Psalms 135:16

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

They have mouths {H6310}, but they speak {H1696} not; eyes {H5869} have they, but they see {H7200} not;

Complete Jewish Bible

They have mouths, but they can't speak; they have eyes, but they can't see;

Berean Standard Bible

They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;

American Standard Version

They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 135:16 delivers a profound critique of idolatry, starkly contrasting the impotence of man-made images with the living, active God of Israel. This verse, part of a larger polemic against false gods, highlights the fundamental deficiency of idols: though fashioned with features resembling human senses, they are utterly devoid of life, consciousness, and power, unable to speak, see, hear, or act, thereby rendering them useless objects of worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 135 is a psalm of praise, a liturgical hymn likely used in temple worship, celebrating the Lord's sovereignty and mighty acts. It begins with a call to praise Yahweh, recounting His greatness in creation (e.g., [He makes the clouds to ascend](/psalms/135-7 "Psalm 135:7 - God's Power in Nature")) and His historical interventions for Israel, particularly the Exodus and the conquest of Canaan (e.g., [He smote the firstborn of Egypt](/psalms/135-8 "Psalm 135:8 - The Plagues on Egypt")). Verses 15-18, where our verse is found, pivot to a direct contrast between the Lord and the idols of the nations. This section serves as an anti-hymn, systematically dismantling the claims of pagan deities by exposing their inherent lifelessness, thereby reinforcing the uniqueness and supremacy of the God of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, idol worship was pervasive. Neighboring nations like Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon created elaborate physical representations of their gods from materials such as wood, stone, gold, and silver. These idols were not merely symbols but were often believed to be actual dwelling places for the deities' spirits, or even the gods themselves, through rituals of "mouth-opening" and "eye-opening" ceremonies designed to animate them. The psalmist's critique directly challenges this worldview, asserting that these human-crafted objects are inherently inert, a direct affront to the living and active God who [made heaven and earth](/psalms/135-6 "Psalm 135:6 - God's Sovereignty Over All"). The polemic in this psalm is a common theme in Israelite prophecy and wisdom literature, designed to prevent Israel from adopting the idolatrous practices of surrounding cultures.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme is the **futility and powerlessness of idolatry**. The verse underscores that idols are inanimate objects, incapable of any life-giving or responsive function, directly contrasting with the dynamic, responsive, and omnipotent God of Israel. This theme is deeply embedded in the Old Testament, with prophets like Isaiah ridiculing idol makers and their creations (e.g., [Isaiah 44:9-20](/isaiah/44-9 "Isaiah 44:9-20 - The Folly of Idolatry")). Implicitly, the verse also magnifies **God's uniqueness and sovereignty**. Unlike the silent, blind, and deaf idols, the God of Israel truly speaks, sees, hears, and acts in the world, demonstrating His active involvement in human history and the lives of His people. Furthermore, there is an underlying theme of the **spiritual blindness and deafness of idol worshippers**, as suggested by parallel passages like [Psalm 115:8](/psalms/115-8 "Psalm 115:8 - Worshippers Become Like Their Idols"), which states that "they that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mouths (Hebrew, _peh'_):** From H6310, this word refers to the mouth as the means of blowing or, more significantly here, as the organ of speech. In the context of idols, it highlights their utter inability to communicate, command, or respond, contrasting sharply with the God who [speaks and it is done](/psalms/33-9 "Psalm 33:9 - God Speaks and It Is Done").
* **Speak (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** From H1696, this primitive root means "to arrange," but is primarily used figuratively for words, "to speak." It encompasses declaring, commanding, teaching, and uttering. The negation "speak not" emphasizes the idols' complete lack of divine communication, revelation, or response to prayer, a stark difference from the God who [reveals His word to Jacob](/psalms/147-19 "Psalm 147:19 - God Reveals His Word").
* **Eyes (Hebrew, _ʻayin'_):** From H5869, this word denotes the eye, literally or figuratively. It can also refer to a fountain, as the "eye of the landscape." In this verse, "eyes" signifies the organ of sight. The declaration that idols "see not" underscores their inability to perceive, discern, or watch over their worshippers, a stark contrast to the Lord who [sees all the sons of men](/psalms/33-13 "Psalm 33:13 - God Sees All").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They have mouths, but they speak not;":** This clause highlights the first critical deficiency of idols. Though crafted with a mouth-like aperture, they are utterly incapable of speech. This means they cannot issue commands, offer guidance, provide comfort, or respond to the pleas of their devotees. Their silence is a testament to their lifelessness and powerlessness, directly refuting any claim to divine authority or presence.
* **"eyes have they, but they see not;":** Following the same rhetorical pattern, this clause points to the second profound limitation. Despite being fashioned with eye-like features, these idols possess no genuine sight. They cannot perceive the needs, sufferings, or actions of their worshippers, nor can they oversee events or provide protection. Their blindness signifies their complete lack of awareness, discernment, and active engagement with the world.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Parallelism** is evident in the symmetrical structure: "They have X, but they do not Y; X have they, but they do not Y." This repetition emphasizes the consistent pattern of deficiency across different sensory organs. **Anthropomorphism (negative)** is used by attributing human features (mouths, eyes) to inanimate objects only to immediately deny the corresponding human functions (speaking, seeing). This highlights the grotesque parody of divinity that idols represent. There is also a strong element of **irony** and **rhetorical critique**, as the psalmist uses the very features that would imply life and power (mouths, eyes) to underscore their absolute absence in idols. This serves as a potent argument against the rationality of worshipping such inert objects.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 135:16 is a foundational text in the biblical polemic against idolatry, asserting the radical distinction between the Creator and creation. Theologically, it underscores that true divinity is characterized by life, consciousness, and active engagement, attributes utterly lacking in human-made images. This verse implicitly magnifies the living God of Israel, who is not only the source of all life but also actively [hears the cry of the afflicted](/psalms/34-17 "Psalm 34:17 - The Lord Hears the Righteous") and [sees the wickedness of the earth](/genesis/6-5 "Genesis 6:5 - God Sees Human Wickedness"). The inability of idols to speak or see means they cannot reveal truth, offer guidance, or provide salvation, reinforcing the biblical truth that salvation belongs to the Lord alone.

