Charles Ellicott Commentary Habakkuk 2:18

"What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he that fashioneth its form trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?" — Habakkuk 2:18 (ASV)

A teacher of lies. —Not the false prophet, but the idol itself, as pointing out false ways in opposition to God, the teacher of truth.

That the maker ...—Better, that he who frames his image trusts in it, so as to make dumb idols. Dumb nothings is, perhaps, the literal translation of e ’lîlîm ill’mîm, and the words are chosen for their similarity of sound.