Habakkuk 2:19 - Exposition

The prophet now denounces the folly of the maker and worshipper of idols. With this and the following verses compare the taunts in Isaiah 44:9-20 . The wood. From which he carves the image. Awake! Come to my help, as good men pray to the living God (comp. Psalms 35:23 ; Psalms 44:1-26 :28; Isaiah 51:9 ). Arise, it shall teach! The Hebrew is bettor rendered, Arise! it teach ! i.e. shall this teach?—an emphatic question expressing astonishment. Vulgate , Numquid ipse docere poterit? The LXX . paraphrases, καὶ αὐτό ἐστι φαντασία , "and itself is a phantasy." It is laid, over. "It" is again emphatic, as if pointed at with the finger. Hence the Vulgate, Ecce iste coopertus est ; and Henderson, "There it is, overlaid," etc. The wooden figure was encased in gold or silver plates (see Isaiah 40:19 ; Daniel 3:1 ).