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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 2:15-20

The three foregoing articles, upon which the woes here are grounded, are very near akin to each other. The criminals charged by them are oppressors and extortioners, that raise estates by rapine and injustice; and it is mentioned here again (Hab. 2:17), the very same that was said Hab. 2:8; for that is the crime upon which the greatest stress is laid; it is because of men's blood, innocent blood, barbarously and unjustly shed, which is a provoking crying thing; it is for the violence of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:18

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it ,.... The graven images the church of Rome enjoins the worship of; the images of the Trinity, of Christ, of the Virgin Mary, of angels and saints departed, and which are still continued since the Reformation; but of what profit and advantage are they? they may be profitable to the graver, who is paid for graving them; and the metal or matters of which they are made, if sold, and converted to another use, may turn to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:19

Woe to him that saith to the wood, Awake ,.... That saith to a wooden image, let him go by what name he will; saint such an one, or such an one; awake, arise, exert thyself on our behalf; deliver us from present danger; save us from our enemies; or pray and intercede for us, that we may be delivered and saved, as the Papists do; addressing a block of wood as they would God himself, or as his people do, Psalm 44:23 . This must be very displeasing and detestable to God, and therefore a woe... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:18

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 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 Chaldeans,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:19

Wo unto him - How foolish and contemptible to worship a thing formed by the hand of man out of wood, stone, gold, or silver! The meanest brute is superior to them all; it breathes and lives, but they have no breath in them. However, they are said above to be teachers of lies; that is, they appeared to give out oracles: but these were lies; and were not given by the statue, but by the priest. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:18

Verse 18 The Prophet now advances farther, and shows that whatever he had predicted of the future ruin of Babylon and of its monarchy, proceeded from the true God, from the God of Israel: for it would not have been sufficient to hold, that some deity existed in heaven, who ruled human affairs, so that it could not be, but that tyrants would have to suffer punishment for their cruelty. We indeed know that such sayings as these were everywhere common among heathen nations—that justice sits with... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:19

Verse 19 He pursues, as I have said, the same subject, and sharply inveighs against the sottishness of men, that they call on wood and stone, as though there were some hidden power in them. They say to the wood, Awake; for they implored help from their idols. Shall it teach? Some render it thus as a question; but I take it in a simpler form, “It will teach;” that is, “It is a wonder that ye are so wilfully foolish; for were God to send to you no Prophet, were there no one to instruct you, yet... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:18

The final woe is introduced by an ironical question. The Chaldeans trusted in their gods, and attributed all their success to the divine protection; the prophet asks—What good is this trust? What profiteth the graven image? (comp. Isaiah 44:9 , Isaiah 44:10 ; Jeremiah 2:11 ). What is the good of all the skill and care that the artist has lavished on the idol? (For "graven" or "molten," see note on Nahum 1:14 .) And a ( even the ) teacher of lies. The idol is so termed because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:18-19

A parable of woes: 5. Woe to the idolatrous! I. IDOLATRY AN ABSURDITY . It must ever be so. The notion that any figure fashioned by man out of wood or stone, silver or gold, however carved or gilded, can either be or represent the Infinite and Eternal One, carries the stamp of unreason on the face of it ( Psalms 115:4-8 ; Isaiah 44:19 ; Jeremiah 10:5 ). II. IDOLATRY A FRAUD . Set up as gods, and worshipped as such, graven and molten images are a hideous imposition... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:18-19

National wrongs ending in national woes. No. 5. "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? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it." We have said that the prophet denounces upon the Chaldeans, in Habakkuk 2:6-19 of... read more

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