1 Chronicles 16:26 kjv
For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
1 Chronicles 16:26 nkjv
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.
1 Chronicles 16:26 niv
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
1 Chronicles 16:26 esv
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
1 Chronicles 16:26 nlt
The gods of other nations are mere idols,
but the LORD made the heavens!
1 Chronicles 16 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 96:5 | For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. | Direct parallel; original source of the verse |
| Deut 4:28 | There you will serve gods made by human hands—wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. | Idols are lifeless and man-made |
| 1 Sam 12:21 | Do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. | Idols are nothing and profitless |
| Isa 44:9-10 | All who fashion idols are nothing... The metalworker makes an idol... | The futility and emptiness of idol making |
| Jer 10:10-12 | But the LORD is the true God... The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish... It is He who made the earth by His power... | God alone is true, Creator; false gods perish |
| Psa 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... they have mouths, but do not speak... | The powerlessness and deafness of idols |
| Isa 37:19 | and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were no gods... | Confirming their non-existence as deities |
| Gen 1:1 | In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. | The foundational truth of God as Creator |
| Psa 33:6 | By the word of the LORD the heavens were made... | God's effortless creation |
| Psa 102:25 | Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. | Reinforces God as Creator of heavens & earth |
| Zech 12:1 | ...Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth and formed the spirit of man within him... | God as ultimate Creator of all |
| Psa 97:9 | For You, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. | Yahweh's supremacy over all "gods" |
| Isa 45:18 | For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is God!), who formed the earth and made it... | God's unique identity as Creator of cosmos |
| Rom 1:22-23 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man... | Humanity's foolish descent into idolatry |
| 1 Cor 8:4-6 | ...that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one... yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. | Idols are nothing; there is only one true God |
| Exo 20:3 | You shall have no other gods before me. | The First Commandment against other "gods" |
| Deut 6:4 | Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! | Affirmation of monotheism |
| Neh 9:6 | You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens... | Praise recognizing God as sole Creator |
| Acts 17:24-25 | The God who made the world and everything in it... He is Lord of heaven and earth... | God as universal Creator |
| Col 1:16-17 | For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth... | Christ as agent of creation |
| Rev 4:11 | "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things..." | God worthy of worship as Creator |
1 Chronicles 16 verses
1 Chronicles 16 26 Meaning
This verse declares the fundamental distinction between the Creator God, Yahweh (the Lord), and the false deities worshipped by other nations. It asserts that the "gods" of all peoples are mere non-entities or worthless things (idols), possessing no true power or existence. In stark contrast, the Lord alone is the sovereign and mighty Creator, who actively brought the heavens into being, thereby establishing His unparalleled divine authority and unique deity.
1 Chronicles 16 26 Context
This verse is part of the "Psalm of Thanksgiving" or "Song of Praise" delivered by King David and sung by the Levites as the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem and placed in the tabernacle he had pitched for it (1 Chron 16:1-6). The entire chapter describes a pivotal moment in Israel's history—the establishment of the worship center in Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant, signifying God's dwelling presence among His people. The psalm (1 Chron 16:7-36) is a compilation from existing Psalms (primarily Ps 105:1-15, Ps 96:1-13a, and Ps 106:1, 47-48), designed to evoke praise for God's redemptive acts and His sovereignty. Verse 26, specifically borrowed from Psalm 96:5, functions as a direct theological contrast and a strong declaration of YHWH's absolute uniqueness and supremacy over all other so-called "gods" in the surrounding polytheistic nations. It sets the tone for a call to global worship of the true Creator.
1 Chronicles 16 26 Word analysis
- For: Connects this statement to the preceding exhortations to declare God's glory among the nations (v. 24) and give praise (v. 25). It provides the foundational reason for such global proclamation.
- all the gods: Hebrew: kol 'elilê (כָּל־אֱלִילֵ֣י).
- kol means "all," emphasizing the universal scope, not just some or many, but every single one of these deities.
- 'elilê is the plural possessive of 'elil (אֱלִיל). This term is crucial. It translates as "idols," but its deeper meaning conveys "worthless things," "non-entities," "nothingness," "vain things," or "false gods." It intrinsically carries a polemical weight, actively denigrating and stripping away any claim to power or divine existence from these so-called gods. It implies they are utterly impotent and non-existent as true divine beings.
- of the peoples: Hebrew: ha'ammim (הָעַמִּֽים). Refers to the Gentile nations, the non-Israelite populations. It specifies that these 'elilim are the deities worshipped universally by other cultures, establishing a global scope for the contrast with Israel's God.
- are idols: The repetition of 'elilim here serves to clarify and reinforce the previous usage. It asserts their true nature: they are not divine beings, but mere empty, powerless artifacts or concepts, products of human imagination or handiwork, rather than true deities. They possess no inherent life or power.
- but: Hebrew: waYHVH (וַיהוה). This strong adversative conjunction marks a decisive and absolute contrast. It signals a complete shift from the false, empty nature of pagan deities to the absolute reality and power of the one true God.
- the Lord: Hebrew: YHWH (יְהוָה). The incommunicable name of the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes His personal, eternal, and sovereign character. This is the One True God, distinct from and infinitely superior to the 'elilim mentioned previously. His identity as the active, creating God is pivotal.
- made: Hebrew: 'asah (עָשָׂה). This verb means "to make," "to do," "to create," "to accomplish." It highlights an active, intentional, and effective creative act. Unlike idols that are made by humans and remain inert, the Lord is the one who performs creative action.
- the heavens: Hebrew: hashamayim (הַשָּׁמָֽיִם). Refers to the sky, the firmament, the cosmos above. The creation of "the heavens" signifies not just a part, but the vast expanse of the cosmos. In ancient thought, the heavens were often associated with divine power and the dwelling places of gods. By asserting YHWH made the heavens, it firmly establishes His supreme, ultimate power, and universal sovereignty, placing Him far above any pagan deity imagined to reside in or control aspects of the sky.
1 Chronicles 16 26 Bonus section
The strong polemical use of the Hebrew word 'elil (translated as "idols" or "worthless things") throughout the Old Testament underscores a fundamental aspect of Israel's faith: the complete distinction between their monotheistic worship of YHWH and the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations. It's not just about inanimate objects; it's a denial of any spiritual power or genuine divinity behind pagan worship. The phrase "made the heavens" goes beyond simply listing a creative act; it refers to the most magnificent and incomprehensible act of creation from an ancient perspective. This grand creation testifies to God's unparalleled nature, which dwarfs any localized, deified natural forces or human-shaped images worshipped by others. The inclusion of this verse in David's psalm emphasizes the theocentric nature of Israel's national life and worship from its very core.
1 Chronicles 16 26 Commentary
First Chronicles 16:26 offers a profound theological statement, central to Israel's understanding of God amidst a polytheistic world. It unequivocally declares the utter worthlessness of all human-fashioned or conceptual "gods" worshipped by nations, labeling them as 'elilim—mere non-entities or futile fabrications. This polemic serves to dismantle the very basis of idolatry, stripping false deities of any claim to divine existence or power. In stark contrast, it immediately affirms Yahweh as the one and only true God by pointing to His supreme act of creation: "the Lord made the heavens." This statement establishes God's unique identity as the sovereign Creator of the entire cosmos, demonstrating His immeasurable power and ultimate authority over all existence. This foundational truth renders any competition from other "gods" nonsensical and reinforces that only YHWH is worthy of universal worship, for He alone is the source and sustainer of all things. It reminds believers that true devotion is directed only to the genuine Creator.