of the sea, Like reptiles and creeping things that have no ruler [and are helpless against their enemies]? Christian Standard Bible You have made mankind like the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler. Holman Christian Standard Bible You have made mankind like the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler. American Standard Version and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? Contemporary English Version The people you put on this earth are like fish or reptiles without a leader. English Revised Version and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? GOD'S WORD® Translation You make all people like the fish in the sea, like schools of sea life that have no ruler. Good News Translation How can you treat people like fish or like a swarm of insects that have no ruler to direct them? International Standard Version "You have fashioned mankind like fish in the ocean, like creeping things that have no ruler. NET Bible You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler. New Heart English Bible and make men like the fish of the sea, like the crawling creatures, that have no ruler over them? Webster's Bible Translation And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping animals that have no ruler over them? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler. World English Bible and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things that have no ruler over them? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd You make man as fishes of the sea, "" As a creeping thing [with] none ruling over him. Young's Literal Translation And Thou makest man as fishes of the sea, As a creeping thing -- none ruling over him. Smith's Literal Translation And wilt thou make man as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping thing no ruler over him? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things that have no ruler. Catholic Public Domain Version And you will make men like the fish of the sea and like the creeping things that have no ruler. New American Bible You have made mortals like the fish in the sea, like creeping things without a leader. New Revised Standard Version You have made people like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd thou didst make men as the fish of the sea, as the creeping things that have no ruler over them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you have made the children of men as the fish in the sea and like creeping things that have no Leader OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And makest men as the fishes of the sea, As the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? Brenton Septuagint Translation And wilt thou make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the reptiles which have no guide? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible 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.… Cross References Jeremiah 16:16 But for now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from the clefts of the rocks. Isaiah 19:8 Then the fishermen will mourn, all who cast a hook into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the waters will pine away. Ezekiel 29:4-5 But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales. / I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and will not be taken away or gathered for burial. I have given you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. Amos 4:2 The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: “Behold, the days are coming when you will be taken away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Ezekiel 38:4 I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords. Job 12:24-25 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. / They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards. Psalm 8:8 the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Isaiah 51:20 Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street, like an antelope in a net. They are full of the wrath of the LORD, the rebuke of your God. Luke 5:10 and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.” John 21:6 He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Psalm 74:14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert. Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. Matthew 13:47-50 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. / When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. / So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ... Treasury of Scripture And make men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? creeping. Proverbs 6:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Jump to Previous Animals Crawling Creatures Creeping Fish Fishes Makest Ruler Ruling Sea WormsJump to Next Animals Crawling Creatures Creeping Fish Fishes Makest Ruler Ruling Sea WormsHabakkuk 1 1. Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land,5. is shown the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans. 12. He complains that vengeance should be executed by them who are far worse. You have made men like the fish of the sea This phrase reflects the prophet Habakkuk's lament over the apparent chaos and lack of divine intervention in the world. The imagery of men being like fish suggests vulnerability and helplessness, as fish are often seen as prey, easily caught and consumed. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sea often symbolized chaos and disorder, a place where human control is absent. This metaphor highlights the perceived absence of God's justice, as people are left to fend for themselves in a tumultuous world. The comparison to fish also echoes themes found in other scriptures, such as Ecclesiastes 9:12, where humans are likened to fish caught in a net, emphasizing the unpredictability of life and the inevitability of divine judgment. like creeping things that have no ruler Persons / Places / Events 1. HabakkukA prophet in the Old Testament who dialogues with God about the injustices he sees in Judah and questions God's ways. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, experiencing moral and spiritual decline during Habakkuk's time. 3. Babylonians (Chaldeans) The rising power used by God as an instrument of judgment against Judah, mentioned in the broader context of Habakkuk. 4. Fish of the Sea A metaphor used by Habakkuk to describe the people, emphasizing their vulnerability and lack of direction. 5. Sea Creatures Symbolic of chaos and lack of governance, representing the state of humanity without divine guidance. Teaching Points Understanding Human VulnerabilityRecognize that without God's guidance, humanity is directionless and vulnerable, much like fish in the sea. The Need for Divine Leadership Emphasize the importance of submitting to God's rule to bring order and purpose to our lives. God's Sovereignty in Chaos Trust in God's sovereignty even when the world seems chaotic and leaderless, knowing He has a plan. Reflecting on Our Role Consider how we can fulfill our God-given role to bring order and stewardship to the world around us. Prayer for Guidance Encourage regular prayer for God's guidance and wisdom in navigating life's challenges. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Habakkuk 1How is Jesus represented in each book of the Bible? How can we reconcile God's ultimate kingship with the continuing oppression seen throughout history? (Psalm 10:16-18) Exodus 8:2-4: How could millions of frogs suddenly appear everywhere without leaving clear historical or scientific evidence? Proverbs 21:1: How can a king's heart be completely directed by God if history is full of cruel rulers who appear to have acted against any divine morality?Verse 14. - The prophet appeals movingly to God by showing the indignity with which the people are treated. As the fishes of the sea. Dumb and helpless, swept off by the fisherman. That have no ruler ever them. None to guide and protect them (comp. Proverbs 6:7; Proverbs 30:27). So the Jews seem to be deprived of God's care, and left to be the prey of the spoiler, as if of little worth, and no longer having God for their King (comp. Isaiah 63:19, Revised Version). The "creeping things" are worms, or small fish (Psalm 104:25). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You have madeוַתַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (wat·ta·‘ă·śeh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make men אָדָ֖ם (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being like the fish כִּדְגֵ֣י (kiḏ·ḡê) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1709: A fish of the sea, הַיָּ֑ם (hay·yām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin like sea creatures כְּרֶ֖מֶשׂ (kə·re·meś) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7431: A reptile, any other rapidly moving animal with no לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no ruler. מֹשֵׁ֥ל (mō·šêl) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 4910: To rule, have dominion, reign Links Habakkuk 1:14 NIVHabakkuk 1:14 NLT Habakkuk 1:14 ESV Habakkuk 1:14 NASB Habakkuk 1:14 KJV Habakkuk 1:14 BibleApps.com Habakkuk 1:14 Biblia Paralela Habakkuk 1:14 Chinese Bible Habakkuk 1:14 French Bible Habakkuk 1:14 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Habakkuk 1:14 And make men like the fish (Hab Hb) |
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