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Psalms 135

Psalms 135

The big picture

Psalms 135 opens in verse 1 with “Praise ye the LORD . Praise ye the name of the LORD ; praise him, O ye servants of the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:”, and closes in verse 21 with “Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, house, Praise, bless, Israel. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Psalms · King James Version · 21

Psalms 135:1-7

1–7: Praise ye the LORD . Praise ye the name of the LORD ; praise him, O ye…

Psalms 135:1–7 opens with “Praise ye the LORD . Praise ye the name of the LORD ; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD .” and reaches “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, Praise, earth.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Praise ye the LORD . Praise ye the name of the LORD ; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.” It lands on “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 6 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, Praise, earth, house, name, ascend tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Praise, God, Israel, Jacob, Lord, Whatsoever. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, Praise, earth, house, name, ascend

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 135:1

    “Praise ye the LORD . Praise ye the name of the LORD ; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD .” Naming Praise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  2. Psalms 135:2

    “Ye that stand in the house of the LORD , in the courts of the house of our God,” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

  3. Psalms 135:3

    “Praise the LORD ; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.” Naming Praise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  4. Psalms 135:4

    “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  5. Psalms 135:5

    “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  6. Psalms 135:6

    “Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” Naming Whatsoever keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  7. Psalms 135:7

    “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind…” The line’s distinctive content terms include ascend, bringeth, causeth. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

Psalms 135:1-7

King James Version

1Praise ye the LORD . Praise ye the name of the LORD ; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD .

2Ye that stand in the house of the LORD , in the courts of the house of our God,

3Praise the LORD ; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

4For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

5For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

6Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

7He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Psalms 135:8-14

8–14: Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

Psalms 135:8–14 opens with “Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.” and reaches “For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, Egypt, heritage.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.” By verse 11, the text has turned to “Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:” It lands on “For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, Egypt, heritage, king, people, servants tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Egypt, Amorites, Bashan, Canaan, Israel, Pharaoh. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 11: “Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, Egypt, heritage, king, people, servants

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 135:8

    “Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  2. Psalms 135:9

    “Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.” Naming Egypt and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  3. Psalms 135:10

    “Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;” The line’s distinctive content terms include kings, mighty, nations. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

  4. Psalms 135:11

    “Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:” Naming Amorites and Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. Psalms 135:12

    “And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  6. Psalms 135:13

    “Thy name, O LORD , endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD , throughout all generations.” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  7. Psalms 135:14

    “For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

Psalms 135:8-14

King James Version

8Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

9Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

10Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

11Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:

12And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

13Thy name, O LORD , endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD , throughout all generations.

14For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

Psalms 135:15-21

15–21: The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

Psalms 135:15–21 opens with “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.” and reaches “Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, bless, house.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.” By verse 18, the text has turned to “They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.” It lands on “Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 stated contrasts, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, bless, house, mouths, Aaron, Blessed tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Bless, Aaron, Blessed, Israel, Jerusalem, Levi. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 18: “They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, bless, house, mouths, Aaron, Blessed

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 135:15

    “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gold, hands, heathen. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

  2. Psalms 135:16

    “They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;” The line’s distinctive content terms include eyes, mouths. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

  3. Psalms 135:17

    “They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.” The line’s distinctive content terms include breath, ears, hear. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

  4. Psalms 135:18

    “They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  5. Psalms 135:19

    “Bless the LORD , O house of Israel: bless the LORD , O house of Aaron:” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

  6. Psalms 135:20

    “Bless the LORD , O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD , bless the LORD .” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

  7. Psalms 135:21

    “Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .” Naming Blessed and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Psalms 135:15-21

King James Version

15The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

16They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

17They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

18They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

19Bless the LORD , O house of Israel: bless the LORD , O house of Aaron:

20Bless the LORD , O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD , bless the LORD .

21Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
  2. Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
  3. Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 135?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of Psalms 135 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 135:1–21 completes a passage that was not covered by the original study-unit map. Its own wording and immediate context supply the focus.?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?