Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 135:15
The idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
15 18. Taken with some alterations from Psa 115:4-8. The nonentity of the heathen gods is contrasted with the sovereignty of Jehovah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold … – To show more fully the propriety of praising God, and him alone as God, the psalmist instituted a comparison between him and idols, showing that the gods worshipped by the pagan lacked every ground of claim to divine worship and homage. They were, after all that could be done to fashion, to decorate, and to adorn them, nothing but silver and gold, and could have no better claim to worship than silver and gold as such. They had, indeed, mouths, eyes, ears, but they could neither speak, see, hear, nor breathe. The passage here is substantially the same as in Psa 115:4-8; and the one was evidently copied from the other, though in the latter the description is in some respects amplified; but which was the original it is impossible to determine. See the notes at that passage.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. The idols of the heathen] This verse and the following, to the end of the 18th, Ps 135:15-18 are almost word for word the same as verses 4-8 of Psalm cxv., where see the notes. Ps 115:4-8
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of this and the following verses, See Poole “Psa 115:4“, See Poole “Psa 115:5“, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15-18. (Compare Ps115:4-8).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The idols of the Heathen [are] silver and gold,…. This, with what follows, is observed, to show that when God judges his people, and takes vengeance on their enemies, the idols they serve will not be able to protect them, and deliver them out of his hands; and also to prove what is before asserted, that our Jehovah is great above all gods, Ps 135:5; the matter of which they are made is at best gold and silver, which are the dust and metals of the earth, or what the prophet calls thick clay, Hab 2:6; and are the creatures of Jehovah, and at his dispose, who says, the silver and the gold are mine, Hag 2:8; and who is infinitely above them in value and worth; even the knowledge of him, and the words of his mouth, doctrines, and precepts, are better than gold and silver, Pr 3:14;
the work of men’s hands; which they form out of gold and silver into such shapes and figures, and therefore can never have deity in them; and a most stupid thing it is to imagine that the Godhead is like to gold and silver, graven by art and man’s device, Ac 17:29;
[See comments on Ps 115:4].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For the good of His proved church He ever proves Himself to be the Living God, whereas idols and idol-worshippers are vain – throughout following Psa 115:4-8, but with some abridgments. Here only the used as a particle recalls what is said there of the organ of smell ( ) of the idols that smells not, just as the which is here (as in Jer 10:14) denied to the idols recalls the denied to them there. It is to be rendered: also there is not a being of breath, i.e., there is no breath at all, not a trace thereof, in their mouth. It is different in 1Sa 21:9, where (not ) is meant to be equivalent to the Aramaic , num ( an ) est ; is North-Palestinian, and equivalent to the interrogatory (after which the Targum renders ).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| An Invitation to Praise. | |
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.
The design of these verses is,
I. To arm the people of God against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort of gods they were that the heathen worshipped, as we had it before, Ps. cxv. 4, c. 1. They were gods of their own making being so, they could have no power but what their makers gave them, and then what power could their makers receive from them? The images were the work of men’s hands, and the deities that were supposed to inform them were as much the creatures of men’s fancy and imagination. 2. They had the shape of animals, but could not perform the least act, no, not of the animal life. They could neither see, nor hear, nor speak, nor so much as breathe; and therefore to make them with eyes, and ears, and mouths, and nostrils, was such a jest that one would wonder how reasonable creatures could suffer themselves to be so imposed upon as to expect any good from such mock-deities. 3. Their worshippers were therefore as stupid and senseless as they were, both those that made them to be worshipped and those that trusted in them when they were made, v. 18. The worshipping of such gods as were the objects of sense, and senseless, made the worshippers sensual and senseless. Let our worshipping a God that is a Spirit make us spiritual and wise.
