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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/115-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/19_Psa_115_004.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 115:4 - To Your Name Be the Glory" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/115-3.htm" title="Psalm 115:3">◄</a> Psalm 115:4 <a href="/psalms/115-5.htm" title="Psalm 115:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/115.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/115.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/115.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/115.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/115.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/115.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Their idols <i>are</i> silver and gold, the work of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/115.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Their idols <i>are</i> silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/115.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, The work of human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/115.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man&#8217s hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/115.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/115.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/115.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The idols [of the nations] are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/115.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/115.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/115.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/115.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The idols of the nations are made of silver and gold. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/115.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/115.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Their idols are made of silver and gold. They were made by human hands. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/115.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Their gods are made of silver and gold, formed by human hands. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/115.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, crafted by human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/115.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/115.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are made of silver and gold--they are man-made. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/115.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/115.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold; the work of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/115.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/115.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Their idols [are] silver and gold, work of man’s hands,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/115.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Their idols are silver and gold, work of man's hands,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/115.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Their images are silver and gold, the work of man's hands.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/115.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The idols of the gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the hands of men. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/115.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 113:12>The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the works of the hands of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/115.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/115.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/115.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/115.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of the hands of man.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/115.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/115.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the works of men's hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/115-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=14531" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/115.htm">To Your Name Be the Glory</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6091.htm" title="6091: ‘ăṣab·bê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- An idol. From atsab; an image.">Their idols</a> <a href="/hebrew/3701.htm" title="3701: ke·sep̄ (N-ms) -- Silver, money. From kacaph; silver; by implication, money.">are silver</a> <a href="/hebrew/2091.htm" title="2091: wə·zā·hāḇ (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Gold. From an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky.">and gold,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4639.htm" title="4639: ma·‘ă·śêh (N-msc) -- A deed, work. From asah; an action; generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product or property.">made</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: yə·ḏê (N-fdc) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">by the hands</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">of men.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a></span><br />All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-5</a></span><br />For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/2-18.htm">Habakkuk 2:18-19</a></span><br />What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28</a></span><br />And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-26.htm">1 Kings 18:26-29</a></span><br />And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-6.htm">Isaiah 46:6-7</a></span><br />They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-1.htm">Exodus 32:1-4</a></span><br />Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” / So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a></span><br />So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-20</a></span><br />Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29</a></span><br />Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-22.htm">Romans 1:22-23</a></span><br />Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-8.htm">Isaiah 2:8</a></span><br />Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/8-4.htm">Hosea 8:4-6</a></span><br />They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-18.htm">2 Kings 19:18</a></span><br />They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/9-20.htm">Revelation 9:20</a></span><br />Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.</p><p class="hdg">their idols.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/97-7.htm">Psalm 97:7</a></b></br> Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all <i>ye</i> gods.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15-17</a></b></br> The idols of the heathen <i>are</i> silver and gold, the work of men's hands… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28</a></b></br> And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/106-19.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/psalms/112-9.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/psalms/106-38.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/psalms/106-38.htm">Images</a> <a href="/psalms/105-37.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/psalms/111-10.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/119-72.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/psalms/115-7.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Images</a> <a href="/psalms/119-72.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/psalms/119-126.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 115</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/115-1.htm">Because God is truly glorious</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">And idols are vanity</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/115-9.htm">He exhorts to confidence in God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/115-12.htm">God is to be blessed for his blessing</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/115.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/115.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Their idols are silver and gold</b><br>In the ancient Near East, silver and gold were commonly used materials for crafting idols. These metals were not only valuable but also symbolized wealth and power. The use of precious metals in idol-making highlights the human tendency to attribute worth and divinity to material possessions. This phrase contrasts the living God with lifeless idols, emphasizing the futility of worshiping objects made from earthly materials. The Bible frequently condemns idolatry, as seen in passages like <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a>, where the absurdity of worshiping man-made objects is mocked. The use of silver and gold also reflects the economic and cultural practices of the time, where such materials were often associated with religious and royal authority.<p><b>made by the hands of men</b><br>This phrase underscores the human origin of idols, contrasting them with the divine creation of the universe by God. The emphasis on "hands of men" points to the limited and flawed nature of human craftsmanship compared to God's omnipotence. In biblical theology, this highlights the folly of idolatry, as seen in <a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-5</a>, where idols are described as powerless and dependent on human intervention. The phrase also serves as a reminder of the first two commandments given to Moses, which prohibit the making and worshiping of graven images (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>). Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ, who, unlike idols, is not made by human hands but is the incarnate Word of God, fully divine and fully human, as described in <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/psalmist.htm">Psalmist</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/115.htm">Psalm 115</a>, traditionally attributed to David, who contrasts the living God with lifeless idols.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a></b><br>Objects of worship made from silver and gold, representing false gods that the nations around Israel worshipped.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation chosen by God, called to worship Him alone and reject idolatry.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/n/nations.htm">Nations</a></b><br>The surrounding peoples who worshipped idols, often leading Israel into temptation and sin.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/temple.htm">Temple</a></b><br>The place where the true God was worshipped, contrasting with the temples of idols.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_idolatry.htm">The Futility of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idols, though made of precious materials, are lifeless and powerless. They cannot see, hear, or act. This highlights the futility of placing trust in anything other than God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_unchanging_nature_of_god.htm">The Unchanging Nature of God</a></b><br>Unlike idols, which are crafted by human hands, God is eternal and uncreated. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, deserving of our worship and trust.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_modern_idolatry.htm">Guarding Against Modern Idolatry</a></b><br>While we may not worship physical idols, anything that takes the place of God in our lives can become an idol. This includes money, power, relationships, or even technology.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_exclusive_worship.htm">The Call to Exclusive Worship</a></b><br>As believers, we are called to worship God alone, recognizing His sovereignty and rejecting all forms of idolatry.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/witnessing_to_a_world_of_idols.htm">Witnessing to a World of Idols</a></b><br>In a world filled with various "idols," Christians are called to be a light, pointing others to the true and living God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_115.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 115</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_ancient_cultures_worship_idols.htm">Psalm 115:4–7 — If idols are truly powerless, why have archeological findings shown widespread worship of them across ancient civilizations that thrived for centuries? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/prioritizing_god_over_busyness.htm">What does the Bible say regarding pagans?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_daniel_expose_bel's_deceit.htm">How does Daniel expose the false god Bel's deception?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_about_pagans.htm">What does the Bible say regarding pagans?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/115.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4-8) This passage cannot compare with the magnificent irony of <a href="/context/isaiah/44-9.htm" title="They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.">Isaiah 44:9-20</a>, but there is still a noticeable vein of sarcasm running through it, visible even more in the original than in the English. (Comp. <a href="/context/psalms/135-15.htm" title="The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.">Psalm 135:15-18</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/115.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 4-8.</span> - The scorn of the heathen is retaliated. They scoff at the God of Israel. What, then, are their own gods? Silver and gold indeed (ver. 4), but the work of human hands. Fashioned into a human shape, as if they were sentient being - but absolutely devoid of all sense and intelligence. The satire is somewhat roughly worked out (vers. 5-7), but idolatry provokes rough speaking; and the tone here adopted is imitated in <a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15-18</a>, and echoed in <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a>. The inspired writers seem to have felt, that, when idolatry came under consideration, the criticism should be brief and trenchant. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Their idols are silver and gold</span>. At the best - often mere wood and stone (<a href="/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28</a>); but the idols of the Babylonians were mostly of the more precious materials (Herod., 1:183; <a href="/daniel/3-1.htm">Daniel 3:1</a>; Ep. <a href="/jeremiah/1-4.htm">Jeremiah 1:4, 11</a>, etc.). <span class="cmt_word">The work of men's hands</span> (<a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15</a>; <a href="/isaiah/44-12.htm">Isaiah 44:12-17</a>). To avoid this reproach, some images were said to have fallen down from heaven (<a href="/acts/19-35.htm">Acts 19:35</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/115-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Their idols</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲ‍ֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם</span> <span class="translit">(‘ăṣab·bê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6091.htm">Strong's 6091: </a> </span><span class="str2">An, image</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are silver</span><br /><span class="heb">כֶּ֣סֶף</span> <span class="translit">(ke·sep̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3701.htm">Strong's 3701: </a> </span><span class="str2">Silver, money</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and gold,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְזָהָ֑ב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·zā·hāḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2091.htm">Strong's 2091: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">made</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(ma·‘ă·śêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> </span><span class="str2">An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by the hands</span><br /><span class="heb">יְדֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(yə·ḏê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - fdc<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of men.</span><br /><span class="heb">אָדָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/115-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 115:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 115:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/115-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 115:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 115:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>