Psalms135
New International Version
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the Lord,
2 you who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession.
5 I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn of people and animals.
9 He sent his signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan—
12 and he gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to his people Israel.
13 Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
19 All you Israelites, praise the Lord; house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
20 house of Levi, praise the Lord; you who fear him, praise the Lord.
21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.
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Psalms 135Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 135. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God to be praised for his mercy. (1–4). For his power and judgments. (5–14). The vanity of idols. (15–21).
vv1-4
The subject-matter of praise, is the blessings of grace flowing from the everlasting love of God. The name of God as a covenant God and Father in Christ, blessing us with all spiritual blessings in him, is to be loved and praised. The Lord chose a people to himself, that they might be unto him for a name and a praise. If they do not praise him for this distinguishing favour, they are the most unworthy and ungrateful of all people.
vv5-14
God is, and will be always, the same to his church, a gracious, faithful, wonder-working God. And his church is, and will be, the same to him, a thankful, praising people: thus his name endures for ever. He will return in ways of mercy to them, and will delight to do them good.
vv15-21
These verses arm believers against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort of gods the heathen worshipped. And the more deplorable the condition of the Gentile nations that worship idols, the more are we to be thankful that we know better. Let us pity, and pray for, and seek to benefit benighted heathens and deluded sinners. Let us endeavour to glorify his name, and recommend his truth, not only with our lips, but by holy lives, copying the example of Christ's goodness and truth.
Key Words
הָלַל: to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
עֶבֶד: a servant
עָמַד: to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
חָצֵר: a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
זָמַר: play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music
נָעִים: delightful (objective or subjective, literal or figurative)
Cross References
Psalms 135Directly parallel sequence describing the vanity of idols and their helpless makers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Source of Israel's designation as God's peculiar treasure (segullah).
Supported by John Calvin, Matthew Poole
Exact quotation: 'the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical theology of divine sovereignty: 'our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he pleased.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
The foundational covenant statement: 'This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel exhortation calling on Israel, Aaron, and those who fear God (Levites/trust).
Supported by JFB
Direct structural parallel summoning 'servants of the Lord' who 'stand in the house' to praise.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Verbatim parallel describing vapors ascending, rain with lightnings, and wind brought from treasuries.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical account of God smiting the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast.
Supported by JFB
Parallel liturgical litany celebrating the defeat of these same kings and giving their land.
Supported by JFB
The narrative of the conquest over Sihon king of the Amorites and Og of Bashan.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jethro's confession: 'Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical warning that idol-makers and idol-trusters become spiritually dead and senseless like them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Symmetrical blessing of God 'out of Zion' concluding the song of praise.
Supported by JFB