This verse urges us to reject trust in hollow idols and to devote our worship to the living God.
They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths. (v.17) These words form a vivid portrayal of lifeless idols, which are fashioned by human hands but utterly devoid of any power to perceive or act. Psalm 135 calls believers to praise the living God rather than trust in inert images. In the ancient Near East, such idol worship was widespread. Yet, as the Old Testament repeatedly emphasizes, these man-made objects can neither speak nor provide assistance; they are, as Deuteronomy 4:28 notes, “the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.”Even though their outward features mimic living creatures, they cannot truly engage with or bless their worshipers.
This verse thus underscores the stark contrast between the God of Israel—who breathes life into His creation and speaks words of deliverance—and the idols of wood, metal, or stone that remain powerless. In Hosea 8:6, God declares that an idol is “not God” because “a craftsman made it,”showing just how empty an idol’s promises truly are. In Psalm 135, the psalmist directs the people’s attention away from dead works of humanity and toward the one true God, extolling His active involvement in their deliverance and provision.
It reminds believers that the Lord alone hears prayer, rescues from distress, and guides with wisdom. Unlike idols, He is intimately aware of our cries and well able to respond. Such a message resounds through the entire Bible, culminating in the good news that Jesus is the living embodiment of God’s love and power (John 1:14).
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Psalms 135:17 meaning
They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths. (v.17) These words form a vivid portrayal of lifeless idols, which are fashioned by human hands but utterly devoid of any power to perceive or act. Psalm 135 calls believers to praise the living God rather than trust in inert images. In the ancient Near East, such idol worship was widespread. Yet, as the Old Testament repeatedly emphasizes, these man-made objects can neither speak nor provide assistance; they are, as Deuteronomy 4:28 notes, “the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.”Even though their outward features mimic living creatures, they cannot truly engage with or bless their worshipers.
This verse thus underscores the stark contrast between the God of Israel—who breathes life into His creation and speaks words of deliverance—and the idols of wood, metal, or stone that remain powerless. In Hosea 8:6, God declares that an idol is “not God” because “a craftsman made it,”showing just how empty an idol’s promises truly are. In Psalm 135, the psalmist directs the people’s attention away from dead works of humanity and toward the one true God, extolling His active involvement in their deliverance and provision.
It reminds believers that the Lord alone hears prayer, rescues from distress, and guides with wisdom. Unlike idols, He is intimately aware of our cries and well able to respond. Such a message resounds through the entire Bible, culminating in the good news that Jesus is the living embodiment of God’s love and power (John 1:14).