They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.
The people who make them will become like them, along with everyone who trusts in them.
Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.
They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Psalms 135:18
They that make them are like unto them: [so is] every one that trusteth in them. -
Habakkuk 2:18
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? -
Habakkuk 2:19
Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it. -
Jeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock [is] a doctrine of vanities. -
Jonah 2:8
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. -
Isaiah 44:9
¶ They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. -
Isaiah 44:20
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?
Context
Psalm 115 is a powerful psalm of praise to the one true God, contrasting His sovereignty and power with the impotence and vanity of pagan idols. The verses immediately preceding Psalm 115:8, specifically Psalms 115:4-7, describe in stark detail the lifelessness of these man-made objects: "Their idols 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: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat." Verse 8 then delivers a profound warning about the spiritual consequences for those who create and trust in such deities.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "like unto them" (Hebrew: כָּהֶם - kahem) emphasizes a profound similarity or assimilation. It's not merely a casual resemblance but a deep spiritual mirroring. The word for "trusteth" (Hebrew: בֹּטֵחַ - boteach) signifies placing one's entire reliance, security, and hope in something. This indicates a deep commitment of faith, which then inherently leads to transformation into the object of that faith.
Significance and Application
While ancient Israel faced literal idol worship, the principle of Psalm 115:8 remains profoundly relevant today. Modern idolatry often takes more subtle forms: anything that replaces God as the ultimate object of our affection, trust, and devotion. This could include money, power, fame, personal comfort, relationships, or even self-worship.
The verse serves as a powerful reminder that our worship shapes our character and destiny. If we invest our trust and identity in fleeting, earthly things, we risk becoming as spiritually empty, blind, and ineffective as those things. Conversely, when we place our trust in the living God, who is powerful, wise, and loving, we are transformed into His likeness, becoming more vibrant, purposeful, and spiritually discerning. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where we are transformed into the likeness of what we behold and worship.
Therefore, this verse calls believers to examine their hearts and ensure their ultimate trust and worship are directed solely to the one true God, the source of all life and power, so that they may truly live and thrive.