Psalm 135:15-18
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The striking truth here isn't just that idols are man-made, but that they are crafted from precious materials like gold and silver, highlighting the absurdity of worshipping something that is ultimately just valuable dust, shaped by the very hands of those who should be worshipping the Creator of all things. This contrast emphasizes that true worth and power are not in what humans can create, but in the infinite God they so often ignore.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This section of Psalm 135 contrasts the living God with the lifeless idols worshipped by other nations. Verses 15 through 18 directly echo Psalm 115, detailing how these idols, made of precious metals, are merely human creations that can neither speak, see, nor hear. The psalm emphasizes that those who make and trust in these idols become as useless as the idols themselves, highlighting the foolishness of idolatry in contrast to trusting in the sovereign Lord.
We often associate gold and silver with great value. But when these precious materials are crafted into idols, their value plummets. Why?
This verse slams the door on the idea that idols have any real power or divinity. They are described as being made of 'silver and gold,' the very things nations might covet or revere. Yet, the crucial detail is that they are 'the work of human hands.'
The Ultimate Limitation
This immediately tells us their origin and their inherent limitation: they are a product of human creativity, skill, and labor, not divine power. They reflect the capabilities of their makers, not the infinite nature of the Creator. Think about it: whatever a human can make, a human can also unmake or destroy. These idols are entirely dependent on human hands for their existence, maintenance, and even their 'worship.'
When people make idols, what do they often try to capture? What does this reveal about their understanding of God?
The fact that idols are crafted by human hands means they are, in essence, a projection of human ideas about the divine, rather than the divine revealing Himself.
A Mirror to Man
Idol makers sculpt, carve, or cast their gods based on what they imagine divinity should look like, or what they desire in a god. They might imbue them with qualities they admire or wish for – strength, beauty, wisdom. But because these qualities are filtered through human understanding and limited by human skill, the resulting idol can never truly represent the infinite God.
Ask a follow-up
It's like looking into a funhouse mirror; the reflection is distorted and incomplete. Instead of revealing God, these idols reveal more about the limitations and desires of the people who made them.
Understand the original words
atsabim · Hebrew Noun
An image or object of worship that is not God; Scripture consistently portrays these as powerless, lifeless, and empty creations of human craft.
peh · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word *peh* refers to the organ of speech, but in a theological context, it often relates to the capacity for communication, testimony, and the expression of praise toward God. In the context of idols, it underscores the lifelessness and inability of false gods to engage with reality.
‘ayin · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew *‘ayin* denotes the organ of sight, serving metaphorically as a window to the soul or understanding. In Scripture, the eyes are often associated with knowledge, discernment, and the ability to perceive God’s glory and activity.
’ozen · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew *’ozen* signifies the organ of hearing. Theologically, hearing is synonymous with obedience and responsiveness; to have ears in the biblical sense is to be capable of receiving and acting upon the word of God.
ruach · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew *ruach* carries various meanings, including wind, breath, and the Spirit of God. Here, it refers to the breath of life—the animating, vital force that distinguishes a living creature created by God from a man-made idol.
batach · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew *batach* involves placing one’s entire confidence, security, and reliance upon someone or something. Trust is a central act of worship when directed toward God, as it acknowledges His sovereignty and faithfulness as the only reliable object of faith.
This passage is nearly identical to Psalm 135:15, directly comparing the idols made by human hands to the living God. It highlights the futility of trusting in something created rather than the Creator.
Jeremiah 10:3-5This prophetic passage paints a vivid picture of idols as crafted objects of wood, silver, and gold, emphasizing their inability to move, speak, or save. It underscores the theme that those who create idols become like them in their powerlessness.
Isaiah 44:9-20This extended passage powerfully deconstructs the process of idol-making and the delusion of worshipping them. It meticulously details how raw materials are transformed into objects of worship, only to reveal their utter lack of divine power or sentience, mirroring the spiritual deadness of their worshippers.
Acts 17:29Paul, speaking to the Athenians, directly confronts the idea that the divine nature could be represented by gold, silver, or stone shaped by human art and imagination. This passage powerfully echoes the psalm's critique of idolatry by pointing to God as the Creator and sustainer of all life.
cambridgePsalms 135:15: "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands."
15–18 . Taken with some alterations from Psalm 115:4-8 . The nonentity of the heathen gods is contrasted with the sovereignty of Jehovah.
pulpitPsalms 135:15: "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands."
Verses 15-18. - The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. A condensed recitation of Psalm 115:4-8 (comp. Jeremiah 10:3-5). In its present place it is a…
The striking truth here isn't just that idols are man-made, but that they are crafted from precious materials like gold and silver, highlighting the absurdity of worshipping something that is ultimately just valuable dust, shaped by the very hands of those who should be worshipping the Creator of all things. This contrast emphasizes that true worth and power are not in what humans can create, but in the infinite God they so often ignore.
This section of Psalm 135 contrasts the living God with the lifeless idols worshipped by other nations. Verses 15 through 18 directly echo Psalm 115, detailing how these idols, made of precious metals, are merely human creations that can neither speak, see, nor hear. The psalm emphasizes that those who make and trust in these idols become as useless as the idols themselves, highlighting the foolishness of idolatry in contrast to trusting in the sovereign Lord.
This section of Psalm 135 contrasts the living God with the lifeless idols worshipped by other nations. Verses 15 through 18 directly echo Psalm 115, detailing how these idols, made of precious metals, are merely human creations that can neither speak, see, nor hear. The psalm emphasizes that those who make and trust in these idols become as useless as the idols themselves, highlighting the foolishness of idolatry in contrast to trusting in the sovereign Lord.
"The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Th…" — The striking truth here isn't just that idols are man-made, but that they are crafted from precious materials like gold and silver, highlighting the absurdity of worshipping something that is ultimat…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
