Tafsir of Maryam 19:81

(And they have taken besides Allah deities) — This is a narration of a general offense committed by all of them, entailing the opposite of what they hope will result from it, following the narration of the statement of the accustomed disbeliever and the consequence of the contradiction of its content. That is: the oppressive disbelievers took idols—or whatever encompasses them and all other false objects of worship—as deities, transgressing beyond Allah the Exalted.

(To be for them a source of honor) — That is, so that they may be strengthened by them, in that they serve as a means for them to reach Him, the Mighty and Majestic, and as intercessors before Him.