Habakkuk 2:18

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"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!
• 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?

Context of Habakkuk 2:18

16You are filled with disgrace rather than glory. Drink—you too—and be uncircumcised. The cup of Adonai’s right hand will surround you, and disgrace will come upon your glory. 17For the violence done to Lebanon will spread over you, destruction of beasts terrifying them, because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, the city and to all its inhabitants. What use is an idol when its craftsman has carved it? Or a metal image—a teacher of lies? For a craftsman has trusted in the image that he created, to make dumb idols. 19Oy to one who says to wood: “Awake!” To a dumb stone: “Rouse yourself!” Can it teach? Look, it is plated with gold and silver, but it has no spirit within it. 20But Adonai is in His holy Temple. Let all the land be silent before Him.

Habakkuk 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 37:38It also came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of his god Nisroch, that his sons Adrammelech and Sarezer struck him down with the sword, and escaped into the land of Ararat. Then his son Esarhaddon became king in his place.
• Isaiah 42:17They will be turned back, utterly put to shame— those trusting in idols, who say to molten images, ‘You are our gods.’
• Isaiah 44:9Those who fashion idols are empty. Their precious things do not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know, so they will be put to shame.
• Isaiah 45:16All of them will be ashamed, disgraced— idol-makers go in dishonor together.
• Isaiah 46:1Bel bows down; Nebo stoops over. Their idols are for beasts and cattle. The things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.
• Jeremiah 2:27They say to wood, ‘You are my father’ and to a stone, ‘You birthed me.’ They have turned their back to Me and not their face. Yet when they are in trouble they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’
• Jeremiah 10:3The customs of the peoples are useless: it is just a tree cut from the forest, the work of the hands of a craftsman with a chisel.
• Jeremiah 50:2“Declare it among the nations and proclaim! Raise a banner, announce, hide nothing! Say: ‘Babylon will be captured, Bel put to shame, Merodach dismayed, her images disgraced, her idols shattered!’
• Romans 6:21So then, what outcome did you have that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.
• Jeremiah 10:8They are totally stupid and foolish. Discipline is useless—it’s wood!
• Jonah 2:8As my soul was fading from me, I remembered Adonai and my prayer came to You, toward Your holy Temple.
• Zechariah 10:2The idols utter deceit and diviners see lies. They relate false dreams and comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, afflicted because there is no shepherd.
• Romans 1:23They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image in the form of mortal man and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:9The coming of the lawless one is connected to the activity of satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
• 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Ruach clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, following deceitful spirits and teachings of demons
• Revelation 13:11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb and 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

• Carving
• Idol
• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Maker
• Graven image
• Molten, Image
• Blood
• Consult
• Put
• Teach
• Weary
• Wood
• Dumb

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