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Psalms 115:4 — Word Study

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WLCעֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃

BSATheir idolsʻâtsâb [images, statues] are silverkeçeph [precious metal, wealth] and goldzâhâb [valuable, brilliant] mademaʻăseh [crafted, created] by the handsyâd [power, direction] of menʼâdâm [human beings, mortal]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 115
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('a.Dam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 115:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalm contrasts the true God with lifeless idols made by human hands.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the nature of idols.
Where we areIn a section discussing the futility of idol worship.
The hard wordעֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם
Take awayIdols are mere creations of man, lacking power and life.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 115:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Futility of Idolsgenerated

3Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
4Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
5They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
6they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;

Psalm 115:4 contrasts the living God with the lifeless idols made by human hands. The psalmist emphasizes that these idols, made of precious materials like silver and gold, are powerless and cannot compare to the true God who reigns in heaven. This passage serves as a reminder of the futility of placing trust in created objects rather than the Creator.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 97:7All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!
2Psalm 135:15–17The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
3Deuteronomy 4:28And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.
4Isaiah 40:19–20To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?
5Isaiah 42:17But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.

The Key Word עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם, 'aTza.bei.hemgenerated

The word עֲצַבֵּיהֶם ('aTza.bei.hem) is a noun in the plural form, referring specifically to idols or images that are worshipped. It is derived from the root meaning 'to carve' or 'to fashion,' indicating that these idols are crafted objects rather than living beings.

This term emphasizes the physical nature of the idols, highlighting their role as objects of worship rather than the deities themselves. The lexicons consistently define it as an idolatrous image, underscoring the futility of worshipping something made by human hands.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the rendering of עֲצַבֵּיהֶם as idols, confirming the focus on the physical representations of false gods.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of a main clause stating the subject and predicate: עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם their idols and כֶּ֣סֶף are silver. The structure indicates that the idols are identified by their materials, which are then described as being made by human hands.

The syntax emphasizes the contrast between the lifeless idols and the living God, with the finite verb are linking the subject to its description.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, עֲצַבֵּיהֶם is rendered as εἴδωλα (eidola), which also means 'idols' or 'images.' This choice reflects a direct translation of the Hebrew concept of crafted objects of worship.

The use of ἀργύριον for כֶּסֶף and ξρυσίον for זָהָב further emphasizes the material wealth associated with these idols, consistent with the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 115:4 states that the idols of the people are made of silver and gold, created by human hands. This verse highlights the contrast between the true God and the lifeless idols that people worship, which are merely objects made by men.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'idols'?

The term 'idols' refers to physical representations of false gods that are crafted by human hands, emphasizing their lifelessness.

Why does the psalmist mention silver and gold?

Silver and gold are mentioned to highlight the material wealth of the idols, contrasting their value with the powerlessness of the idols themselves.

What is the significance of the phrase 'made by the hands of men'?

This phrase underscores the idea that idols are human creations, lacking any divine power or life.

How does this verse relate to the nature of worship?

The verse illustrates the futility of worshipping created objects instead of the living God, who is sovereign and powerful.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I might be tempted to rely on material things instead of trusting in God?
  2. How can I ensure that my worship is directed towards the living God rather than created things?
  3. In what areas of my life do I see a focus on material wealth overshadowing my relationship with God?
  4. What steps can I take to remind myself of the power and sovereignty of God over lifeless idols?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 115:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Their idols are silver and gold,.... The idols of the Gentiles; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions.

Read John Gill on Psalms 115 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not. Drawn from Deuteronomy 4:28.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 115 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thus glorious and powerful is our God, O ye heathens, of whom you so boldly ask who and where he is; but as for your gods or idols, they have no power nor worth in them but what is taken from their materials. As their matter is wholly from the earth, so their form or figure they have from the art of man; and therefore they should rather, if it were possible, worship man, as their creator and lord, than be worshipped by him.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 115 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 115:4 Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men’ s hands.Ver. 4. Their idols are silver and gold] Take them at the best, they are no better; and what is silver and gold but the guts and garbage of the earth? But some of them might say, as Priapus in Horace, Olim truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum. Herodotus telleth us, that Amasis had a large laver of gold, wherein both he and his guests used to wash their feet. This vessel he brake and made a god of it; which the Egyptians devoutly worshipped. And the like idolomany is at this day found among Papists; what distinction soever the world would fain make between an idol and an image, which indeed (as they use them) are all…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 115 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4-8) This passage cannot compare with the magnificent irony of Isa 44:9-20, but there is still a noticeable vein of sarcasm running through it, visible even more in the original than in the English. (Comp. Psalms 135:15-18.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 115 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Their idols are silver, c.] They are metal, stone, and wood. They are generally made in the form of man, but can neither see, hear, smell, feel, walk, nor speak. How brutish to trust in such! And next to these, in stupidity and inanity, must they be who form them, with the expectation of deriving any good from them. So obviously vain was the whole system of idolatry, that the more serious heathens ridiculed it, and it was a butt for the jests of their freethinkers and buffoons. How keen are those words of Juvenal! ----------------------Audis Jupiter, haec? nec labra moves, cum mittere vocem. Debueras, vel marmoreus vel aheneus? aut cur In carbone tuo charta pia thura soluta…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 115 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4–8. Do the heathen taunt us with the impotence of our God? What are their own gods? Nothing but their own handiwork, destitute of ordinary human senses, though represented with organs of sense. For similar sarcastic descriptions of idols and the contrast between them and the living God, see Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 10:1-16 Deuteronomy 4:28; Isaiah 2:20; Habakkuk 2:18-19; Wis 15:15. The passage recurs in Psalms 135:15-18. Observe how completely the Psalmist identifies the god with the image: it has no separate existence.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 115 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Their idols - Their gods - the gods which they worship, as contrasted with the God whom we adore.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 115 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Their idols are made of silver and gold – they are man-made.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Their idols are silver and gold; the work of men's hands.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Their idoles are siluer and golde, euen the worke of mens hands.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Their idols [are] silver and gold, work of man's hands,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Their idols [are] silver and gold, work of man’s hands,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Their idols are sliver and gold, the work of the hands of man.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

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

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Their idols are just things of silver and gold made by human hands.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Their images are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseclausenoun phrase · subjectעֲֽ֭צַבֵּיidolsהֶםtheirnoun phrase · predicateכֶּ֣סֶף[are].silverוְandזָהָ֑בgoldclausenoun phrase · predicateמַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה[the].worknoun phraseיְדֵ֣יof.[the].handsאָדָֽםof.humankind

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states, "עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃" which translates to, "Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text, as all six words match in the word-by-word correspondence, though the order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q96) also align with the Masoretic Text, preserving the same essential phrases, although parts of the text are reconstructed by editors, indicating some gaps in the manuscript. Overall, the primary witnesses—Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Dead Sea Scrolls—show a strong agreement in the content of this verse, affirming the depiction of idols as man-made and composed of precious metals.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶםεἴδωλαכֶּ֣סֶףἀργύριονוְזָהָ֑בξρυσίονמַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הἔργαיְדֵ֣יξειρῶνאָדָֽם׃ἀνθρώπων

6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q96a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[עצבי] [הגויים] [כסף] [וזהב] [מעשה] [ידי] [אדם]

