Psalms 135:18 · Bible study
Psalms 135:18 Commentary: Idol Makers Become Like Idols
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 135:18 warns that idol-makers and trusters become spiritually dull, blind, and lifeless like the lifeless idols they serve.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Those who make and trust in idols become spiritually dull and lifeless like the idols themselves.
- Key words: יִהְי֣וּ (become/be), בֹּטֵ֣חַ (trusting), future action and faith posture.
- Main debate: Whether this is a literal physical transformation or a spiritual/moral conformity (all consulted sources agree on the latter).
- Theological theme: You become what you worship, the deforming power of misplaced trust.
- Best use: A warning text to accompany teaching on idolatry, spiritual formation, and the uniqueness of the living God.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them.
KJV King James Version 1769
They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Like them are their makers, Every one who is trusting in them.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
They that make them are like unto them, — every one that confideth in them.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And slew strong kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Como ellos son los que los hacen; todos los que en ellos confían.
Tornem-se como eles os que os fazem, e todos os que confiam neles.
Ils leur ressemblent, ceux qui les fabriquent,
Die solche machen, sind gleich also, alle, die auf solche hoffen.
Dat die ze maken, hun gelijk worden, en al wie op hen vertrouwt.
Simili ad essi siano quelli che li fanno, tutti quelli che in essi confidano.
Niech im podobni będą, którzy je robią, i wszyscy, którzy w nich ufają.
и убил царей сильных, ибо вовек милость Его;
造他的 要 和他一樣，凡 靠 他的也要如此。
Those who make them are like them; and so is everyone who puts his hope in them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 135:18
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse warns of a spiritual conformity: those who make and trust in idols become as spiritually inert as the idols themselves. Barnes notes that idolaters 'become spiritually stupid and perish with their idols.' Gill adds that they are 'blind, stupid, senseless,' dead in trespasses. Matthew Henry observes that worshippers become 'sensual and senseless,' while Keil and Delitzsch state that 'idols and idol-worshippers are vain.' The verb יִהְי֣וּ ('they will be') is a future indicative, making this a settled consequence rather than a possibility. No commentator in the consulted sources reads this as a literal physical transformation; the shared understanding is that devotion to lifeless things produces spiritual lifelessness.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse teaches that people become like the objects of their devotion—whether that devotion is directed at physical statues, abstract ambitions, or any trust that is not the living God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the transformation | All traditions agree it describes a spiritual and moral conformity, not a physical metamorphosis. | Some see it as a divine judgment (God actively gives idolaters over to dullness), while others view it as the natural psychological consequence of devotion. |
| Scope of the warning | The warning is universally applicable to anyone who trusts in any object or person other than the living God. | Traditions differ on whether this applies only to explicit worship of physical idols or extends to more abstract forms of trust (e.g., self-righteousness, career, relationships). |
| Relation to Psalm 115:8 | Psalm 135:18 is a direct echo of Psalm 115:8, likely drawing on it as a source. | Scholars disagree about which psalm is earlier and whether the borrowing is liturgical, redactional, or authorial. |
| Use of the verse in worship | Both psalms contrast the lifelessness of idols with the living God, calling God’s people to praise. | Some Christian traditions apply this verse primarily to refute the use of images in worship (iconoclasm), while others use it as a moral warning about any misplaced trust. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 135 is a hymn of praise composed for temple worship, opening with an invitation to the servants of the Lord standing in His house and courts (vv1-2). It recounts God’s sovereign power in nature and history, from the exodus plagues (v8) to the conquest of Canaan (vv10-12). Set against this record of divine action, the taunt of idols in vv15-18 is a direct contrast.
Nations around Israel crafted images from silver and gold, assigning to them the functions of living beings. Psalmists and prophets (cf. Ps 115:4-8; Isa 44:9-20; Jer 10:3-5) repeatedly expose the irony: these gods have mouths, eyes, ears, and nostrils but cannot use them. The phrase 'the work of men's hands' (v15) underscores that these objects depend on their makers, the opposite of Yahweh, who accomplishes what He pleases (v6).
Verse 18 then states the sobering result: the makers become like the lifeless thing they craft. In the ancient world this warning was necessary because Israel was constantly tempted to adopt the worship practices of their neighbors. The psalm’s placement reinforces that genuine praise arises from trust in the Lord alone. Calvin notes that the contrast is drawn 'to lead His people the more cheerfully to praise Him and submit to His government.'
