New Living Translation
Habakkuk 2:11
11The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.
Habakkuk 2:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
- New International Version (NIV)The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the stone will cry out from the wall, And the beam from the timbers will answer it.
Context of Habakkuk 2:11
9“What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger. 10But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives. The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint. 12“What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption! 13Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain!
Read all of Habakkuk 2Habakkuk 2:11 word by word
כִּי־אֶ֖בֶן מִקִּ֣יר תִּזְעָ֑ק וְכָפִ֖יס מֵעֵ֥ץ יַעֲנֶֽנָּה׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Habakkuk 2:11
- Genesis 4:10But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
- Joshua 24:27Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”
- Job 31:38“If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together,
- Luke 19:40He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
- Hebrews 12:24You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
- James 5:3Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment.
- Revelation 6:10They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”
Commentaries on Habakkuk 2:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it - This appears to refer to the ancient mode of building walls; two or three courses of stone. and then one course of timber. See 1 Kings 6:36; : thus was the palace of Solomon built. The splendid and costly buildings of Babylon have been universally celebrated. But how were these buildings erected? By the spoils of conquered nations, and the expense of the blood of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it - All things have a voice, in that they are. God‘s works speak that, for which He made them Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Psalm 65:13: “the valleys are clad with corn, they laugh, yea, they sing;” their very look speaks gladness. Cyril: “For the creation itself proclaims the glory of the Maker, in that it is admired as well made. Wherefore there…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-14Verses 5-14 The prophet reads the doom of all proud and oppressive powers that bear hard upon God's people. The lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, are the entangling snares of men; and we find him that led Israel captive, himself led captive by each of these. No more of what we have is to be reckoned ours, than what we come honestly by. Riches are but clay, thick clay; what are gold and silver but white and yellow earth? Those…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-11In the second taunt song, the Babylonians face condemnation for their dishonest actions. They used deceit to gain resources for building large houses, which cost them their lives.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. stone ... cry out--personification. The very stones of thy palace built by rapine shall testify against thee (Lu 19:40). the beam out of the timber--the crossbeam or main rafter connecting the timbers in the walls. shall answer it--namely, the stone. The stone shall begin and the crossbeam continue the cry against thy rapine.Read the comment
Topics related to Habakkuk 2:11
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries