Psalms 115:4
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Study Note
Study Note
The anti-idol polemic 'their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands' introduces the ironic anatomy of Psalm 115's refutation of idolatry: objects made by human craftsmen cannot see, hear, smell, touch, walk, or speak (vv. 5–7). The poem belongs to a tradition of idol satire also found in Isaiah 44:9–20, Jeremiah 10, and Wisdom of Solomon 13–15, all of which expose the category error of worshipping human manufacture as divine. Psalm 115:8's conclusion — 'those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them' — introduces a psychological-theological principle: worship forms the worshipper in the image of the object worshipped. This principle, developed by G.K. Beale in modern biblical theology, has profound implications for understanding any system of ultimate valuation as functionally religious.
Other Translations
Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
Their idols <FI>are<Fi> silver and gold, work of man's hands,
Their images are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
Cross References
And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor …
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood …
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood …
The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto …
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten …
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?