Psalms 135:5 Meaning: Knowing God Is Greater Than Every Rival
For I know that Yahweh is great, that our Lord is above all gods.
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
For I know that Jehovah is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.
For I have known that great is Jehovah, Yea, our Lord is above all gods.
For I know that Jehovah is great, and our Lord is above allgods.
Meaning in one sentence
This verse declares God's supreme greatness over every claimed god. The psalmist speaks from personal knowledge, not just belief.
Context
Psalm 135 opens with a call to praise. The psalmist gathers the servants of God in His house and urges them to sing because God is good and has chosen Israel as His treasured possession. In verse 5, the psalmist speaks for the whole community: 'I know that the Lord is great.' This personal confession grounds the praise that follows. The rest of the psalm demonstrates God's greatness by pointing to His power in creation, clouds, lightning, wind, and His mighty acts in history, from the plagues in Egypt to the conquest of Canaan. The verse sits between God's choice of Israel and the evidence of His power, making it the hinge of the psalm's argument: praise flows from knowing who God is.
Key Words
The word the psalmist uses for 'know' is the Hebrew yada. It means more than knowing facts. It means knowing from experience, the way you know your closest friend or the way Scripture says Adam knew Eve. This is not a distant belief. It is a certainty built on a lifetime of seeing God act. The word for 'great' is gadol, which carries weight and majesty. It describes something that fills the horizon. And 'Lord' here is adon, a word for master or owner. The psalmist calls God 'our Lord', not a distant ruler but the one who has claim on Israel. Together these words shape a confession: we have experienced God's majesty, and we belong to Him. That is why we praise.
How Christians Read This Verse
John Calvin saw this verse as part of a contrast between the living God and the vain show of idols. God has proven His claim to be the only true God. Matthew Henry emphasized that the psalmist asserts God's greatness with assurance: not just observation but belief. Adam Clarke, from a Wesleyan tradition, noted that God is 'unlimited in his power' and above every class of being. And some Baptist commentators like John Gill saw this as pointing to the greatness of Christ as our Lord. Across traditions, Christians read this verse as a confession of God's supreme worth, though they differ on how it connects to Christ or the Trinity. What unites them is the confidence that God alone is worthy of praise.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that 'above all gods' assumes other gods are real but lesser. In fact, the psalm immediately follows with a description of idols as lifeless, they have mouths but cannot speak. The language is rhetorical, borrowed from earlier psalms like Psalm 95, to declare that no power, whether worshipped by nations or imagined by the human heart, can compare to Yahweh. The verse is not comparing gods; it is exalting the One who stands alone.
Living This Out
This week, take a moment to consider the things that feel larger than your trust in God, a worry you carry, a relationship that disappoints, a fear of failure. The psalmist says 'I know' from experience, not from wishing. You can know too by remembering what God has already done in your life. Write down one time He provided, rescued, or guided you. Let that memory become your confession: 'I know that the Lord is great.' Then let that knowledge shape how you face the rest of the week.
Main takeaway: God's greatness stands above every power, and we can know this truth from our own experience of Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God is bigger and stronger than anything. He made the whole world and He is in charge. So we don't need to be afraid because He is the greatest.
For ages 9, 12
The writer of this psalm says 'I know that the Lord is great.' He didn't just believe it in his head; he knew it from what God had done for Israel. This week, think about times God helped you, like when you were scared or needed something. Remembering those times can help you say 'I know God is great' too.
Questions People Ask
What does 'above all gods' mean in Psalm 135:5? Doesn't the Bible say there is only one God?
The phrase is not saying other gods are real. Psalm 135 later describes idols as worthless and lifeless. 'Above all gods' is a way to declare God's supreme greatness over anything people might worship or fear. It echoes other psalms like Psalm 95:3 and 96:4 which use similar language to exalt Yahweh alone.
What is the Hebrew word for 'know' in this verse and why is it important?
The word is yada, which means more than intellectual knowledge. It means knowing by experience, relationship, and personal encounter. The psalmist is not saying 'I believe' but 'I know intimately.' This makes the confession deeply personal and rooted in lived faith.
How do Christians interpret the 'gods' in this verse?
Most Christians understand 'gods' to refer to the idols of surrounding nations or any false object of worship. Some see a reference to spiritual powers or rulers. The common thread is that God alone is worthy of praise. The phrase asserts His absolute supremacy.
Why does the psalmist say 'our Lord' instead of just 'the Lord'?
The word for Lord here is adon, a term for master or owner. Adding 'our' makes it personal. God is not just great in general; He is the Lord of Israel, the God of His people. This ownership is based on His choice of Israel as His treasured possession, as mentioned in verse 4.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study