Psalms 97:7

Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all [ye] gods.

Confounded {H954} be all they that serve {H5647} graven images {H6459}, that boast {H1984} themselves of idols {H457}: worship {H7812} him, all ye gods {H430}.

All who worship images will be put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols. Bow down to him, all you gods!

All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!

Let all them be put to shame that serve graven images, That boast themselves of idols: Worship him, all ye gods.

Psalm 97:7 from the King James Version delivers a powerful declaration against the worship of false gods and a universal call to acknowledge the supremacy of the true God.

Context

Psalm 97 is part of a collection of psalms (Psalms 93-99) celebrating the Lord's reign as king over all the earth. It depicts God's majestic appearance, the resulting reaction of nature and nations, the judgment of idolaters, and the joy of those who follow Him. This verse specifically addresses the contrast between the glorious reign of the true God and the futility of idols.

Key Themes

  • Condemnation of Idolatry: The verse begins with a strong curse or prayer for those who serve "graven images" and "boast themselves of idols" to be "confounded" or put to shame. This highlights the Old Testament's consistent rejection of worshipping anything other than the Creator. Isaiah 44:9-20 provides a vivid description of the foolishness of idol making and worship.
  • Supremacy of God: The command "worship him, all ye gods" emphasizes God's ultimate authority. The term "gods" (Hebrew: elohim) here can be interpreted in various ways – referring to divine beings in the heavenly court, earthly rulers and judges who represent authority (as in Psalm 82:6), or even the personifications of the false deities themselves being forced to acknowledge the true God's power. Regardless of the precise interpretation, the core message is clear: every power, authority, and supposed deity must bow down and worship the Lord alone.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "graven images" is pesel (פסל), referring to carved or hewn images. "Idols" translates elilim (אלילים), a term often used contemptuously for false gods, implying worthlessness or nothingness. The word for "gods" is elohim (אלהים), the standard Hebrew word used for God, but also used to refer to other divine or powerful beings, underscoring the true God's sovereignty over all.

Practical Application

While physical idol worship may not be common for many today, the principle remains vital. Idolatry is anything we put in the place of God – be it wealth, power, possessions, relationships, or even self. This verse is a sharp reminder to examine our lives and ensure our ultimate devotion and worship are directed solely to the one true God. We are called to flee from all forms of idolatry and give exclusive worship to the Lord, who reigns supreme over everything.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hebrews 1:6

    And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

  • Jeremiah 10:14

    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.

  • Isaiah 42:17

    They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods.

  • Leviticus 26:1

    ¶ Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I [am] the LORD your God.

  • Exodus 20:4

    Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:

  • Revelation 5:11

    And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

  • Revelation 5:14

    And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

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