Psalms 135:18 (KJV)

What does Psalms 135:18 mean?

Psalms 135:18 says that those who make idols, and anyone who trusts in them, become like the idols themselves—lifeless and powerless. The verse warns that trusting in man-made objects for help or security leads to emptiness, just as the idols are empty.

In this psalm, a temple singer is addressing the people of Israel, contrasting the living God with the lifeless idols of other nations. The verse comes after a description of how idols are made by human hands and cannot speak, see, or hear. The warning is that people who rely on these idols lose the vitality and awareness that come from trusting the true God.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 135:18

• make (עָשָׂה, ʿasah): This word means "to make" or "to do," and here it refers to those who physically create idols. The verse points out that the makers of idols are affected by their own creations, becoming as unresponsive as the objects they craft.
• trusteth (בָּטַח, batach): This word means "to trust" or "to put confidence in." The verse uses it to show that not only the makers, but also those who put their hope in idols, share in their emptiness and lack of true power.

Why Psalms 135:18 matters

• Psalms 135:18 highlights the danger of idolatry by showing that it is not just about false worship, but about becoming spiritually dull and unresponsive.
• The verse connects to the larger theme of the psalm, which is the contrast between the living God and the powerless idols of the nations.
• By saying that people become like what they worship, the verse gives a deeper warning: what we trust in shapes who we become.