For renders the same Hebrew conjunction as in the previous verse. Here it introduces the reason why Yahweh deserves more praise and honor than other gods. God’s Word renders it “because,” making this verse a continuation of the previous one.

All the gods of the peoples are idols: The peoples refers to “all other nations” (Good News Translation) in distinction from Israel. The Hebrew term for idols (ʾelilim) is similar in sound to the word for gods (ʾelohim) and means essentially “nothing, nobody.” It is a term of contempt. Idols were made from various materials: wood, stone, or metal. Often they were made of wood and then covered or decorated with metals and precious stones. For the first line of this verse New Jerusalem Bible says “Nothingness, all the gods of the nations,” and New American Bible has “For all the gods of the nations are things of nought.” Parole de Vie translates “The gods of the other peoples are worth nothing.” Good News Translation adds the word “only” to express better the intended meaning, and New Living Translation is similar with “The gods of other nations are merely idols.”

But the LORD made the heavens: The Hebrew term translated heavens may also be rendered “sky” depending on the context. Here and in verse 31 either interpretation is acceptable.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .