God’s Word Translation
Psalms 135:17
17They have ears, but they cannot hear. They cannot breathe.
Psalms 135:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
- New International Version (NIV)They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths.
- English Standard Version (ESV)they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Context of Psalms 135:17
15The idols of the nations are made of silver and gold. They were made by human hands. 16They have mouths, but they cannot speak. They have eyes, but they cannot see. They have ears, but they cannot hear. They cannot breathe. 18Those who make idols end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them. 19Descendants of Israel, praise the Lord. Descendants of Aaron, praise the Lord.
Read all of Psalms 135Psalms 135:17 word by word
אָזְנַ֣יִם לָ֭הֶם וְלֹ֣א יַאֲזִ֑ינוּ אַ֝֗ף אֵין־יֶשׁ־ר֥וּחַ בְּפִיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Psalms 135:17
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-18Verses 15-18 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 These verses arm believers against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort of gods the heathen worshipped. And the more deplorable the condition of the Gentile nations that worship idols, the more are we to be thankful that we know better. Let us pity, and pray for, and seek to benefit benighted heathens and deluded sinners. Let us endeavour to glorify his name, and recommend his truth, not only with our lips, but by holy lives…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-18Idols lead people to think wrongly because they are only things humans make. They cannot speak, see, hear, or breathe (Isaiah 41:22–24; 44:9, 18; Romans 1:21–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1815-18. (Compare Psa 115:4-8).Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 17neither is there any breath in their mouth There is not even any breath in their mouth like an animal. Now, since they have no breath [in the mouth], he need not explain [that they do not have] the breath of the nose. This אף is vowelized with a “pattah,” whereas (115:6): “they have a nose (אף) but they do not smell,” is vowelized with a “kamatz.” (This is not found in all editions.)Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 135:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 135
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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