The Meaning of Habakkuk 2:18 Explained

Habakkuk 2:18

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?

YLT: What profit hath a graven image given That its former hath graven it? A molten image and teacher of falsehood, That trusted hath the former on his own formation -- 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?

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?

Discover Habakkuk 2:18

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Habakkuk 2:18?

MEANING: What does Habakkuk 2:18 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Habakkuk 2:18 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Habakkuk 2:18?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does Habakkuk 2:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Habakkuk , like other prophets, saw through the folly of idolatry and exposed it (cf. Isaiah 41:7; Isaiah 44:9-20; Isaiah 45:16; Isaiah 45:20; Isaiah 46:1-2; Isaiah 46:6-7; Jeremiah 10:8-16). An idol carved by human hands cannot help its maker because anyone who creates is always greater than his creation. Images really become teachers of falsehood since their existence implies a lie, namely, that they can help humans. An idol-carver trusts his own handiwork by making it. Idols cannot even speak much less provide help (cf. Romans 1:22-25).
"Modern people in their sophistications may regard themselves as free from the obvious folly of idolatry. What educated, self-respecting person would be deluded into expecting special powers to emanate from the form of an antiquated Idol? Yet the new covenant Scriptures make it plain that covetousness is idolatry ( Ephesians 5:5). Whenever a person"s desire looks to the creature rather than the Creator, he is guilty of the same kind of foolishness. An insatiable desire for things not rightly possessed assumes that things can satisfy rather than God himself. Whenever a person sets his priorities on the things made rather than on the Maker of things, he is guilty of idolatry." [1]
"Famous people are the "idols" of millions, especially politicians, athletes, wealthy tycoons, and actors and actresses. Even dead entertainers like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Elvis Presley still have their followers. People may also worship and serve Prayer of Manasseh -made things like cars, houses, boats, jewelry, and art. While all of us appreciate beautiful and useful things, it"s one thing to own them and quite something else to be owned by them. Albert Schweitzer said, "Anything you have that you cannot give away, you do not really own; it owns you." I"ve met people who so idolize their children and grandchildren that they refused to let them consider giving their lives for Christian service.
"Social position can be an idol and so can vocation achievement. For some people, their god is their appetite ( Philippians 3:19; Romans 16:18); and they live only to experience carnal pleasures [2]. Intellectual ability can be a terrible idol ( 2 Corinthians 10:5) as people worship their IQ and refuse to submit to God"s Word." [3]

Context Summary

Habakkuk 2:1-20 - "the Just Shall Live By Faith"
Having prayed, the prophet expected an answer and looked out for it. When it came, there would be no mistaking it. But until we see eye to eye, we must live by simple faith in God. Note that wonderful clause in Habakkuk 2:4, which is referred to so often afterward. See Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:11. Life in this age, as in that, may be obtained and maintained by faith in the ever-living God. Through long waiting-times the only source of continued life is the faith which draws all from God. From Habakkuk 2:5 onwards, the prophet enumerates Babylon's sins: her pride, love of strong drink, rapacity, and violence. It could not be God's will that the mighty city should flourish on the anguish of the world.
From scenes of anarchy and riot which foretell Chaldea's doom, we pass into Jehovah's temple, where peaceful silence reigns! Let us live in that secret place! "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Habakkuk 2

1  Unto Habakkuk, waiting for an answer, is shown that he must wait by faith
5  The judgment upon the Chaldean for unsatiableness,
9  for covetousness,
12  for cruelty,
15  for drunkenness,
18  and for idolatry

What do the individual words in Habakkuk 2:18 mean?

What profit is the image that should carve it its maker the molded image and a teacher of lies should trust the maker of its mold in it to make idols mute -
מָֽה־ הוֹעִ֣יל פֶּ֗סֶל כִּ֤י פְסָלוֹ֙ יֹֽצְר֔וֹ מַסֵּכָ֖ה וּמ֣וֹרֶה שָּׁ֑קֶר בָטַ֞ח יֹצֵ֤ר יִצְרוֹ֙ עָלָ֔יו לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת ؟ אֱלִילִ֥ים אִלְּמִֽים ס

הוֹעִ֣יל  profit  is 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָעַל  
Sense: (Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail.
פֶּ֗סֶל  the  image 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּסֶל  
Sense: idol, image.
כִּ֤י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
פְסָלוֹ֙  should  carve  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּסַל  
Sense: to cut, hew, hew into shape.
יֹֽצְר֔וֹ  its  maker 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יֵצֶר  
Sense: form, framing, purpose, framework.
מַסֵּכָ֖ה  the  molded  image 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַסֵּכָה 
Sense: a pouring, libation, molten metal, cast image, drink offering.
וּמ֣וֹרֶה  and  a  teacher 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
שָּׁ֑קֶר  of  lies 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
בָטַ֞ח  should  trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
יֹצֵ֤ר  the  maker 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
יִצְרוֹ֙  of  its  mold 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
עָלָ֔יו  in  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת  to  make 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
؟ אֱלִילִ֥ים  idols 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלִיל  
Sense: of nought, good for nothing, worthless.
אִלְּמִֽים  mute 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אִלֵּם  
Sense: mute, silent, dumb, unable to speak.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Habakkuk 2:18?

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