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Give Praise, O Servants of the LORD
Psalm 135 is a song of praise that calls God’s servants and then wider groups of people to bless Yahweh. It gives reasons for praise by naming his goodness, his power, his acts, and the emptiness of idols.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, the speaker addresses people who stand in Yahweh’s house and calls them to praise. The song moves from invitation, to reasons for praise, to remembered acts in Egypt and Canaan, to a contrast with idols, and ends with another shared call to bless Yahweh.
Psalms 135:1–21Main takeaway
Psalm 135 teaches that Yahweh alone is to be praised because he is good, great, active, enduring, and unlike powerless idols.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A call to praise in God’s houseThe psalm opens with repeated praise. The people addressed are “servants of Yahweh” who stand in his house and courts.
Explanation
The psalm opens with repeated praise. The people addressed are “servants of Yahweh” who stand in his house and courts. Praise is not vague here. It is directed to Yahweh’s name, and it includes singing because Yahweh is good and praising his name is pleasant.
02Reasons for praise: chosen people and great powerThe song gives reasons. Yah chose Jacob, Israel, as his own possession. The speaker says Yahweh is great and above all gods.
Explanation
The song gives reasons. Yah chose Jacob, Israel, as his own possession. The speaker says Yahweh is great and above all gods. Yahweh does whatever pleases him in heaven, earth, seas, and deeps. Even clouds, lightning, rain, and wind are described as under his rule.
03Remembered acts for IsraelThe psalm then names acts connected with Israel’s history. It says Yahweh struck the firstborn of Egypt and sent signs and wonders on Pharaoh and his servants.
Explanation
The psalm then names acts connected with Israel’s history. It says Yahweh struck the firstborn of Egypt and sent signs and wonders on Pharaoh and his servants. It also says he struck nations, killed kings including Sihon and Og, and gave their land to Israel as a heritage.
04Yahweh endures, idols do not liveYahweh’s name and renown endure through all generations, and the psalm says he will judge his people and have compassion on his servants.
Explanation
Yahweh’s name and renown endure through all generations, and the psalm says he will judge his people and have compassion on his servants. In contrast, idols are made by human hands. They have mouths, eyes, and ears, but they cannot speak, see, or hear, and they have no breath.
05A final call for everyone who fears YahwehThe psalm says those who make idols and trust them will be like them. Then it calls several groups to praise Yahweh: the house of Israel, Aaron, Levi, and all who fear Yahweh.
Explanation
The psalm says those who make idols and trust them will be like them. Then it calls several groups to praise Yahweh: the house of Israel, Aaron, Levi, and all who fear Yahweh. The ending blesses Yahweh from Zion and names Jerusalem as his dwelling place.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons for praise are given before the psalm mentions Egypt and the nations?
Look for words about Yahweh’s goodness, his choosing of Israel, his greatness, and his rule over creation.
02How does the psalm contrast Yahweh with idols?
Compare what Yahweh does in the world with what idols cannot do even though they have mouths, eyes, and ears.
03Who is called to praise Yahweh at the end of the psalm?
List each group named in the closing verses and notice how the call widens beyond one family line.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 135:1–21
1Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh’s name! Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,
2you who stand in Yahweh’s house, in the courts of our God’s house.
3Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.
4For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession.
5For I know that Yahweh is great, that our Lord is above all gods.
6Whatever Yahweh 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, Yahweh, endures forever; your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations.
14For Yahweh 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 Yahweh! House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!
20House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!
21Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise Yah!