Habakkuk 1:14 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

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

Ver. 14. And makest men as the fishes of the sea] That are easily drawn out with hook or net. So doth Nebuchadnezzar, with little ado, bring whole nations under his power and pleasure. Here, therefore, saith Drusius, Nebuchadnezzar is the fisher, the world is the sea, men are the fishes, the armies and arts of the Chaldees are called the net, drag, hook, to the which Nebuchadnezzar ascribed his victories, and not to God. Whereas he should have written upon them, as the ancients did upon their greatest exploits, Yεος, Yεος, and have said, as Titus did, when some cried him up for his sacking the city of Jerusalem; I only lent mine hand to God, who did the work by me (Pausan.).

As the creeping things] Or, the lesser fishes; for in the sea also are creeping things innumerable, Psa 104:25 Leviticus 11:46 .

That have no ruler over them] To right and revenge them; and are therefore devoured, the lesser by the greater, without remedy. And what will men imagine, but that thy people have no ruler over them, no God to take care of their comfort, or to protect them from their enemies? How will they conclude them to be in as bad condition as those of Brazil, who are said to be Sine rege, sine lege, sine fide, &c. Or, the old Nomades, sub regno Cyclopico?

Habakkuk 1:14

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