nothing on the leather here — 7 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 115:4עָצָבidols theiridols theirעָצָבכֶּ֫סֶף[are] silve[are] silverכֶּ֫סֶףזָהָבand goldand goldזָהָבמַעֲשֶׂה[the] work [the] work ofמַעֲשֶׂהיָד[the] hands[the] hands ofיָדאָדָםhumankindhumankindאָדָםעָצַבto hurtto hurtעָצַבכָּסַףto longto longכָּסַףעָשָׂהto maketo makeעָשָׂהכַּףpalmpalmכַּףאָדֹםto reddento reddenאָדֹםבָּשַׂרto bear tito bear tidingsבָּשַׂרחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתשֶׁ֫קֶלshekelshekelשֶׁ֫קֶלכִּכָּרtalenttalentכִּכָּרצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהכֶּ֫סֶףsilver: mosilver: moneyכֶּ֫סֶףשָׁנִיscarletscarletשָׁנִישֵׁשׁalabasteralabasterשֵׁשׁחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָצַלto rescueto rescueנָצַלדְּמוּתlikenesslikenessדְּמוּתבְּהֵמָהanimalanimalבְּהֵמָה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Psalms 115:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

idols their [are] silver and gold [the] work of [the] hands of humankind
עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם'aTza.bei.hem idols their H6091 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to describe an idolatrous image, like the golden calf in Exodus 32. It emphasizes the physical object of worship, rather than the false god itself.
Amplified meaning
images, statues
Tyndale gloss
idol
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָצָב (atsab) means 'idol' or 'image' and is derived from the root word for 'to carve' or 'to fashion.' The entries consistently define it as an idolatrous image, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָצָב] n.[m.] idol

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6091 [עָצָב] idol

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6091 `atsab aw-tsawb'

from 6087; an (idolatrous) image:--idol, image.

see HEBREW for 06087

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָצָב (a.tsav) — idol.

idol, image

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3mp
idols their [are] silver and gold [the] work of [the] hands of humankind
כֶּ֣סֶףKe.sef [are] silver H3701 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
403× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Amplified meaning
precious metal, wealth
Tyndale gloss
silver: money
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) refers to silver and money, derived from a root meaning 'to be pale.' It encompasses various aspects of silver, including its use as a metal, ornament, and a measure of wealth or value. The term appears in contexts related to payment and price, indicating its significance in transactions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֶּ֫סֶף 402 n.m. silver, money

= silver ore, raw silver

silver as bright, shining

silver, as wealth

silver as spoil of war

silver as merchandise

silver as costly gift

silver as material

silver as measure of weight and value

among vbs. and phr.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3701 כֶּ֫סֶף silver, money

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3701 keceph keh'-sef

from 3700; silver (from its pale color); by implication,

money:--money, price, silver(-ling).

see HEBREW for 03700

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: money.

: money/payment/silver

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: price.

: price

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sil'-ver (keceph; argurion, arguros): Silver was known in the earliest historic times. Specimens of early Egyptian and Babylonian silver work testify to the skill of the ancient silversmiths. In Palestine, silver objects have been found antedating the occupation of the land by the Hebrews. This metal was used for making all kinds of ornamental objects. In the mound of Gezer were found bowls, vases, ladles, hairpins, rings and bracelets of silver. The rings and settings for scarabs or seals were commonly of this metal. The first mention of silver in the Bible is in Ge 13:2, where it says that Abraham was rich in cattle, in silver and gold. At that time it was commonly used in exchange in the form of bars or other shapes. Coins of that metal were of a much later date (Ge 20:16

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Silver

Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Gen. 13:2; 23:15, 16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Ex. 26:19; 27:17; Num. 7:13, 19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In very early times silver was used for ornaments, (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it, (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2); Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus. (Acts 19:24) But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent . Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia, (2 Chronicles 9:14) and from Tarshish, (2 Chronicles 9:21) which supplied the markets…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the precious metals and the one most commonly used as coin among all nations. It is first mentioned in Scripture in the history of Abraham, Ge 13:2 20:16 23:16, and was used in constricting the tabernacle, Ex 26:19,32, and afterwards the temple, 1Ch 29:4. In employing it as a medium of trade, the ancient Hebrews weighed it out, instead of having coins. In the times of the New Testament there were coins. See SHEKEL, and MONEY.

idols their [are] silver and gold [the] work of [the] hands of humankind
וְזָהָ֑בve.za.Hav and gold H2091 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
389× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Amplified meaning
valuable, brilliant
Tyndale gloss
gold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָהָב 385 n.m. gold

= gold-ore, gold in raw state

gold as wealth

gold as spoil of war

gold as merchandise

gold as costly gift

gold as material

gold described by its source

gold defined by var. adj. and pts.

as measure of weight and value

= golden oil, from colour

often named with

the chief vbs. used

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2091 זָהָב gold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2091 zahab zaw-hawb'

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,

something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--

gold(-en), fair weather.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.

1) gold

1a) as precious metal

1b) as a measure of weight

1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gold (zahabh; chrusos):

1. Terms:

No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).

Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;

Gold

(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).

(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).

(3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Ps. 19:10; 21:3, etc.).

(4.) Heb. betzer, “ore of gold or silver” as dug out of the mine (Job 36:19, where it means simply riches).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…

idols their [are] silver and gold [the] work of [the] hands of humankind
מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הma.'a.Seh [the] work of H4639 Noun common · masculine singular construct
236× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to an action or deed, which can be good or bad. It is used to describe various activities, such as work, business, or achievements. The KJV translates it as act, deed, or labor.
Amplified meaning
crafted, created
Tyndale gloss
deed: judgement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַעֲשֶׂה (ma`aseh) means deed or work, encompassing a range of actions from good to bad, and includes concepts like business, labor, and products made. It can refer to specific achievements, works of God, or even customs. The entries suggest a broad application in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַעֲשֶׂה 233 n.m. deed, work

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4639 מַעֲשֶׂה deed, work

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4639 ma`aseh mah-as-eh'

from 6213; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction;

abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically,

a poem) or (generally) property:--act, art, + bakemeat,

business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making,

occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, X well,

((handy-, needle-, net-))work(ing, - manship), wrought.

see HEBREW for 06213

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: work.

: work/product

1) deed, work

1a) deed, thing done, act

1b) work, labour

1c) business, pursuit

1d) undertaking, enterprise

1e) achievement

1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)

1g) work, thing made

1h) work (of God)

1i) product

מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: justice.

: justice/right/righteousness

1) deed, work

1a) deed, thing done, act

1b) work, labour

1c) business, pursuit

1d) undertaking, enterprise

1e) achievement

1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)

1g) work, thing made

1h) work (of God)

1i) product

מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: judgement.

: judgement/punishment

1) deed, work

1a) deed, thing done, act

1b) work, labour

1c) business, pursuit

1d) undertaking, enterprise

1e) achievement

1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)

1g) work, thing made

1h) work (of God)

1i) product

מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: custom.

: custom/manner

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

idols their [are] silver and gold [the] work of [the] hands of humankind
יְדֵ֣יye.Dei [the] hands of H3027 Noun common · both dual construct
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Amplified meaning
power, direction
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cd — Noun common · both dual construct
HNcbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

idols their [are] silver and gold [the] work of [the] hands of humankind
אָדָֽם׃'a.Dam humankind H120 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
551× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.
Amplified meaning
human beings, mortal
Tyndale gloss
the man (Adam)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָדָם (adam) refers to 'man' or 'mankind,' encompassing both individual humans and the species as a whole. It is also the name of the first man in the Bible, Adam, who is mentioned in various verses, including Genesis 2:19. The term can denote a city in the Jordan valley as well. The entries indicate a range of meanings, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָדָם 560 n.m. Gn 1:27 man, mankind

a man = human being

coll. man, mankind

n.pr.m. Adam, first man (without art.)

n.pr.loc. city in Jordan valley (as built?)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H120 אָדָם man, mankind . a man = human being

. coll. man, mankind

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

120 'adam aw-dawm'

from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the

species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common

sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.

see HEBREW for 0119

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָדָם (a.dam) — man.

1) man, mankind

1a) man, human being

1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)

1c) Adam, first man

1d) city in Jordan valley

אָדָם (a.dam) — the man (Adam).

The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19;

married to Eve (H2332);

father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33;

Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121)

man, human being

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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