Psalms135
King James Version · Public Domain
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.
2 Ye that stand 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 praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
12 And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
13 Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.
14 For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:
20 Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.
21 Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye 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