Lexical Summary mikmereth: Net, snare Original Word: מִכְמֶרֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance drag, net Or mikmoreth {mik-mo'-reth}; feminine of makmar; a (fisher's) net -- drag, net. see HEBREW makmar Brown-Driver-Briggs [מִכְמֶ֫רֶת] noun feminine net, fishing-net; singular suffix מִכְמַרְתּוֺ Habakkuk 1:15 ("" חַכָּה, and חֵרֶם), Habakkuk 1:16, both in figure of conquering Chaldeans. מִכְמֹ֫רֶת noun feminine id.; עַלמְּֿנֵימּמַיִם ׳וּפֹרְשֵׂי מ Isaiah 19:8 ("" מַשְׁלִיכֵי בַיְאוֺר חַכָּה). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences מִכְמֶרֶת appears three times in Scripture, each time in poetry or prophetic oracle, and always with reference to fishing. Isaiah 19:8 speaks of Egyptian fishermen who “spread nets on the waters” but are left desolate when the Nile fails them. Habakkuk 1:15–16 twice places the word in the mouth of the prophet as he describes the ruthless Chaldeans who “gather them in their fishing net … therefore they sacrifice to their dragnet and burn incense to their fishing net.” The usage is literal—an actual fishnet—yet each context carries an unmistakable theological weight. Historical and Cultural Background The Nile delta and the rivers of Mesopotamia supported large fishing industries. Nets could be cast, dragged between two boats, or set as stationary traps. Woven from flax or palm fibers, they represented both provision and vulnerability. If waters were judged (Isaiah 19) or enemies more skilled (Habakkuk 1), the very tool that normally sustained life became the symbol of loss or oppression. Thematic Significance 1. Divine Judgment on Economic Security Isaiah’s oracle against Egypt shows God striking at the heart of its economy. The mourning of fishermen and the uselessness of מִכְמֶרֶת dramatize how swiftly earthly livelihoods crumble under divine judgment. 2. The Tyranny of Idolatrous Power Habakkuk’s lament portrays the Babylonian empire as a fisherman whose net sweeps nations into captivity. Their “sacrifice” to the net exposes idolatrous self-glorification—crediting military machinery for success rather than the Sovereign Lord. The prophet’s language anticipates God’s answer that such pride will be judged (Habakkuk 2:4–20). 3. A Contrast to Righteous Dependence Whereas the Chaldeans deify their implements, true faith recognizes tools as gifts, not gods. This contrast aligns with the broader biblical call to worship the Creator, not created means (Deuteronomy 8:17–18; James 1:17). Canonical Connections The image of the net is later transfigured in the Gospels when Jesus tells Simon and Andrew, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). In place of oppression, the gospel net gathers people into life. The prophetic critique of trusting in human “nets” thus finds its redemptive counterpart in trusting the Messiah who controls the catch (Luke 5:4–6; John 21:6). Ministry Application • Economic Stewardship: Isaiah 19:8 warns believers against resting ultimate confidence in professions or national economies. Summary מִכְמֶרֶת is more than fishing equipment; it is a prophetic lens through which Scripture exposes misplaced trust and points to the only secure refuge—the Lord who rules over the waters, the nations, and the ultimate harvest of souls. Forms and Transliterations בְּמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ במכמרתו לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ למכמרתו מִכְמֹ֛רֶת מכמרת bə·miḵ·mar·tōw bemichmarTo bəmiḵmartōw lə·miḵ·mar·tōw lemichmarTo ləmiḵmartōw michMoret miḵ·mō·reṯ miḵmōreṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 19:8 HEB: חַכָּ֑ה וּפֹרְשֵׂ֥י מִכְמֹ֛רֶת עַל־ פְּנֵי־ NAS: And those who spread nets on the waters KJV: and they that spread nets upon INT: A line spread nets up on Habakkuk 1:15 Habakkuk 1:16 3 Occurrences |
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