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 135:18. The Hebrew text is stable, and the verse is nearly identical to Psalm 115:8. The primary difference between the two is the presence of the word אף (nose/breath) in Psalm 135:17, which recalls the idol’s lack of breath, a detail not included in Psalm 115:6. The Masoretic Text is consistent across manuscripts.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, Psalm 135 is part of the Hallel (Egyptian Hallel in some practices, though verses 15-18 are also echoed in Psalm 115). Early Christian apologists used this passage to argue against pagan worship, highlighting the absurdity of bowing to crafted objects. During the Reformation, Calvin and others cited it to critique the veneration of images and relics within the Church. In modern preaching, the verse is often applied to secular idolatries, consumerism, nationalism, or self-reliance, as a principle that we become shaped by whatever we trust most deeply. The verse continues to be read as a living warning that worship shapes character, whether for life or for death.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Idols are lifeless, They have mouths, eyes, ears, and noses but cannot speak, see, hear, or breathe (vv15-17).
- Worshippers become lifeless, Those who make and trust in idols grow spiritually dull and unresponsive, mirroring the objects of their devotion (v18).
- The living God calls us to life, The surrounding call to praise (vv19-21) invites us to trust the One who is alive and active, reversing the effect of idolatry.
Five-point outline
- The True God vs. False Gods, The psalm’s opening sets up Yahweh as worthy of praise.
- The Nature of Idols, They are material, man-made, and powerless.
- The Deforming Power of Idolatry, We become what we worship; trust in dead things deadens us.
- The Judgment of Conformity, This is not a random outcome but a divine principle (cf. Rom 1:21-25).
- The Call to Praise, True worship of the living God restores spiritual vitality.
Illustration hooks
- Social media obsession: Spending hours each day scrolling through curated images can make a person distracted, shallow, and anxious, mirroring the endless, lifeless scroll.
- The workaholic: Someone who pours all their energy into career success may become calculating and emotionally cold, like the bottom line they serve.
- The perfectionist: Devotion to an impossible standard of flawlessness can leave a person frozen, unable to act or receive grace, a living statue.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this verse mean that people who trust in material things literally turn into statues?
- How do I know if I’m trusting in an idol without even realizing it?
- Is it possible to become a Christian and still be spiritually dull from past idolatry?
Leading a Discussion
This verse brings a stark warning: we become like what we worship. If we trust in the living God, we are transformed into His image (2 Cor 3:18). If we trust in lifeless substitutes, we grow lifeless ourselves. As you read the passage, notice the sharp contrast between the God who acts (vv5-14) and the idols that do nothing (vv15-17). Verse 18 is the punch line, our trust shapes who we become.
Discussion questions
- Read Psalm 135:15-18. What specific abilities do the idols lack? (vv16-17)
- What does verse 18 say about those who make and trust in these idols? Why does the psalmist include 'everyone who trusts' as well as 'those who make'?
- Look at the verses before v15: how does the description of God (vv5-14) highlight the absurdity of trusting idols?
- In what ways have you seen people become like the things they pursue, money, approval, status?
- What are some 'idols' in your own life that can quietly replace wholehearted trust in God?
- How does the call to praise in vv19-21 serve as the intended response to the warning of v18?
- What practical steps could you take this week to reorient your trust toward the living God?
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)
| Psalms 97:7 | Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods! |
| Psalms 115:8 | Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them. |
| Isaiah 44:18 | They don’t know, neither do they consider, for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see, and their hearts, that they can’t understand. |
| Isaiah 44:20 | He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” |
| Jeremiah 10:8 | But they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood. |
| II Corinthians 4:4 | in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. |
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
8 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 Notes draw a stark parallel: those who craft idols and those who trust in them become spiritually dead, just like the lifeless objects they worship. Their own spiritual vitality drains away, leaving them as empty and powerless as what they revere.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws a sharp parallel: those who make or trust idols become as blind, deaf, and lifeless as the idols themselves. He extends this to spiritual idolatry, arguing that self-righteous people who trust their own goodness become equally ignorant of Christ, grace, and their own need.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that idolaters do not merely resemble their lifeless idols but become spiritually dull and share their fate. Those who worship powerless images grow spiritually senseless and ultimately perish along with the idols they trusted.
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.