The Meaning of Psalms 135:15 Explained

Psalms 135:15

KJV: The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

YLT: The idols of the nations are silver and gold, Work of the hands of man.

Darby: The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands:

ASV: The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The idols  of the heathen  [are] silver  and gold,  the work  of men's  hands. 

What does Psalms 135:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 135:13-21 - Men Become Like The Gods They Serve
What a contrast between our God and idols! His mouth speaks words of grace; His eyes follow our every movement and watch our sleep; His ears are open to the faintest call. Let us who love and adore Him resemble Him, as the idolater resembles his stony idol.
The fourfold division of the chosen race deserves our thought, Psalms 135:19-21. Some belonged to the great commonwealth of Israel, some to the priestly family of Aaron, some to the meaner and humbler ranks of Levi, and some were proselytes who just feared the Lord; but none could be excused from the offering of praise. Whoever and whatever we may be, let us never fail to add our quota of adoration to that song which John tells us he heard arising from all in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, Revelation 5:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 135

1  An exhortation to praise God for his mercy
5  For his power
8  For his judgments
15  The vanity of idols
19  An exhortation to bless God

What do the individual words in Psalms 135:15 mean?

The idols of the nations [are] silver and gold the work of hands of men
עֲצַבֵּ֣י הַ֭גּוֹיִם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָֽם

עֲצַבֵּ֣י  The  idols 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עָצָב  
Sense: idol, image.
הַ֭גּוֹיִם  of  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
כֶּ֣סֶף  [are]  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
וְזָהָ֑ב  and  gold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.
מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה  the  work 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
יְדֵ֣י  of  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אָדָֽם  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.