The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that these idols, made of precious materials like silver and gold, are utterly worthless because they are merely the creation of human hands. This isn't just about craftsmanship; it underscores their powerlessness, contrasting them with the living, active God who creates everything.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage contrasts the powerful, true God with the lifeless idols worshiped by other nations. It highlights the futility of trusting in these man-made objects by describing their lack of senses and life, directly echoing verses from Psalm 115. The verses immediately following will further emphasize that those who make and trust in idols become just as lifeless and ineffective as the idols themselves.
Ever wonder why the Bible is so direct about calling idols worthless? It’s a stark contrast to the real God.
Gods Made of Metal
This verse cuts right to the heart of what idols are: pretty, valuable things made by human hands. Think about it – gold and silver are precious to us, but they are just raw materials from the earth. God owns all those metals, and they are completely subject to His power. Yet, people take these earthly things and craft them into supposed gods. It’s a mind-boggling act of misplaced worship.
The True Creator vs. Created Things
The big idea here is the Creator/creation divide. The God of Israel is the sovereign Lord over everything, including the very materials used to make idols. He made the silver and gold; He didn’t become them. Idols, on the other hand, are entirely the product of human skill and labor. They have no power, no life, and no ability to act on their own.
Why does the Bible spend so much time exposing the weakness of idols? It’s about where we place our ultimate trust.
The Silence of False Gods
This verse isn't just about the physical makeup of idols; it's about their utter inability to function as gods. They are made, but they do not act. They are fashioned with features like mouths, eyes, and ears, but they have no power to speak, see, or hear. This profound silence and inactivity is the hallmark of false deities.
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The Contrast with True Trust
By highlighting the non-existence and impotence of idols, the psalmist emphasizes the absolute necessity of trusting in the living God. Worshipping something made by human hands is the ultimate folly, leading to a similar emptiness in the worshipper. In contrast, trusting in the Lord means placing our hope in the One who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and actively involved in His creation and in the lives of His people.
Understand the original words
atsabim · Hebrew Noun
An image or object of worship that is not God; Scripture consistently portrays these as powerless, lifeless, and empty creations of human craft.
This verse, drawing from earlier traditions, powerfully contrasts the living God with the lifeless idols of surrounding nations. The historical context of Israel's struggles with idolatry and their encounters with conquering empires highlights the severe consequences of worshipping 'the work of human hands' instead of the Creator.
c. 1500-500 BC
Prevalence of Idolatry in Ancient Near East
Throughout the second and first millennia BC, the surrounding nations of Israel and Judah were deeply immersed in polytheistic worship, crafting idols from various materials, including precious metals, to represent their gods.
c. 10th Century BC
Solomon's Temple Construction
The construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem under Solomon was intended as the central place for Israel's worship of the one true God, YHWH. This monumental project stood in stark contrast to the idol-laden temples of surrounding cultures.
8th Century BC
Prophetic Condemnations of Idolatry
Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah vehemently denounced idolatry, highlighting the worthlessness of idols made of gold and silver and warning of divine judgment against those who worshipped them.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel and the destruction of Samaria served as a stark reminder of God's power and judgment against those who turned away from Him, often due to idolatry.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonian conquest led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, a devastating event that underscored the futility of relying on anything other than the living God, including any remaining idols or false hopes.
c. 500 BC— this verse
Composition of Psalm 135
Psalm 135, likely composed or compiled during the post-exilic period, reflects on God's sovereignty and power. Its inclusion of verses comparing YHWH to the idols of the nations serves as a powerful polemic against surrounding pagan practices.
This passage is almost identical to Psalm 135:15, directly contrasting the lifeless idols made by humans with the living God.
Isaiah 44:9-20This prophecy vividly describes the foolishness of idol-making, detailing the process and the inability of the idols to see, hear, or act, mirroring the point made in Psalm 135:15 about the idols being mere human creations.
Jeremiah 10:3-5Similar to Psalm 135:15, this passage highlights that idols are crafted from wood and metal by human hands, emphasizing their impotence and inability to move or save, contrasting sharply with the power of the true God.
Acts 17:29Paul uses a similar argument in Athens, stating that humankind should not think the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, shaped by human art and imagination, reinforcing the concept of idols as mere human products.
cambridgePsalms 135:15: "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands."
15–18 . Taken with some alterations from Psalm 115:4-8 . The nonentity of the heathen gods is contrasted with the sovereignty of Jehovah.
pulpitPsalms 135:15: "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands."
Verses 15-18. - The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. A condensed recitation of Psalm 115:4-8 (comp. Jeremiah 10:3-5). In its present place it is a…
The verse highlights that these idols, made of precious materials like silver and gold, are utterly worthless because they are merely the creation of human hands. This isn't just about craftsmanship; it underscores their powerlessness, contrasting them with the living, active God who creates everything.
This passage contrasts the powerful, true God with the lifeless idols worshiped by other nations. It highlights the futility of trusting in these man-made objects by describing their lack of senses and life, directly echoing verses from Psalm 115. The verses immediately following will further emphasize that those who make and trust in idols become just as lifeless and ineffective as the idols themselves.
This passage contrasts the powerful, true God with the lifeless idols worshiped by other nations. It highlights the futility of trusting in these man-made objects by describing their lack of senses and life, directly echoing verses from Psalm 115. The verses immediately following will further emphasize that those who make and trust in idols become just as lifeless and ineffective as the idols themselves.
"The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands." — The verse highlights that these idols, made of precious materials like silver and gold, are utterly worthless because they are merely the creation of human hands. This isn't just about craftsmanshi…
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Last reviewed October 2026