How does Psalms 115:4 apply to modern society where physical idol worship is less common?

While the literal worship of carved images of silver and gold may be less prevalent in many contemporary cultures, the principle of Psalms 115:4 remains profoundly relevant. The verse critiques the fundamental error of placing ultimate trust, devotion, and hope in anything that is "the work of men's hands"—meaning anything created, conceived, or controlled by human effort, rather than the uncreated, sovereign God. In modern society, this manifests as "functional idolatry." An idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives, becoming the source of our security, identity, meaning, or ultimate satisfaction. This can include: *

Placing ultimate trust in wealth, possessions, or economic systems, as warned against in Matthew 6:24. *

Achievement and Success:

Finding our worth and identity primarily in career accomplishments, academic accolades, or social status. *

Believing that our own strength, intellect, or control over circumstances is sufficient, rather than relying on divine providence. *

Elevating human relationships or romantic partners to a position of ultimate fulfillment that only God can provide. *

Ideologies and Philosophies:

Adhering to worldviews or political systems as ultimate truth, rather than God's revealed word. *

Technological Progress:

Placing unquestioning faith in technology or scientific advancement as the ultimate solution to all human problems, without acknowledging a divine order. The verse challenges us to identify these functional idols in our lives, reminding us that anything "made by hands" (whether physical or conceptual) is inherently limited, powerless to truly save or satisfy, and ultimately leads to disappointment, just as the ancient idols did, much like the "broken cisterns" described in Jeremiah 2:13.

What number verse is Psalms 115:4 in the Bible?

Psalms 115:4 is the 15,835th verse of the Bible. Counting straight through the King James canon — all 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 — Psalms 115:4 sits at position 15,835.

115:3115:3 115:5115:5

Psalms 115:4

“The Impotence of Idols”· Psalms 115:4–8Read in context

King James Version

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

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KJV (with Strong's)

Their idols ^H6091 are silver ^H3701 and gold ^H2091, the work ^H4639 of men's ^H120 hands ^H3027.

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Complete Jewish Bible

Their idols are mere silver and gold, made by human hands.

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Berean Standard Bible

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

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American Standard Version

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

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World English Bible Messianic

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

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Geneva Bible (1599)

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

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Young's Literal Translation

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

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King James Version — Interlinear

6 Hebrew wordsExplain grammar

עֲצַבֵּיהֶם'aTza·bei·hemtheir idolsH6091N-mpc ¦ 3mpNoun Plural Masculine Constructעֲצַבֵּיidolsהֶםtheir
כֶּסֶףKe·sef[are] silverH3701N-msNoun Singular Masculine Absolute
וְזָהָבve·za·Havand goldH2091Conj-w ¦ N-msNoun Singular Masculine Absoluteוְandזָהָבgold
מַעֲשֵׂהma·'a·Seh[the] work ofH4639N-mscNoun Singular Masculine Construct
יְדֵיye·Dei[the] hands ofH3027N-cdcNoun Dual common gender Construct
אָדָם'a·DamhumankindH120N-msNoun Singular Masculine Absolute

English is a literal word-by-word gloss of the Hebrew, not the KJV's wording. Why?

This is the original text the KJV's translators worked from — each Hebrew word with its own literal English meaning in this verse, prepared by scholars at Tyndale House, Cambridge. The KJV translates whole sentences, not word by word, so its wording differs: one Hebrew word can become several English words, and the KJV may choose “the LORD” where the gloss reads “Yahweh”. Both are faithful — they answer different questions. For the KJV's own rendering, switch to the KJV text.

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