Hab 2:18 | NET2full | STEP | What good is an idol ? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles ? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute , worthless things ?

‏ Habakkuk 2:18

18 What good ^{▼▼tn Or “of what value.”} is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? ^{▼▼tn Heb “so that the one who forms it fashions it?” Here כִּי (ki) is taken as resultative after the rhetorical question. For other examples of this use, see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 73, §450.}
What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? ^{▼▼tn Heb “or a metal image, a teacher of lies.” The words “What good is” in the translation are supplied from the previous parallel line. “Teacher of lies” refers to the false oracles that the so-called god would deliver through a priest. See J. J. M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (OTL), 126.}
Why would its creator place his trust in it ^{▼▼tn Heb “so that the one who forms his image trusts in it?” As earlier in the verse, כִּי (ki) is resultative.}
and make ^{▼▼tn Heb “to make.”} such mute, worthless things?