Jacob appears alongside divine sovereignty and idol condemnation in verse 4, uniquely positioning Israel's patriarch within a cosmic battle between Yahweh's absolute power and the impotence of foreign gods.
Psalms 135
Praise for God's Goodness and Might
1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD’s name! Praise him, you servants of the LORD,
2you who stand in the LORD’s house, in the courts of our God’s house.
3Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.
4For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession.
5For I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is above all gods.
6Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
7He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings with the rain. He brings the wind out of his treasuries.
8He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal.
9He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants.
10He struck many nations, and killed mighty kings—
11Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan—
12and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people.
13Your name, LORD, endures forever; your renown, LORD, throughout all generations.
14For the LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants.
15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
16They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see.
17They have ears, but they can’t hear, neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them.
19House of Israel, praise the LORD! House of Aaron, praise the LORD!
20House of Levi, praise the LORD! You who fear the LORD, praise the LORD!
21Blessed be the LORD from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
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Theme
Psalm 135 is a liturgical hymn calling Israel's priests and people to praise the LORD for His goodness, sovereignty, and mighty acts in history. The psalmist contrasts the living God who controls nature and delivered Israel from Egypt with lifeless idols made by human hands. The psalm concludes with a comprehensive call for all houses of Israel—priests, Levites, and worshipers—to praise the LORD who dwells in Jerusalem.
Context
This psalm shares themes and language with Psalm 134's temple worship setting and anticipates the extended praise sequence that continues through the final hallel psalms.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Call to Praise The psalmist summons God's servants to praise the LORD for His goodness and His choice of Israel as His special possession.
- 5-7 God's Sovereignty Over Creation Declares the LORD's supremacy over all gods and His absolute control over natural phenomena like clouds, lightning, rain, and wind.
- 8-12 God's Mighty Acts in History Recounts the LORD's deliverance of Israel from Egypt and conquest of Canaan, giving the land as Israel's inheritance.
- 13-14 God's Eternal Name and Justice Affirms that the LORD's name endures forever and that He will judge His people with compassion.
- 15-18 Contrast with Lifeless Idols Mocks the powerless idols of the nations, warning that idol-makers become like their lifeless creations.
- 19-21 Final Call to Praise Summons all houses of Israel—priests, Levites, and worshipers—to praise the LORD who dwells in Zion.
Praise for God's Goodness and Might
135:1–135:21 poetry song triumphant
A comprehensive praise psalm celebrating God's greatness, His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, His sovereignty over creation, and the futility of idols.
person_contrast
Jacob appears alongside divine sovereignty and idol condemnation in verse 4, uniquely positioning Israel's patriarch within a cosmic battle between Yahweh's absolute power and the impotence of foreign gods.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Psalms 135:3 1 reference
Psalms 135:7 2 references
Psalms 135:9 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 7:3 Lexical
I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
Nehemiah 9:10 Lexical
and showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you…
Deuteronomy 34:11 Lexical
in all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants…
Deuteronomy 6:22 Lexical
and the LORD showed great and awesome signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes;
Deuteronomy 11:3 Lexical
his signs, and his works, which he did in the middle of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and to all his land;
Psalms 135:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 32:33 Lexical
Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Deuteronomy 1:4 Lexical
after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtarot…
1 Kings 4:19 Lexical
Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he…
Joshua 9:10 Lexical
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king…
Nehemiah 9:22 Lexical
Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land…
Psalms 135:13 1 reference
Psalms 135:15 3 references
Lexicals 3
Psalms 115:4 Lexical
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Hosea 13:2 Lexical
Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own un…
Hosea 8:4 Lexical
They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they…
Psalms 135:21 4 references
Lexicals 4
Psalms 146:10 Lexical
The LORD will reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 115:18 Lexical
but we will bless the LORD, from this time forward and forever more. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 104:35 Lexical
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 106:48 Lexical
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exodus
c. 1446 BCIsrael's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery under Moses' leadership, including the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing. This foundational event established Israel as God's chosen nation.
The psalm praises God's greatness by recounting His deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
Praise for God's Goodness and Might