Psalms 115:8

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 115:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.
Psalms 115:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 115

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“They that make them are like unto them, etc.] As stupid as the matter of which they are made; as sottish and as senseless as the idols themselves, (see <234409>Isaiah 44:9-20). Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it as a petition, “let them that make them be like unto them”; and so the Targum, the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions: they liked not to retain God in their knowledge, let them be given up to a reprobate mind, to a mind void of all sense and judgment; and which indeed is their case, ( <450128>Romans 1:28). So is everyone that trusteth in them; more especially they that worship them: for an artificer may make them for gain, and have no faith in them; but a…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They that make them are like unto them - Stupid; senseless; irrational. See the notes at Isaiah 44:9-20. So is everyone that trusteth in them - People who do this show that they are destitute of all the proper attributes of reason, since such gods cannot help them. It is most strange, as it appears to us, that the worshippers of idols did not themselves see this; but this is in reality no more strange than that sinners do not see the folly of their course of sin; that people do not see the folly of worshipping no God. In fact, there is less of folly among the pagan than there is in this class of men. The worship of an idol shows at least that there is some religious tendency in the mind;…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Are like them - As void of all sense or reason as their images. Psalms 115:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“115:8 Worshiping idols leads one astray and corrupts those who trust in them (Isa 44:20).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Psa 135:18; Isa 44:9-20; Jer 10:8; Jon 2:8; Hab 2:18, Hab 2:19 Psalms 115:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification