Habakkuk 2:18

Faith

¹⁶ You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You too must drink and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory.

¹⁷ For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your bloodshed against men and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

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.

¹⁹ Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”

²⁰ But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
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?
WEB: “What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols?
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?
DARBY: What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it? the molten image, and the teacher of falsehood, that the maker of his work dependeth thereon, to make dumb idols?
BLB: What profit [is] an image when its fashioner has carved it, a molten image and a teacher of falsehood? For the one fashioning trusts upon it [in] his fashioning, making mute idols.

ÅB: Hva gagn gjør et utskåret bilde, om enn en mester har skåret det? Eller hva gagn gjør et støpt bilde, en lærer i løgn, om enn dets mester satte sin lit til det da han gjorde målløse avguder?
OTB: Hva verdi har et utskåret bilde når dets skaper har skåret det,
Et støpt metallbilde, en lærer av falskhet?
For dets skaper stoler på sitt eget håndverk
Når han former stumme avguder.
B1930: Hvad gagn gjør et utskåret billede, om enn en mester har skåret det? Eller hvad gagn gjør et støpt billede, en lærer i løgn, om enn dets mester satte sin lit til det da han gjorde målløse avguder?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!
Read in context
1 Corinthians 12:2
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
Read in context
Isaiah 44:9–10
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.
Read in context
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.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:27–28
say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces, yet in the time of trouble they beg, ‘Rise up and save us!’
Read in context
Isaiah 42:17
But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.
Read in context
Psalms 115:4–8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
Read in context
Isaiah 45:16
They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.
Read in context