* [Deuteronomy 4:28](/deuteronomy/4-28 "Deuteronomy 4:28 - Idols Cannot See, Hear, Eat, or Smell")
* [Isaiah 44:18](/isaiah/44-18 "Isaiah 44:18 - Spiritual Blindness of Idol Worshippers")
* [Jeremiah 10:5](/jeremiah/10-5 "Jeremiah 10:5 - Idols Are Like Scarecrows")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While modern societies may not typically worship physical statues of wood and stone, the principle of idolatry remains profoundly relevant. This verse challenges us to examine what truly occupies the place of ultimate trust, devotion, and reliance in our lives. Anything that promises satisfaction, security, or meaning apart from the living God—whether it be wealth, career, relationships, self-image, technology, political ideologies, or even personal achievements—can function as a modern idol. Such idols, like their ancient counterparts, ultimately prove to be empty, silent, and blind; they cannot truly speak truth into our deepest anxieties, see our hidden needs, or provide lasting peace and salvation. This passage calls us to a radical reorientation of our worship, directing our full trust and allegiance to the God who truly sees our struggles, hears our prayers, and speaks life-giving words into our existence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "mouths" or "eyes" in my life do I rely on for guidance or perception, that ultimately "speak not" or "see not" in the way God does?**
* **In what subtle ways might I be placing my trust and devotion in something other than the living God, expecting it to provide what only He can?**
* **How does recognizing the futility of idols—ancient or modern—deepen my appreciation for the active, responsive, and sovereign nature of the true God?**

### FAQ
**Why does the Bible so often emphasize that idols cannot speak, see, or hear?**

Answer: The repeated emphasis on the sensory and communicative incapacities of idols (e.g., [Psalm 115:5-7](/psalms/115-5 "Psalm 115:5-7 - Idols Have No Senses")) serves multiple crucial purposes. First, it directly refutes the pagan belief that deities inhabited or were represented by these statues, and that rituals could "animate" them. The biblical authors assert that these are mere human creations, utterly devoid of life or divine power. Second, it highlights the stark contrast with the God of Israel, who is vibrantly alive, actively speaks through His word and prophets (e.g., [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son")), sees all things (e.g., [Proverbs 15:3](/proverbs/15-3 "Proverbs 15:3 - The Eyes of the Lord")), and hears the prayers of His people (e.g., [Psalm 65:2](/psalms/65-2 "Psalm 65:2 - God Hears Prayer")). This rhetorical strategy underscores God's uniqueness and sovereignty, demonstrating that He is fundamentally different from and superior to any human-made object of worship.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 135:16 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person of Jesus, who is the living antithesis to every lifeless idol. While idols have mouths but speak not, Jesus is the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), the very utterance of God who speaks with divine authority, revealing the Father (e.g., [John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Jesus Reveals the Father")). His words are not empty sounds but [spirit and life](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - Jesus' Words Are Life"), capable of creating, healing, and saving (e.g., [Mark 1:27](/mark/1-27 "Mark 1:27 - Jesus' Authority")). Similarly, where idols have eyes but see not, Jesus is the [light of the world](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"), who truly sees into the depths of human hearts (e.g., [John 2:25](/john/2-25 "John 2:25 - Jesus Knew What Was in Man")), perceives every need, and offers true insight and spiritual vision (e.g., [John 9:39](/john/9-39 "John 9:39 - Jesus Came to Bring Sight")). He is the true image of the invisible God (e.g., [Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of God")), embodying all the life, power, and active engagement that idols so conspicuously lack. In Christ, we encounter the God who truly speaks, sees, hears, and acts on behalf of His people, offering a living relationship that stands in stark contrast to the futility of worshipping anything else.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:14

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Matthew 13:16

But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Isaiah 6:10

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.