Habakkuk 2:19 kjv
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.
Habakkuk 2:19 nkjv
Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all.
Habakkuk 2:19 niv
Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it."
Habakkuk 2:19 esv
Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.
Habakkuk 2:19 nlt
What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols,
'Wake up and save us!'
To speechless stone images you say,
'Rise up and teach us!'
Can an idol tell you what to do?
They may be overlaid with gold and silver,
but they are lifeless inside.
Habakkuk 2 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands... they have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not; They have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them... | Idols are lifeless and powerless. |
| Psa 135:15-18 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes they have, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not... Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. | Impotence of idols; makers become like them. |
| Isa 44:9-20 | They that make a graven image are all of them vanity... A man takes a tree, he warms himself; yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread; yes, he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and bows down to it... he does not know or understand. | The folly and absurdity of making and worshipping idols from common materials. |
| Jer 10:3-5 | For the customs of the peoples are futile... they decorate it with silver and gold... they cannot speak... they must be carried, because they cannot go. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor can they do any good. | Idols are motionless, speechless, and utterly ineffective. |
| Hab 2:18 | What profit is the graven image that its maker should grave it... that the maker trusts in it, to make mute idols? | Previous verse asking what benefit comes from an idol; mute, lifeless. |
| Psa 42:2 | My soul thirsts for God, for the living God... | Contrast: God is living, unlike idols. |
| Jer 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. | Contrast: The LORD is truly living and eternal. |
| Acts 14:15 | ...that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. | Call to abandon idols for the living, Creator God. |
| 1 Thess 1:9-10 | ...how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven... | Conversion involves turning from lifeless idols to the true, living God. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | ...they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools... and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. | Idolatry as the outcome of corrupted thinking and foolishness. |
| Deut 4:28 | And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. | Specific reference to idols made of wood and stone being blind, deaf, etc. |
| 2 Ki 19:18 | For indeed they have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands—wood and stone. | Acknowledgment that idols are mere wood and stone, not divine. |
| Deut 4:36 | Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire. | Contrast: God truly teaches and speaks to His people. |
| Psa 25:8-9 | Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. | God as the one who genuinely teaches and guides. |
| Isa 48:17 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.” | God teaches and leads, providing profitable instruction. |
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. | The Holy Spirit (breath/Spirit of God) as the true teacher. |
| Gen 2:7 | And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. | God as the source of breath and life. |
| Isa 5:8, 11, 18, 20-22 | Woe to those who join house to house... Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink... Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity... Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes... Woe to men mighty at drinking wine... | Examples of various "Woe" pronouncements against unrighteousness, leading to judgment. |
| Zech 2:7 | “Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.” | Implicit "Woe" against Babylon by urging escape from its spiritual danger. |
| Isa 30:22 | You will also defile the covering of your graven images of silver, and the ornament of your molded images of gold... You will throw them away... | Referring to the precious metals used to adorn idols and their ultimate worthlessness. |
| Isa 40:19 | The workman molds a graven image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains. | The detailed description of how idols are elaborately adorned with precious metals. |
| 46:5-7 | “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal... They lavish gold from the bag, And weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship... | God questions comparison to idols; highlights expensive, human-made nature of idols that must be carried. |
Habakkuk 2 verses
Habakkuk 2 19 Meaning
Habakkuk 2:19 pronounces a solemn curse or judgment against those who fashion and worship idols. It highlights the profound futility and irrationality of bowing before objects made by human hands. The verse directly challenges the belief that wood or stone, even when elaborately adorned, can possess life, consciousness, power, or the ability to provide divine guidance or knowledge. It contrasts the dead, inanimate nature of idols with the inherent aliveness and authority of the one true God, exposing the emptiness of all false worship.
Habakkuk 2 19 Context
Habakkuk prophesied during a period of great turmoil in Judah, likely witnessing the escalating threat of the Babylonian (Chaldean) empire. The prophet's primary concern in Chapter 1 is questioning God's apparent inaction in the face of widespread wickedness within Judah and His puzzling decision to use the ruthless Babylonians as His instrument of judgment. God's response (Hab 1:5-11) confirms the coming invasion. Habakkuk then expresses his bewilderment at how a holy God could use an even more wicked nation like Babylon, which makes its own might its god (Hab 1:12-17).
Chapter 2 marks God's further response, where He instructs Habakkuk to write down the vision clearly (Hab 2:2-3) and declares that the righteous shall live by faith (Hab 2:4). The subsequent verses (Hab 2:5-20) consist of five "Woe" pronouncements directed at Babylon and, implicitly, against all forms of injustice, oppression, and false worship that mimic Babylon's spiritual failures. These woes systematically dismantle the basis of Babylonian pride and power, including their greed, violence, drunkenness, and especially their idolatry. Verse 19 specifically forms part of the fifth "Woe," which directly confronts and condemns the practice of idolatry, setting it in sharp contrast to the supremacy of the one true God, who fills the whole earth (Hab 2:20). It exposes the foolishness of placing trust in silent, lifeless creations when a living and speaking God reigns.
Habakkuk 2 19 Word analysis
- Woe (הוֹי - hoy): This Hebrew interjection is a cry of lament or mourning, but in a prophetic context, it consistently signifies a pronouncement of judgment or divine curse against a specific offense. It carries the weight of inevitable punishment. Here, it is directed against the act of idolatry itself.
