Habakkuk 2:18 BSB — MannaFest

Habakkuk 2:18

What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he that fashioneth its form trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

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?

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Commentary

3 voices

Jerome

Commentary on Habakkuk (420)

(Verse 18.) What profit is there in a carved image, because the maker thereof hath carved it, a molten and a false image? because the maker thereof hath trusted in his own workmanship, to make dumb idols. LXX: What profit is there in a carved image, because they have carved it, and fashioned it by the molten workman, a false image? because the artificer thereof hath trusted in his own workmanship, to make dumb idols.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

What 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 Isa 44:9-10 (note); Isa 46:2 (note). Dumb idols? - אלילים אלמים elilim illemim, “dumb nothings.” This is exactly agreeable to St. Paul, 1Co 8:4, who says, “An idol is nothing in the world.” What signify the idols worshipped by the Chaldeans, Tyrians, and Egyptians? They have not been able to save their worshippers.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The powerlessness of the idols to save Babylon from its doom is a fitting introduction to the last stanza (Hab 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.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

17 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
מָֽה־	mah-	what?	H4100 →
הוֹעִ֣יל	ho.'Il	does it profit	H3276 →
פֶּ֗סֶל	Pe.sel	a carved image	H6459 →
כִּ֤י	ki	that	H3588 →
פְסָלוֹ֙	fe.sa.Lo	he has carved it	H6458 →
יֹֽצְר֔וֹ	yo.tze.Ro	[one who] formed it	H3335 →
מַסֵּכָ֖ה	ma.se.Khah	a molten image	H4541 →
וּמ֣וֹרֶה	u.Mo.reh	and [one which] teaches	H3384 →
שָּׁ֑קֶר	Sha.ker	falsehood	H8267 →
כִּ֣י	ki	for	H3588 →
בָטַ֞ח	va.Tach	he relies	H982 →
יֹצֵ֤ר	yo.Tzer	[one who] formed	H3335 →
יִצְרוֹ֙	yitz.Ro	form his	H3336 →
עָלָ֔יו	'a.Lav	on it	H5921 →
לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת	la.'a.Sot	to make	H6213 →
אֱלִילִ֥ים	'e.li.Lim	idols	H457 →
אִלְּמִֽים׃ ס	'i.le.Mim	dumb	H483 →

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 12:2
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
leads to
- 1 Peter 4:3
  For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9
  For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
- Psalms 115:5
  They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
- Galatians 4:8
  Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
- Ephesians 2:11–12
  Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
Through
Zechariah 10:2
For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
leads to
- Matthew 9:36
  When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Jeremiah 27:9
  But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’
- Ezekiel 34:5
  They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.

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01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Habakkuk

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Habakkuk