Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 135 (MT) / Psalm 134 (LXX) is a Hallelujah psalm that re-combines phrases from across the Psalter (especially Ps 115) and the Torah. Often called a 'mosaic psalm' for its composite-character, it celebrates the Exodus-Conquest history-of-salvation with direct echoes of Ps 115:4–8's idol-sarcasm (vv. 15–18 here) and Ps 136's historical-recital (vv. 8–12).
Notable Variants
135:6 'whatever the LORD pleases he does' divine-sovereignty; 135:15–18 idol-sarcasm // Ps 115:4–8 almost-verbatim; 135:13 'your name, O LORD, endures forever' — eternal-name echo.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 135 = LXX Ps 134. 21 verses. Hallelujah opening-and-closing. Mosaic-composition drawing from Ps 115, 136, and Torah.
Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, you servants of the LORD,
'Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD' tracks MT. Hallelujah opening.
you who stand in the house of the LORD, within the courts of the house of our God.
'Who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God!' tracks MT. // Ps 134:1 night-priests-echo.
Hallelujah, for the LORD is good; sing praise to His name, for it is delightful.
'Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!' tracks MT.
For Yah has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His treasured possession.
'For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession' tracks MT. 'OWN POSSESSION' (segullah / periousion) — the treasured-possession language of Ex 19:5, Deut 7:6, 14:2, 26:18. 1 Peter 2:9 ('a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for HIS OWN POSSESSION,' laon eis peripoiēsin) extends to the Christian-ekklēsia.
I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods.
'For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods' tracks MT. MONOTHEISTIC-SUPREMACY.
Whatever the LORD desires, He does — in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all the depths.
'Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps' tracks MT. DIVINE-SOVEREIGNTY axiom. Ephesians 1:11 ('him who works all things according to the counsel of his will') extends.
He raises clouds from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings wind from His storehouses.
'He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses' tracks MT.
He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both human and animal.
'He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast' tracks MT. // Ps 136:10.
He sent signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt — against Pharaoh and all his servants.
'Who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants' tracks MT. SIGNS-AND-WONDERS. Acts 2:22 uses the same 'signs and wonders' (sēmeiois kai terasin) for Jesus' ministry.
He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings —
'Who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings' tracks MT.
Sihon, the Amorite king, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
'Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan' tracks MT. // Ps 136:19–20. SIHON-AND-OG — Transjordan conquest kings (Num 21).
He gave their land as an inheritance — an inheritance for Israel His people.
'And gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel' tracks MT.
LORD, your name endures forever; LORD, your renown through every generation.
'Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages' tracks MT. NAME-ENDURES-FOREVER.
For the LORD will bring justice for His people and will have compassion on His servants.
'For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants' tracks MT.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
'The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands' tracks MT. // Ps 115:4. IDOL-SARCASM begins.
They have mouths but cannot speak; they have eyes but cannot see.
'They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see' tracks MT. // Ps 115:5.
They have ears but cannot hear; there is not even breath in their mouths.
'They have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths' tracks MT. // Ps 115:6.
Those who make them will become like them — everyone who trusts in them.
'Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them' tracks MT. // Ps 115:8. IDOLATERS-BECOME-LIKE-IDOLS. Romans 1:21–23 extends.
House of Israel, bless the LORD! House of Aaron, bless the LORD!
'O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!' tracks MT.
House of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
'O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!' tracks MT. FOUR-GROUP BLESSING (Israel, Aaron, Levi, God-fearers) — extending the three-fold call of Ps 115:9–11 with Levi-added.
Blessed be the LORD from Zion, He who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
'Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!' tracks MT. BLESSED-FROM-ZION closing hallelujah.