- him who says: Refers to the idol worshipper, specifically addressing the absurdity of their actions and words.
- to wood (עֵץ - 'etz): One of the most common, accessible, and easily fashioned materials used for idols. Emphasizes the ordinary, earthly origin of the supposed deity.
- Awake! (הָקִיצָה - hāqîṣāh): An imperative verb meaning "to awaken" or "to stir up." The prophet here uses sarcasm, highlighting the ludicrous expectation that a piece of wood could respond to such a command, as if it were a sleeping sentient being. It underscores the utter lack of life or consciousness in the idol.
- And to silent stone (אֶבֶן דוּמָם - 'even dûmām): 'Even means "stone." Dûmām means "silent," "still," or "dumb." This emphasizes the inert, uncommunicative nature of the idol. Unlike the living God who speaks (as He does to Habakkuk), the stone is utterly mute and motionless.
- Arise! (קוּמָה - qûmāh): An imperative verb meaning "to rise up" or "to stand." Like "Awake!", this command highlights the absurdity of imploring an inanimate object to act, further mocking the idolater's delusion.
- Can that teach? (הוּא יוֹרֶה - hû' yôreh): A rhetorical question that expects a resounding "No." 'Yôreh' refers to the act of teaching, instructing, or giving direction. This challenges the idol's supposed capacity to impart wisdom, truth, or guidance – functions exclusively belonging to the true God (compare to the role of God as a teacher in Psa 25:8-9 or Isa 48:17). Idols are made by finite minds and have no inherent knowledge or spiritual insight.
- Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver (צָפוּי זָהָב וָכֶסֶף - tsāfûy zāhāv vākesef): Tsāfûy means "overlaid" or "covered." Zāhāv means "gold" and vākesef means "and silver." This detail points to the considerable human effort, artistry, and material wealth invested in the creation and adornment of these idols. The irony is poignant: immense human value is poured into an object that possesses absolutely no intrinsic value or divine power. The outward splendor sharply contrasts with the inner emptiness.
- And there is no breath at all in its midst (וְכָל רוּחַ אֵין בְּקִרְבּוֹ - wəkol rûaḥ 'ên bəqirbô): This is the definitive indictment. 'Rûaḥ' here means "breath," "spirit," or "life-force." The complete absence of ruach is the ultimate deficiency. Unlike humanity, into whom God breathed life (Gen 2:7), and unlike the Holy Spirit who guides and teaches, idols possess no vital spark whatsoever. They are not merely weak; they are fundamentally lifeless and therefore powerless to help, speak, or teach. This also implies they lack the Holy Spirit, the source of divine revelation and wisdom.
- "Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ And to silent stone, ‘Arise!’": This phrase directly ridicules the practice of addressing inanimate idols as if they are sentient beings capable of hearing or responding. It highlights the profound illogicality and spiritual blindness of the idol worshiper, portraying their actions as both pathetic and futile in the face of true deity. The call to "awake" and "arise" directly parodies the language used to invoke or pray to a living deity.
- "Can that teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, And there is no breath at all in its midst": This second part delivers the powerful rhetorical and theological punch. The rhetorical question about teaching is answered by the glaring observation: the idol's elaborate exterior (gold, silver) cannot mask its inner emptiness. The core problem is the total absence of ruach (life/spirit/breath). This starkly contrasts the living God, who speaks, teaches, and gives life, demonstrating that outward appearance means nothing in spiritual reality if true divine presence and power are absent.
Habakkuk 2 19 Bonus section
This verse offers a crucial spiritual lesson beyond just ancient idolatry. Any modern "idol"—be it wealth, power, fame, comfort, or human philosophy—that is granted the "worship" due to God will likewise prove lifeless and unable to deliver true meaning, wisdom, or security. Like the golden-clad idol, these objects of our trust may seem impressive, but they fundamentally lack "breath"—divine life, wisdom, and Spirit. Seeking guidance, ultimate comfort, or identity from such things is akin to saying "Awake!" to something utterly devoid of intrinsic power. True sustenance and eternal perspective only reside in the Living God, the source of all ruach (life and Spirit).
Habakkuk 2 19 Commentary
Habakkuk 2:19 is a biting satire and a profound theological statement against idolatry. It encapsulates the fifth and final "woe," focusing on the spiritual folly that underlies all other forms of injustice. The verse strips away any illusion of power or sanctity from man-made objects of worship. By ridiculing the act of supplicating wood and stone, it exposes the self-deception inherent in idol worship. The very command "Awake!" or "Arise!" highlights the tragic irony: the worshiper is speaking to a thing less alive than himself, depending on something he made. The embellishment with gold and silver is rendered meaningless by the idol's inertness; no amount of material wealth or human artistry can imbue a created object with divine life or true power. The critical truth revealed is that idols lack "breath" (ruach), meaning they have no life, spirit, or capacity to interact with humanity or divine teaching. This places them in direct opposition to the one true God, who breathed life into creation and continually speaks and acts within His creation. Ultimately, the verse condemns placing trust or seeking wisdom from anything without the Spirit of life, reinforcing that genuine wisdom, power, and teaching can only come from the living God.