Psalms 115:4
2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
- KJV
- Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
- WEB
- Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
- ASV
- Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men`s hands.
- DARBY
- Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands:
- BLB
- Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of the hands of man.
- ÅB
- Deres avguder er sølv og gull, et verk av menneskehender.
- OTB
- Deres avguder er av sølv og gull,
laget av menneskehender. - B1930
- Deres avguder er sølv og gull, et verk av menneskehender.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 4:28
And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Read in contextIsaiah 46:6–7
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
Read in contextJeremiah 10:3–5
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
Read in contextIsaiah 40:19–20
The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
Read in contextHabakkuk 2:18–20
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Read in contextIsaiah 44:10
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
Read in contextIsaiah 46:1–2
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
Read in contextIsaiah 37:19
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Read in context