Psalms 115:3–8

In its context

Its words in the original

• אלֹהֵיlohe· Elohim, God, gods

  The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.

• שָּׁמָיִםshamayim· heavens, sky

  The heavens: what is above, where the clouds, the sun and the stars are seen; also the dwelling of God. In Hebrew it is always plural. With birds, "the sky".

• חָפֵץchafets· desire, delight in

  Want, desire; be pleased with someone, delight in.

• עָשָׂהasa· do, make

  Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.

• עֲצַבֵּיatsabe· idol

  Idol: an image made by human hands that is worshiped. The word comes from "shape", and it sounds like the word for "pain".

• כֶּסֶףkesef· silver, money

  Silver. Since payment was made by weighing silver, the word also means "money".

• זָהָבzahav· gold

  Gold.

• מַעֲשֵׂהmaase· work, deed

  Work, labor; what someone does or makes; a deed.

• יְדֵיyede· hand, power

  Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.

• אָדָםadam· human being, man, Adam

  The Hebrew word "adam". It has three uses: (1) humanity in general, men and women alike: "human beings" (Genesis 1:27); (2) a particular man; in Genesis 2-4, the first man, "the man"; (3) the personal name of that first man, "Adam". In Hebrew "adam" sounds like "adamah", the ground he was formed from (Genesis 2:7).

• פֶּהpe· mouth

  Mouth. Also what someone says or commands ("by the mouth of" = by the word of); the edge of a sword; "according to".

• יְדַבֵּרוּyedaberu· speak

  Speak, talk, say; also promise or command.

• עֵינַיִםenayim· eye

  Eye. "In someone's eyes" means "in his opinion"; "find favor in the eyes of" is to please him. Also a spring of water.

• יִרְאוּyiru· see

  See. Also look, observe, notice, consider; in some forms, "appear" or "show".

• אָזְנַיִםaznayim· ear

  Ear. "Speak in someone's ears" is to tell him something directly.

• יִשְׁמָעוּyishmau· hear, listen, obey

  Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.

• אַףaf· anger, nose

  Nose, nostrils. Since breathing grows hard in anger, the same word also means "anger"; sometimes "face".

• יְרִיחוּyerichu· smell

  Smell, perceive a scent; figuratively, take delight in.

• יְמִישׁוּyemishu· feel, touch

  Feel, touch with the hands.

• רַגְלֵיragle· foot

  Foot; the foot of an animal; also a step.

• יְהַלֵּכוּyehalechu· go, walk

  Go, walk, come. Figuratively, the way one lives ("walk with God").

• יֶהְגּוּyehgu· meditate, murmur

  Meditate: repeat something in a low voice, turn it over again and again. The same word is used for the murmur of someone reading to himself.

• גְרוֹנָgerona· throat

  Throat: the part of the neck through which the voice passes and what is swallowed.

• יִהְיוּyihyu· be, become, happen

  Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".

• בֹּטֵחַboteach· trust

  Trust: lean on someone or something and feel secure.