A fishhook is a tool used for catching fish, typically consisting of a sharp, curved piece of metal designed to impale and secure a fish when it bites. In biblical times, fishing was a common occupation, especially among the people living near the Sea of Galilee and other bodies of water. The fishhook, therefore, serves as a symbol of sustenance, livelihood, and sometimes judgment or entrapment.

Biblical References:

1. Job 41:1-2 · In this passage, God challenges Job with a series of questions about the mighty Leviathan, a creature of the sea. The text reads: "Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie down his tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?" . Here, the fishhook symbolizes human limitations in the face of God's creation, emphasizing the power and majesty of God over all creatures.

2. Amos 4:2 · The prophet Amos delivers a message of judgment against the people of Israel, saying, "The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: 'Indeed, the days are coming when you will be taken away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.'" . In this context, the fishhook is a metaphor for captivity and divine judgment, illustrating the consequences of Israel's disobedience and moral corruption.

3. Habakkuk 1:14-15 · The prophet Habakkuk laments the success of the wicked, comparing them to fishermen who catch people as if they were fish: "You have made men like the fish of the sea, like sea creatures with no ruler. The enemy pulls all of them up with a hook; he catches them in his net and gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad." . The fishhook here represents the oppressive power of the wicked, who exploit and dominate others.

Symbolism and Themes:

· Provision and Livelihood: In the New Testament, several of Jesus' disciples were fishermen, and the act of fishing is often associated with provision and sustenance. The fishhook, as a tool of the trade, symbolizes the daily work and reliance on God's provision.

· Judgment and Entrapment: As seen in the prophetic books, the fishhook can also symbolize judgment and entrapment. It serves as a metaphor for the consequences of sin and the inescapable nature of divine justice.

· Divine Power and Human Limitation: The rhetorical questions posed to Job highlight the limitations of human power in contrast to God's sovereignty. The fishhook, in this context, underscores the futility of human efforts against the divine will.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, fishing was a significant part of the economy, especially in regions near large bodies of water like the Sea of Galilee. Fishhooks were typically made from bone, bronze, or iron and varied in size depending on the type of fish being targeted. The imagery of fishing and fishhooks would have been familiar to the original biblical audience, making it a powerful tool for conveying spiritual truths and moral lessons.

Theological Implications:

The use of the fishhook in Scripture serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority and the importance of obedience to His commands. It also reflects the reality of human dependence on God's provision and the consequences of turning away from His ways. Through the imagery of the fishhook, believers are called to recognize their limitations, trust in God's sovereignty, and live in accordance with His will.1. (n.) A hook for catching fish.

2. (n.) A hook with a pendant, to the end of which the fish-tackle is hooked.

FISHHOOK

fish'-hook (cir dughah, chakkah):

The word "fishhooks" occurs but twice in the American Standard Revised Version (Job 41:1 Amos 4:2). In other passages the word hook or "angle" is applied to this instrument for fishing (Isaiah 19:8 Job 41:2). The ancient Egyptian noblemen used to amuse themselves by fishing from their private fishpools with hook and line. The Egyptian monuments show that the hook was quite commonly used for catching fish. The hook is still used in Bible lands, although not as commonly as nets. It is called a cinnarat, probably from the same root as tsinnah, the plural of which is translated hooks in Amos 4:2. In Matthew 17:27, agkistron (literally, "fishhook"), is rendered "hook."

James A. Patch

44. agkistron -- a fishhook
... a fishhook. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: agkistron Phonetic Spelling:
(ang'-kis-tron) Short Definition: a fish-hook Definition: a fish-hook. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/44.htm - 6k2443. chakkah -- a hook, fishhook
... 2442, 2443. chakkah. 2444 . a hook, fishhook. Transliteration: chakkah
Phonetic Spelling: (khak-kaw') Short Definition: fishhook. ...
/hebrew/2443.htm - 6k

5518. ciyr -- a pot
... 5517, 5518. ciyr. 5518a . a pot. Transliteration: ciyr Phonetic Spelling:
(seer) Short Definition: caldron. caldron, fishhook, pan, washpot, thorn ...
/hebrew/5518.htm - 5k

Fishhook (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FISHHOOK. ...Fishhook (1 Occurrence). Job 41:1 "Can
you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord? ...
/f/fishhook.htm - 7k

Hook (10 Occurrences)
... HOOK. hook: (1) chakkah, is rendered "fishhook" in Job 41:1 the Revised Version
(British and American) (the King James Version "hook"). ...
/h/hook.htm - 15k

Angle (19 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) A fishhook; tackle for catching fish, consisting of a line, hook,
and bait, with or without a rod. 7. (vi) To fish with ...
/a/angle.htm - 14k

Leviathan (5 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV). Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan
with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord? (WEB ...
/l/leviathan.htm - 10k

Fish-hook (2 Occurrences)
Fish-hook. Fishhook, Fish-hook. Fishhooks . Multi-Version Concordance
Fish-hook (2 Occurrences). ... (DBY). Fishhook, Fish-hook. Fishhooks . Reference
/f/fish-hook.htm - 6k

Fishing (4 Occurrences)
... That fishing with hooks was known in Jesus' time is indicated by the Master's
command to Peter (Matthew 17:27). See FISHHOOK. (2 ...
/f/fishing.htm - 13k

Fish-gate (3 Occurrences)
Fish-gate. Fishes, Fish-gate. Fishhook . Multi-Version Concordance Fish-gate
(3 Occurrences). ... (DBY WBS YLT). Fishes, Fish-gate. Fishhook . Reference Bible
/f/fish-gate.htm - 7k

Tie (18 Occurrences)
... Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with
a cord? (See NIV). Proverbs 6:21 Bind them continually on your heart. ...
/t/tie.htm - 13k

Cord (47 Occurrences)
... (Root in BBE DBY). Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press
down his tongue with a cord? (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). ...
/c/cord.htm - 27k

Tongue (160 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his
tongue with a cord? (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/tongue.htm - 42k

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