Habakkuk 2:11

For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

For the stone {H68} shall cry out {H2199} of the wall {H7023}, and the beam out {H3714} of the timber {H6086} shall answer {H6030} it.

For the very stones will cry out from the wall, and a beam in the framework will answer them.

For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.

For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

Habakkuk 2:11 delivers a powerful prophetic image, asserting that even the inanimate objects used in construction will bear witness against the unrighteous gain of their builders. This verse is part of a series of "woes" pronounced by the prophet Habakkuk, primarily against the unjust practices of the Babylonian (Chaldean) oppressors, but also serving as a universal principle of divine justice.

Context

This verse is found within the second chapter of Habakkuk, where the prophet receives God's answer to his lament concerning the rampant injustice in Judah and God's surprising plan to use the wicked Babylonians as His instrument of judgment. After God declares that "the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4), He then pronounces five distinct woes against those who engage in various forms of wickedness. Habakkuk 2:11 specifically follows the woe against those who build their houses by ill-gotten gain and violence, accumulating wealth through plunder and injustice (Habakkuk 2:9-10). The "stone" and "beam" are components of such a house, metaphorically crying out against the sin embedded within its very foundation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Inescapable Judgment: The verse underscores God's omniscience and unwavering commitment to justice. No sin, however hidden or seemingly successful, escapes His notice. The very materials of a house built on injustice become accusers, testifying to the unrighteousness.
  • The Testimony of Creation: It highlights the concept that creation itself can bear witness against human sin. The natural order, corrupted by human wickedness, will ultimately condemn the transgressor. This resonates with the idea that the world reflects its Creator's moral order.
  • Consequences of Unrighteous Gain: The passage powerfully warns against the futility and ultimate condemnation of wealth acquired through oppression, violence, or deceit. Such gains bring not security, but a silent, pervasive accusation.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew words for "cry out" (צָעַק, tsa'aq) and "answer" (עָנָה, 'anah) are highly significant. Tsa'aq often denotes a cry of distress, a plea for help, or a protest against injustice, similar to the cry of Abel's blood from the ground (Genesis 4:10). 'Anah implies a response, a confirmation, or an affirmation. Together, they create a vivid personification: the building materials are not merely silent witnesses, but active participants in revealing the builder's guilt, confirming the accusation against the oppressor. This is a poetic way of saying that the evidence of sin is undeniable and inherent in the very structures created by it.

Practical Application

Habakkuk 2:11 serves as a timeless reminder that actions have consequences, and nothing is truly hidden from God. For believers today, it encourages a life of integrity, emphasizing that:

  • Ethical Foundations Matter: Whether in business, personal finances, or community building, the means by which we acquire and build are as important as the end result. We are called to live honorably and righteously.
  • Accountability is Inescapable: This verse powerfully illustrates that God sees all, and eventually, all hidden deeds will be brought to light. It is a call to self-examination and repentance.
  • Hope for the Oppressed: For those who have been victims of injustice, this verse offers comfort, reaffirming that God is aware of the wrongs committed and will ultimately bring justice, even if it feels delayed.

The "stone" and "beam" stand as enduring symbols that the very works of our hands will either testify for us or against us before the ultimate Judge.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 19:40

    And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

  • Joshua 24:27

    And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.

  • James 5:3

    Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

  • James 5:4

    Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

  • Job 31:38

    If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

  • Job 31:40

    Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

  • Genesis 4:10

    And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

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