The Meaning of Psalms 115:7 Explained

Psalms 115:7

KJV: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

YLT: Their hands, but they handle not, Their feet, and they walk not;

Darby: They have hands, and they handle not; feet have they, and they walk not; they give no sound through their throat.

ASV: They have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they through their throat.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They have hands,  but they handle  not: feet  have they, but they walk  not: neither speak  they through their throat. 

What does Psalms 115:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 115:1-18 - Powerless Idols Our Powerful God
Evidently this psalm was intended to be sung by various voices: Psalms 115:1-8 by the whole congregation in unison, while the sacrifice was being offered; Psalms 115:9-11, by a solo voice giving the first line of each couplet, the whole audience chanting the refrain; Psalms 115:12-15, by the priest as a benediction; Psalms 115:16-18, by the whole congregation, which now breaks into glad hallelujahs.
It was composed during the early days of the return from Babylon, when the small groups of settlers were surrounded by the jeers and scoffs of their enemies. This was their reply, as they brought out the scathing contrast between the idols of their neighbors and the majesty of Jehovah. We are reminded of Isaiah's description of an idol factory. The idols had outward semblance and no power. Jehovah had no outward semblance, but all power. Let us take to heart the threefold invitation to faith in Psalms 115:9-11, and reckon on God as our help in the battle and our shield against our foes. The smallest may get his blessing as well as the greatest, Psalms 115:13. We can never impose a strain on the resources of God, however great our demands. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 115

1  Because God is truly glorious
4  And idols are vanity
9  He exhorts to confidence in God
12  God is to be blessed for his blessing

What do the individual words in Psalms 115:7 mean?

They have hands but not they do handle Feet they have they do walk nor do they mutter through their throat
יְדֵיהֶ֤ם ׀ וְלֹ֬א יְמִישׁ֗וּן רַ֭גְלֵיהֶם יְהַלֵּ֑כוּ לֹֽא־ יֶ֝הְגּ֗וּ בִּגְרוֹנָֽם

יְדֵיהֶ֤ם ׀  They  have  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְלֹ֬א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְמִישׁ֗וּן  they  do  handle 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: מוּשׁ  
Sense: to feel.
רַ֭גְלֵיהֶם  Feet  they  have 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine plural
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
יְהַלֵּ֑כוּ  they  do  walk 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יֶ֝הְגּ֗וּ  do  they  mutter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָגָה  
Sense: to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, speak.
בִּגְרוֹנָֽם  through  their  throat 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: גָּרֹון  
Sense: neck, throat.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 115:7?

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