English Standard Version
Habakkuk 2:18
18"What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols!
Habakkuk 2:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
- New International Version (NIV)“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols?
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation— a god that can’t even talk!
Context of Habakkuk 2:18
16You will have your fill of shame instead of glory. Drink, yourself, and show your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord's right hand will come around to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory! 17The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. "What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! 19Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. 20But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him."
Read all of Habakkuk 2Habakkuk 2:18 word by word
מָֽה־הוֹעִ֣יל פֶּ֗סֶל כִּ֤י פְסָלוֹ֙ יֹֽצְר֔וֹ מַסֵּכָ֖ה וּמ֣וֹרֶה שָּׁ֑קֶר כִּ֣י בָטַ֞ח יֹצֵ֤ר יִצְרוֹ֙ עָלָ֔יו לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֱלִילִ֥ים אִלְּמִֽים׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- What profitethיָעַלya‛al · to gainH3276
- the graven imageפֶּ֫סֶלpesel · idolH6459
- that the makerיָצַרyâtsar · to form: formedH3335
- thereof hath gravenפָּסַלpâsal · to hewH6458
- it; the molten imageמַסֵּכָהmassêkâh · molten metalH4541
- and a teacherיָרָהyârâh yârâ' · to showH3384
- of liesשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
- of his workיֵ֫צֶרyêtser · intentionH3336
- trustethבָּטַחbâţach · to trustH982
- therein, to makeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- dumbאִלֵּם'illêm · muteH483
- idolsאֱלִיל'ĕlîyl · idolH457
Cross-references for Habakkuk 2:18
- Isaiah 37:38And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
- Isaiah 42:17They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, "You are our gods."
- Isaiah 44:9All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.
- Isaiah 45:16All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together.
- Isaiah 46:1Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.
- Jeremiah 2:27who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, 'Arise and save us!'
- Jeremiah 10:3for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
- Jeremiah 50:2"Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: 'Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.'
- Romans 6:21But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
- Jeremiah 10:8They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!
- Jonah 2:8Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
- Zechariah 10:2For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
- Romans 1:23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
- 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
- Revelation 13:11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
Commentaries on Habakkuk 2:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18What profiteth the graven image - This is against idolatry in general, and every species of it, as well as against those princes, priests, and people who practice it, and encourage others to do the same. See on Isaiah 44:9-10; (note); Isaiah 46:2; (note). Dumb idols? - אלמים אלילים elilim illemim, "dumb nothings." This is exactly agreeable to St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 8:4, who says, "An idol is nothing in the world." What signify the idols worshipped by the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18What profiteth - (Hath profited) הועיל מה. Samuel warned them, “Serve the Lord with all your heart, and turn ye not aside; for (it would be) after vanities which will not profit nor deliver for they are vain:” and Jeremiah tells their past; “their prophets prophesied by Baal; and after things יועילי לא which profit not, have they gone.” Elsewhere the idol is spoken of as a thing “which will not profit” (future) “My people hath changed its glory יועיל בלא…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 A severe woe is pronounced against drunkenness; it is very fearful against all who are guilty of drunkenness at any time, and in any place, from the stately palace to the paltry ale-house. To give one drink who is in want, who is thirsty and poor, or a weary traveller, or ready to perish, is charity; but to give a neighbour drink, that he may expose himself, may disclose secret concerns, or be drawn into a bad bargain, or for any such…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20In the fifth taunt song, the Babylonians face criticism for worshiping idols. Whether people carve or cast idols, they cannot save or teach their worshipers (Isaiah 42:17). Only the Lord truly deserves worship (Habakkuk 2:20; Exodus 20:2–6; compare Ecclesiastes 5:1–2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. The powerlessness of the idols to save Babylon from its doom is a fitting introduction to the last stanza (Ha 2:19), which, as the former four, begins with "Woe." teacher of lies--its priests and prophets uttering lying oracles, as if from it. make dumb idols--Though men can "make" idols, they cannot make them speak.Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 2:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Habakkuk 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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