Psalms 135:16 · Bible study
Psalms 135:16 Commentary: Satire of Idols
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Psalms 135:16 exposes idols as lifeless, mouths that cannot speak, eyes that cannot see.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A satirical exposure of idols’ utter impotence: they have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see.
- Key words: mouth (peh), speak (dābhar), eyes (‛ayin), see (rā‛āh), each denotes an organ, then a verb showing its lack of function.
- Main debate: Minor: whether this passage is original or borrowed from Psalm 115; all agree on the theological message.
- Theological theme: The living God vs. dead idols; the danger of worship becoming empty ritual; exclusive praise due to Yahweh.
- Best use: Teaching on the uniqueness of God, the folly of idolatry, and the call to whole‑hearted praise.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
WEB World English Bible 2000
They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see.
KJV King James Version 1769
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
A mouth they have, and they speak not, Eyes they have, and they see not,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
They have a mouth, and they speak not; eyes have they, and they see not;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Tienen boca, y no hablan; tienen ojos, y no ven;
Têm boca, mas não falam; têm olhos, mas não veem.
Elles ont une bouche et ne parlent point,
Sie haben Mäuler, und reden nicht; sie haben Augen, und sehen nicht;
Zij hebben een mond, maar spreken niet; zij hebben ogen, maar zien niet;
Hanno bocca e non parlano; hanno occhi e non vedono;
Usta mają, a nie mówią, oczy mają, a nie widzą;
провел народ Свой чрез пустыню, ибо вовек милость Его;
有 口 卻不能 言，有 眼 卻不能 看，
They have mouths, but no voice, they have eyes, but they do not see;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 135:16
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators unanimously agree that this verse is a biting satire exposing the utter powerlessness of idols. Barnes notes that the description shows idols “lacked every ground of claim to divine worship,” being merely silver and gold. Matthew Henry adds that the passage arms God’s people against idolatry by demonstrating that these gods “could not perform the least act” of life. Calvin frames the contrast as leading God’s people to “the more cheerfully to praise him, and submit to his government.” Gill and Keil & Delitzsch both observe the close parallel with Psalm 115:4, 8, though they differ on which psalm is original. The central point is agreed: the gods of the nations are senseless and inert, while Yahweh, the living God, speaks, sees, hears, and acts for His people.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Idols are utterly powerless and lifeless; only Yahweh is worthy of worship and praise.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship to Psalm 115 | Both psalms contain nearly identical descriptions of idols; the message is the same, idols are lifeless and powerless. | Calvin and Gill note the close parallel but offer no conclusion on priority. Keil & Delitzsch lean toward dependence, while Barnes states it is impossible to determine which was original. |
| The nature of the idols | Idols are material objects, “work of men’s hands,” incapable of any sensory or communicative action. | Some commentators (Matthew Henry) stress the absurdity of worshiping such objects; others (Calvin) focus more on the contrast with God’s self‑revelation as a motive for praise. |
| Application to the worshipper | Verse 18 warns that idol‑makers and idol‑trusters become spiritually dead like their idols. | Gill and Barnes emphasize the judgment of becoming like what you trust; Matthew Henry adds a pastoral note that worship of a spiritual God “makes us spiritual and wise.” |
Historical & Cultural Context
The psalmist wrote this hymn for the sanctuary liturgy (Psalm 135:1, 2 calls “servants of the Lord” who stand in His courts). In the ancient Near East, temple statues of deities were common; they were understood as “houses” for the god’s presence. Pilgrims would bring petitions, believing the image could hear and respond. The psalm turns this assumption on its head with a devastating mockery. These idols have all the right parts, mouths, eyes, ears, but they function like mannequins. The phrase “work of men’s hands” (v. 15) cuts to the core: the supposed gods are artifacts, products of human skill and imagination. They depend on their makers; they cannot help them.
The surrounding context reinforces the point. Verses 8, 12 recount Yahweh’s mighty deeds in Egypt and Canaan, acts of speech, sight, and power. He spoke through Moses, saw Israel’s affliction, and struck down kings. The idols, by contrast, are completely silent and blind. As Poole’s annotations note, even pagan philosophers like Cicero recognised that the heavens testify to a divine mind; yet the psalmist goes further, showing that to trust in a crafted image is to put hope in something less than human. This theme runs through the prophets (Isaiah 44:9, 20), becoming a standard apologetic against idolatry in both Jewish and Christian traditions.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 135:16. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the verse appears in the same form in the parallel passage (Psalm 115:5).
