You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.
Parallel translations
- WEB and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
- KJV And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
- NKJV Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?
- NASB Why have You made people like the fish of the sea, Like crawling things that have no ruler over them?
- NLT Are we only fish to be caught and killed? Are we only sea creatures that have no leader?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Habakkuk laments that under Babylon people are reduced to fish and crawling things with no ruler to protect them. It pictures the helplessness and chaos of nations left as prey.
Overview
The image of leaderless sea creatures conveys humanity stripped of dignity and defense before the conquering empire. Without a shepherd or ruler, people become mere catch to be hauled in at will. This vision of vulnerable, scattered humanity heightens the longing for a true and righteous Ruler, ultimately fulfilled in Christ the Good Shepherd who gathers and protects His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Prov 6:7Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,
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Christ at the center
'The righteous shall live by his faith' (2:4) becomes a cornerstone of the gospel in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews — the faith that lays hold of Christ.
How Habakkuk 1:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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