Psalm 135:16
New International Version
They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.

New Living Translation
They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see.

English Standard Version
They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see;

Berean Standard Bible
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;

King James Bible
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

New King James Version
They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see;

New American Standard Bible
They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;

NASB 1995
They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;

NASB 1977
They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;

Legacy Standard Bible
They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;

Amplified Bible
They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;

Christian Standard Bible
They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.

American Standard Version
They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;

Contemporary English Version
They have a mouth and eyes, but they can't speak or see.

English Revised Version
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They have mouths, but they cannot speak. They have eyes, but they cannot see.

Good News Translation
They have mouths, but cannot speak, and eyes, but cannot see.

International Standard Version
Mouths are attributed to them, but they cannot speak; sight is attributed to them, but they cannot see;

Majority Standard Bible
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;

NET Bible
They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see,

New Heart English Bible
They have mouths, but they can't speak. They have eyes, but they can't see.

Webster's Bible Translation
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not.

World English Bible
They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They have a mouth, and they do not speak, "" They have eyes, and they do not see,

Young's Literal Translation
A mouth they have, and they speak not, Eyes they have, and they see not,

Smith's Literal Translation
A mouth to them, and they shall not speak; eyes to them, and they shall not see;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They have a mouth, but they speak not: they have eyes, but they see not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They have a mouth, and do not speak. They have eyes, and do not see.

New American Bible
They have mouths but do not speak; they have eyes but do not see;

New Revised Standard Version
They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They have mouths and they do not speak; they have eyes and they do not see.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They have a mouth, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Name, O LORD, Endures Forever
15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. 16They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; 17they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths.…

Cross References
Psalm 115:5-7
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; / they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats.

Isaiah 44:18
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.

Jeremiah 10:5
Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

Habakkuk 2:18-19
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”

Deuteronomy 4:28
And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

1 Kings 18:26-29
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ...

Isaiah 46:6-7
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

Jeremiah 51:17-18
Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. / They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

1 Corinthians 12:2
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Matthew 13:13-15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Mark 8:18
‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.


Treasury of Scripture

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

eyes have they

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.

Matthew 13:14-16
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: …

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Psalm 135
1. An exhortation to praise God for his mercy
5. For his power
8. For his judgments
15. The vanity of idols
19. An exhortation to bless God














They have mouths
The phrase "They have mouths" refers to the idols crafted by human hands, which are often given human features to mimic the living. In Hebrew, the word for mouth is "פֶּה" (peh), symbolizing communication and expression. Historically, idols were made to resemble humans or animals, with the belief that these features could somehow channel divine power. However, the psalmist highlights the futility of these idols, as their mouths are incapable of speech, emphasizing the lifelessness and impotence of man-made gods compared to the living God who speaks and creates through His Word.

but cannot speak
The inability to speak underscores the powerlessness of idols. In the Hebrew context, speech is a divine attribute, as God spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1). The Hebrew word for speak is "דָּבַר" (dabar), which also means to declare or command. This contrast between the silent idols and the speaking God serves to remind believers of the living God's active presence and communication with His people. The idols' silence is a stark reminder of their inability to guide, comfort, or command, unlike the God of Israel who communicates His will and love through His Word.

they have eyes
The phrase "they have eyes" continues the depiction of idols with human-like features. The Hebrew word for eyes is "עֵינַיִם" (einaim), which often symbolizes perception and understanding. In ancient cultures, eyes on idols were believed to watch over worshippers, providing protection or insight. However, the psalmist points out the futility of these eyes, as they are mere carvings without the ability to perceive or understand. This serves as a reminder that only the true God sees all, understands all, and watches over His creation with care and wisdom.

but cannot see
The inability to see highlights the idols' lack of awareness and perception. In Hebrew, the word for see is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), which implies not just physical sight but also insight and understanding. The psalmist contrasts the blind idols with the omniscient God who sees the hearts of men and the intricacies of His creation. This serves as a powerful reminder to believers that reliance on anything other than God is futile, as only He can truly see and understand our needs, guiding us with His perfect vision and wisdom.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They have mouths
פֶּֽה־ (peh-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

but cannot
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

speak,
יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ (yə·ḏab·bê·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

eyes
עֵינַ֥יִם (‘ê·na·yim)
Noun - cd
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

but cannot
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

see.
יִרְאֽוּ׃ (yir·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see


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OT Poetry: Psalm 135:16 They have mouths but they can't speak (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 135:15
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