Psalms 115:4
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Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Many ancient translations join this psalm to that which goes next before it, the Septuagint particularly, and the vulgar Latin; but it is, in the Hebrew, a distinct psalm. In it we are taught to give glory, I. To God, and not to ourselves (Psa 115:1). II. To God, and not to idols (Psa 115:2-8). We must give glory to God, 1. By trusting in him, and in his promise and blessing (Psa 115:9-15). 2. By blessing him (Psa 115:16-18). Some think this psalm was penned upon occasion of some great distress and trouble that the church of God was in, when the enemies were in insolent and threatening, in which case the church does not so much pour out her complaint to God as place her confidence in God, and triumph in doing so; and with such a holy triumph we ought to sing this psalm.
Open source ↗115:4-11 This entire section is repeated in 135:15-20. • Unlike the Lord (95:3-5), idols cannot do anything; they are good for nothing.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.
Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?
And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
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.
Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?
All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!
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.
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.
But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.
He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”