II. To stir up the people of God to true devotion in the worship of the true God, v. 19-21. The more deplorable the condition of the Gentile nations that worship idols is the more are we bound to thank God that we know better. Therefore, 1. Let us set ourselves about the acts of devotion, and employ ourselves in them: Bless the Lord, and again and again, bless the Lord. In the parallel place (Ps. cxv. 9-11), by way of inference from the impotency of idols, the duty thus pressed upon us is to trust in the Lord; here to bless him; by putting our trust in God we give glory to him, and those that depend upon God shall not want matter of thanksgiving to him. All persons that knew God are here called to praise him–the house of Israel (the nation in general), the house of Aaron and the house of Levi (the Lord’s ministers that attended in his sanctuary), and all others that feared the Lord, though they were not of the house of Israel. 2. Let God have the glory of all: Blessed be the Lord. The tribute of praise arises out of Zion. All God’s works do praise him, but his saints bless him; and they need not go far to pay their tribute, for he dwells in Jerusalem, in his church, which they are members of, so that he is always nigh unto them to receive their homage. The condescensions of his grace, in dwelling with men upon the earth, call for our grateful and thankful returns, and our repeated Hallelujahs.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
15. The images of the nations, etc. As the whole of this part of the Psalm has been explained elsewhere, it is needless to insist upon it, and repetition might be felt irksome by the reader. I shall only in a few words, therefore, show what is the scope of the Psalmist. In upbraiding the stupidity of the heathen, who thought that they could not have God near them in any other way than by resorting to idol worship, he reminds the Israelites of the signal mercy which they had enjoyed, and would have them abide the more deliberately by the simplicity and purity of God’s worship, and avoid profane superstitions. He declares, that idolaters only draw down heavier judgments upon themselves, the more zealous they are in the service of their idols. And there is no doubt, that, in denouncing the awful judgments which must fall upon the worshippers of false gods, it is his object to deter such as had been brought up under the word of God from following their example. In Psa 115:0 the exhortation given is to trust or hope in the Lord; here, to bless him. The Levites are mentioned in addition to the house of Aaron, there being two orders of priesthood. Every thing else in the two Psalms is the same, except that, in the last verse:, the Psalmist here joins himself, along with the rest of the Lord’s people, in blessing God. He says, out of Zion, for when God promised to hear their prayers from that place, and to communicate from it the rich display of his favor, he thereby gave good ground why they should praise him from it. (169) The reason is stated, that he dwelt in Jerusalem; which is not to be understood in the low and gross sense that he was confined to any such narrow residence; but in the sense, that he was there as to the visible manifestation of his favor, experience showing, that while his majesty is such as to fill heaven and earth, his power and grace were vouchsafed in a particular manner to his own people.
(169) “ Quant et quant aussi il donnoit occasion et matiere de luy chanter louanges.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15, 16) With slight variations from Psa. 115:4-8.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15-18. A repetition, with some verbal alterations, of Psa 115:4-8, which see.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
What a melancholy picture of human depravity and ignorance! If the Reader wishes to see a similar portrait, he may find it, Rom 1:22-25 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 135:15 The idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Ver. 15. The idols of the heathen ] See Psa 115:4-6 , &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 135:15-18
Psa 135:15-18
VII.
THE LIVING GOD INFINITELY ABOVE DEAD IDOLS
“The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not;
Eyes have they, but they see not.
They have ears, but they hear not;
Neither is there any breath in their mouths.
They that make them shall be like unto them;
Yea, every one that trusteth in them.”
Despite the fact of these words being a quotation from Psalms 115, Yates noted that, “They are especially appropriate here in order to set in sharp contrast the omnipotence of the Lord and the uselessness of idols.
The whole ancient world, at the time of this psalm, was worshipping and praising pagan idols. These words demonstrate how infinitely far above such senseless, dead and decaying “gods” is the true “and Eternal God of Israel.” No stronger motivation for his praise could be imagined.
These verses occur also in Psa 115:4-8, above, where we devoted several pages to a discussion of what is written here. See my commentary above under Psa 115:8.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 135:15-18. This paragraph is the same as Psa 115:4-8 and has been fully commented upon at that place.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
idols: Psa 115:4-8, Deu 4:28, Isa 37:19, Isa 40:19, Isa 40:20, Isa 44:9-20, Isa 46:6, Isa 46:7, Jer 10:3-11, Hab 2:18, Hab 2:19, Act 17:29
Reciprocal: Exo 20:4 – General 1Sa 5:5 – neither 1Ki 18:26 – no voice 2Ki 17:29 – made gods 2Ch 32:19 – the work Psa 96:5 – For Isa 36:18 – Hath Isa 41:29 – they are all Jer 10:4 – deck Dan 3:1 – made Dan 5:4 – of gold Dan 5:23 – which Hos 8:6 – the workman Act 19:26 – that they Rom 1:23 – an image Gal 4:8 – ye did Rev 9:20 – and idols
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 135:15-18. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold Here he sets forth the difference between the God of Israel and the idols of the nations, as also between the worshippers of each, all tending to confirm the truth of what was asserted, Psa 135:5, I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Of these verses, see the notes on Psa 115:4-5.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
135:15 The {g} idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
(g) By showing the punishment God appoints for the heathen idolaters, he warns his people to beware of the same offences, seeing that idols have neither power nor life, and that their deliverance came not by idols, but by the mighty power of God, see Psa 115:4-14.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
In contrast to Israel’s sovereign God, the idols of the nations are impotent (cf. Psa 115:4-8). Psa 135:15-18 illustrate Psa 135:5 as Psa 135:8-12 prove Psa 135:4.