Psalms 96 · Verse 5

Psalms 96:5

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
Psalms 96:5, King James Version

Psalms 96:5 in other translations

BSBFor all the gods of the nations are idols, but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
WEBFor all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
ASVFor all the gods of the peoples are idols; But Jehovah made the heavens.
YLTFor all the gods of the peoples are nought, And Jehovah made the heavens.
DARBYFor all thegods of the peoples are idols; but Jehovah made the heavens.
BBEFor all the gods of the nations are false gods; but the Lord made the heavens.
WebsterFor all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

What does Psalms 96:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 96:4-5

4-5. For He is not a local God, but of universal agency, while idols are nothing.

Read the full comment on Psalms 96:4-5 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 All the gods of the nations are idols - אלהי elohey. All those reputed or worshipped as gods among the heathens are אלילים elilim, vanities, emptinesses, things of nought. Instead of being Elohim, they are elilim; they are not only not God, but they are nothing." "Jehovah made the heavens." He who is the creator is alone worthy of adoration.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 96:1-9

When Christ finished his work on earth, and was received into his glory in heaven, the church began to sing a new song unto him, and to bless his name. His apostles and evangelists showed forth his salvation among the heathen, his wonders among all people. All the earth is here summoned to worship the Lord. We must worship him in the beauty of holiness, as God in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. Glorious…

Read the full comment on Psalms 96:1-9 →

Psalms 96:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤י\׀kiforH3588
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
אֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.Hei[the] gods ofH430
הָעַמִּ֣יםha.'a.Mimthe peoplesH5971
אֱלִילִ֑ים'e.li.Lim[are] worthless idolsH457
וַֽ֝יהוָ֗הva.Yah.wehand YahwehH3068
שָׁמַ֥יִםsha.Ma.yim[the] heavensH8064
עָשָֽׂה\׃'a.Sahhe madeH6213

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 96:5

  • Psalms 115:15

    Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

  • Isaiah 42:5

    Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

  • 1 Corinthians 8:4

    As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

  • Psalms 135:18

    They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

  • Jeremiah 10:14-15

    Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

  • Jeremiah 10:11-12

    Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

  • Jeremiah 10:3-5

    For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

  • Isaiah 46:1-2

    Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

  • Psalms 135:15

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

  • Isaiah 44:8-28

    Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. …

  • Acts 19:26

    Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

  • Psalms 115:3-8

    But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 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: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For.
115:3-8; 135:15,18; Isa 44:8-28; 46:1,2; Jer 10:3-5,11,12,14,15
Ac 19:26; 1Co 8:4
but.
115:15; Ge 1:1; Isa 42:5; Jer 10:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 96:4

    For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

  • Psalms 96:5

    For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

  • Psalms 96:6

    Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Read all of Psalms 96

Psalms 96:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque todos los dioses de los pueblos son ídolos: mas Jehová hizo los cielos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Car tous les dieux des peuples sont des idoles, mais l’ Éternel a fait les cieux.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Denn alle Götter der Völker sind Nichtigkeiten, aber Jehova hat die Himmel gemacht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Montes sicut cera fluxerunt a facie Domini; a facie Domini omnis terra.