Reception History
Early Christian apologists such as Justin Martyr and Athenagoras used this passage (along with Psalm 115) to argue that pagan idols were powerless and that only the Creator deserved worship. The Reformers, particularly Calvin and the Geneva Bible, cited it to condemn the use of images in worship. In Jewish tradition, Psalm 135 is part of the Hallel (praise) collection, sung at festivals; verses 15, 18 serve as a warning against the surrounding nations’ practices. The satire has been quoted in hymns that contrast the “dumb idols” with the living God, reinforcing the central confession of Israel: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The false gods are inert. Mouths without speech, eyes without sight, these idols can neither answer prayers nor see needs. They are “silver and gold,” valuable but utterly passive.
- The true God speaks and sees. By contrast, Yahweh “has compassion on his servants” (v.14), hears their cries, and acts in history. He is the living God, not a statue.
- The worshipper becomes like what he worships. Verse 18 warns that those who trust in such idols grow spiritually deaf, blind, and mute. Exclusive praise of Yahweh preserves life and joy.
Five-point outline
- Idols: lifeless objects with no capacity to help.
- Yahweh: active, speaking, seeing, saving.
- Historical proof: God delivered Israel from Egypt and gave them the land.
- The danger of imitation: trusting in dead gods leaves you dead inside.
- The call to praise: all Israel, priests, Levites, and all who fear the Lord are summoned to bless Him alone.
Illustration hooks
- Defective technology: A brand‑new smartphone with a cracked screen and dead battery. It looks functional, but it cannot call, take photos, or connect you to anyone. Idols are like that, they have the form of help but none of the function.
- A mannequin in a store: It wears clothes and has a human shape, but it’s just plastic. No warmth, no response, no life. Worshipping such a thing is like expecting a mannequin to buy your groceries.
- The echo chamber: People who only talk to themselves hear only their own voice. Idols cannot answer, they are mirrors of human desire, not sources of divine wisdom.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible spend so much time mocking idols? Isn’t that a bit harsh?
- I don’t bow to statues, so what does idolatry look like in my life?
- How can I tell if I am becoming spiritually numb like the idols I trust?
Leading a Discussion
This short verse is a window into the Bible’s core claim: only Yahweh is worthy of worship because He alone is alive and active. The psalmist uses humour and sarcasm to make the point unforgettable. As you read the passage, think about what “idols” might have a mouth but never speak to you, possessions, reputations, routines, and what it means to trust a God who really does speak and see.
Discussion questions
- What physical features do the idols have in this verse? Why does the psalmist mention each one?
- How does reading verse 16 make you feel about the gods of other nations? Why might the psalmist use such sharp satire?
- Look at verses 8, 12. How do the actions of Yahweh contrast with the silence and blindness of the idols?
- What modern “idols” promise to hear and answer but cannot deliver? Think about money, popularity, comfort, or even technology.
- Verse 18 says those who make idols become like them. In what ways can people grow spiritually deaf, blind, or speechless when they trust the wrong things?
- How does the call to “praise Yahweh” (vv. 19, 21) become a practical way to guard against idolatry?
- Share one concrete way this week you can remember that God sees and hears you, even when other things seem more immediate.
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 6:10 | Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.” |
| Matthew 13:14 | In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive; |
| Matthew 13:16 | “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that the psalmist compares God with idols to show why only God deserves praise. Idols, however skillfully made and decorated, remain mere silver and gold, unable to speak, see, or hear, and therefore have no real claim to worship.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that the call to praise God here is not limited to the Levites but extends to the whole congregation. He finds the reasons given—God's goodness and his choice of Jacob—apply equally to all believers, not only to those who serve in the temple.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible draws a sharp contrast between the living God, who never changes and never abandons His people, and the helpless idols of the nations. Those who trust in such powerless things become like them: empty and unable to save.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the emptiness of idols: they have the physical parts of living beings yet none of their functions. A mouth that cannot speak and eyes that cannot see expose the foolishness of trusting in objects that are utterly powerless.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that idols are utterly unresponsive to the prayers of their worshipers. They possess mouths but cannot answer, and eyes but cannot see, making them powerless to grant requests or acknowledge devotion.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats this psalm as a deliberate mosaic of earlier Scripture, noting it is almost entirely assembled from passages taken from other psalms and allusions to the law and prophets. He sees it as a late composition that weaves together these borrowed pieces into a unified call to praise the Lord for his works in nature and history.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry contrasts the lifeless idols of the heathen with the living God of Israel. His distinctive point is that worshipping senseless, man-made gods makes the worshippers just as senseless, while worshiping the God who is Spirit should make His people spiritual and wise.