Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 96:5
For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
5. For all the gods of the peoples are things of nought [or, idols]; powerless, nay, non-existent. Cp. the argument of Isa 40:18 ff; Isa 44:9 ff.
but the Lord &c.] The appeal to the works of creation as a proof of Jehovah’s power occurs frequently in Isaiah 40-66. See Isa 40:22; Isa 42:5; Isa 44:24.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For all the gods of the nations are idols – All the gods worshipped by the people of other lands are mere idols. None of them can claim to have a real existence as gods. The word here rendered idols is translated by the Septuagint, daimonia, demons. So the Latin Vulgate daemonia. The Hebrew word – ‘elyl – means properly of nothing, nought, empty, vain. See Job 13:4. The meaning here is, that they were mere nothings; they had no real existence; they were the creations of the imagination; they could not in any sense be regarded as what it was pretended they were; they had no claim to reverence and worship as gods. Of most of them it was a fact that they had no existence at all, but were mere creatures of fancy. Of those that did really exist, as the sun, moon, stars, animals, or the spirits of departed people, though it was true that they had an actual existence, yet it was also true that they had no existence as gods, or as entitled to worship; and hence, it was also true that the worship offered to them was as vain as that which was offered to mere beings of the imagination. This verse is extracted literally from 1Ch 16:26. The Hebrew is the same.
But the Lord made the heavens – Yahweh created the heavenly hosts, and therefore he is the true God, and is entitled to worship. The power of creation – of causing anything to exist where there was nothing before – must pertain to God alone, and is the highest act of Divinity. No pretended pagan god has that power; no man has that power. The true God has reserved the exercise of that power to himself, and has never, in any instance, imparted it to a created being.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. All the gods of the nations are idols] elohey. All those reputed or worshipped as gods among the heathens are 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Idols; or, nothings, as they are called, 1Co 8:4; 10:19; or, vain things, as the word signifies, and is translated by others. The sense is, Though they have usurped the name and place of the Divine Majesty, yet they have nothing of his nature or power in them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For all the gods of the nations are idols,…. Or are “nothings” o, nonentities; such as have not, and never had, any being, at least many of them, but in the fancies of men; and all of them such as have no divinity in them;
an idol is nothing in the world, 1Co 8:4,
but the Lord made the heavens; and all the hosts of them, the sun, moon, and stars; these are the curious workmanship of his fingers, and which declare his glory, and show him to be truly and properly God, who is to be feared and worshipped; see Heb 1:10.
o “nihila”, Tigurine version, Cocceius, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) Idols.Literally, nothings; Heb., ellm, with a play on the word el, God. This plainly shows that by Gods, in Psa. 96:4, the heathen deities, and not angels, are meant. (See Note, Psa. 95:3.) The LXX. sometimes renders the Hebrew word idols, sometimes vanities, but here demons. Symmachus nonexistences.
But the Lord made the heavens.Nothings could not do that, but only Jehovah.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Idols The name is one of contempt: (eleeleem,) images, nothings, vanities, in opposition to , ( Eloheem,) God. The former word is a play upon the latter, (by paronomasia;) by altering the letters a little the similarity of sound is retained with a sense satirically opposite. Thus, the heathen gods are called “no gods,” (2Ch 13:9,) in opposition to the true God, (chap. Psa 15:3😉 “nothing,” (1Co 8:4,) “vanity,” (Jer 14:22,) and “devils,” from the character and effect of their worship. 1Co 10:19-20; Rev 9:20.
The Lord made the heavens He is to be judged of by his works. They are his “glory,” his “wonders,” (Psa 96:3,) and the appeal is made to show that the Author of nature and of salvation is one and the same God. Psa 95:4-5
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 96:5. The gods of the nations are idols Things of nothing. Mudge. Vanities; things which have no substance or being. The words strength and beauty, or glory, in the next verse, are the very words by which the ark is described in Psa 78:61.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Ver. 5. For all the gods, &c. ] Deunculi, deastri, those petty gods, those dunghill deities of the heathens, are nullities; indeed, they are devils, and those idols were their receptacles, and, as it were, their bodies, from whence in some places they gave oracles; but were silenced at Christ’s coming in the flesh, to the great amazement of their superstitious worshippers.
But the Lord made the heavens
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
all the gods . . . idols. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6Hebrew. kalelohey . . . ‘elilim.
nations = peoples.
idols = nothings. Compare 1Co 8:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
For: Psa 115:3-8, Psa 135:15, Psa 135:18, Isa 44:8-28, Isa 46:1, Isa 46:2, Jer 10:3-5, Jer 10:11, Jer 10:12, Jer 10:14, Jer 10:15, Act 19:26, 1Co 8:4
but: Psa 115:15, Gen 1:1, Isa 42:5, Jer 10:11
Reciprocal: 2Ch 25:15 – the gods Psa 135:5 – I know
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
96:5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD {c} made the heavens.
(c) Then the idols or whatever did not make the heavens, are not God.