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Psalm 106:20 They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.
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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/106-19.htm" title="Psalm 106:19">◄</a> Psalm 106:20 <a href="/psalms/106-21.htm" title="Psalm 106:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/106.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/106.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/106.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/106.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/106.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/106.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/106.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/106.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/106.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Thus they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/106.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Thus they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/106.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Thus they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/106.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Thus they exchanged [the true God who was] their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/106.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/106.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/106.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/106.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />of a bull, instead of you, their glorious God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/106.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Thus they changed their glory for the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/106.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They traded their glorious God for the statue of a bull that eats grass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/106.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />they exchanged the glory of God for the image of an animal that eats grass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/106.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They exchanged their glory with the image of a grass-eating bull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/106.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/106.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They traded their majestic God for the image of an ox that eats grass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/106.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/106.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/106.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/106.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And change their glory "" Into the form of an ox eating herbs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/106.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And change their Honour Into the form of an ox eating herbs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/106.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they will change their glory into the likeness of an ox eating grass.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/106.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they changed their glory into the likeness of a calf that eateth grass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/106.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 105:20>And they exchanged their glory for the likeness of a calf that eats hay.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/106.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bull. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/106.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/106.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Thus they changed their Glorious One into the likeness of an ox that eats grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/106.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they changed their glory into the likeness of an ox eating grass.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/106.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Thus they exchanged their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/106.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and they changed their glory into the similitude of a calf that feeds on grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/106-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=13422" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/106.htm">Give Thanks to the LORD, for He is Good</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4171.htm" title="4171: way·yā·mî·rū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To change. A primitive root; to alter; by implication, to barter, to dispose of.">They exchanged</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3519.htm" title="3519: kə·ḇō·w·ḏām (N-msc:: 3mp) -- Rarely kabod; from kabad; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness.">their Glory</a> <a href="/hebrew/8403.htm" title="8403: bə·ṯaḇ·nîṯ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Construction, pattern, figure. From banah; structure; by implication, a model, resemblance.">for the image</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ’ō·ḵêl (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">of a grass-eating</a> <a href="/hebrew/6212.htm" title="6212: ‘ê·śeḇ (N-ms) -- Herb, herbage. From an unused root meaning to glisten; grass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7794.htm" title="7794: šō·wr (N-ms) -- A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.). From shuwr; a bullock.">ox.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-23.htm">Romans 1:23</a></span><br />and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Exodus 32:4</a></span><br />He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11</a></span><br />Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-16.htm">Deuteronomy 4:16-18</a></span><br />that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female, / of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air, / or of any creature that crawls on the ground or fish that is in the waters below.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-41.htm">Acts 7:41</a></span><br />At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-7.htm">Hosea 4:7</a></span><br />The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a></span><br />After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a></span><br />All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15-16</a></span><br />They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. / They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-7.htm">1 Corinthians 10:7</a></span><br />Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">Isaiah 40:18-20</a></span><br />To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? / To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains? / One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot. He seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/11-15.htm">2 Chronicles 11:15</a></span><br />And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-16.htm">Ezekiel 20:16</a></span><br />because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/12-2.htm">1 Corinthians 12:2</a></span><br />You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-5.htm">Isaiah 46:5-7</a></span><br />To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? / 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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eats grass.</p><p class="hdg">thus</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/89-17.htm">Psalm 89:17</a></b></br> For thou <i>art</i> the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11</a></b></br> Hath a nation changed <i>their</i> gods, which <i>are</i> yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for <i>that which</i> doth not profit.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/1-22.htm">Romans 1:22,23</a></b></br> Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, … </p><p class="hdg">their glory.</p><p class="hdg">into</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4,5</a></b></br> Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness <i>of any thing</i> that <i>is</i> in heaven above, or that <i>is</i> in the earth beneath, or that <i>is</i> in the water under the earth: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">Isaiah 40:18-25</a></b></br> To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/69-31.htm">Bull</a> <a href="/psalms/102-26.htm">Change</a> <a href="/psalms/102-26.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/job/40-15.htm">Eateth</a> <a href="/psalms/53-4.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/psalms/80-13.htm">Eats</a> <a href="/job/28-17.htm">Exchanged</a> <a href="/psalms/105-40.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/104-26.htm">Form</a> <a href="/psalms/106-5.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/psalms/104-14.htm">Grass</a> <a href="/psalms/105-35.htm">Herbs</a> <a href="/psalms/105-1.htm">Honour</a> <a href="/psalms/106-19.htm">Image</a> <a href="/psalms/17-15.htm">Likeness</a> <a href="/psalms/106-19.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/job/4-16.htm">Similitude</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/10-13.htm">Bull</a> <a href="/psalms/110-4.htm">Change</a> <a href="/psalms/107-11.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/proverbs/13-2.htm">Eateth</a> <a href="/psalms/127-2.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/proverbs/13-2.htm">Eats</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Exchanged</a> <a href="/psalms/107-5.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/119-73.htm">Form</a> <a href="/psalms/106-47.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/psalms/129-6.htm">Grass</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-17.htm">Herbs</a> <a href="/psalms/106-47.htm">Honour</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">Image</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-5.htm">Likeness</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-22.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/psalms/144-12.htm">Similitude</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 106</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/106-1.htm">The psalmist exhorts to praise God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/106-4.htm">He prays for pardon of sin, as God pardoned the fathers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/106-7.htm">The story of the people's rebellion, and God's mercy</a></span><br><span class="reftext">47. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/106-47.htm">He concludes with prayer and praise</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/106.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/106.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>They exchanged their Glory</b><br>This phrase refers to the Israelites' decision to forsake the worship of the one true God, who is their source of glory and honor. In the biblical context, "Glory" often signifies God's presence and majesty (<a href="/exodus/24-16.htm">Exodus 24:16-17</a>). The Israelites had witnessed God's glory through miraculous events such as the parting of the Red Sea and the provision of manna. This exchange highlights a profound spiritual decline, as they turned away from the divine glory that had been their guide and protector. The act of exchanging God for an idol is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, illustrating the human tendency to replace divine worship with idolatry (<a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11</a>).<p><b>for the image of a grass-eating ox.</b><br>This phrase specifically refers to the incident of the golden calf in <a href="/exodus/32.htm">Exodus 32</a>. The Israelites, impatient for Moses' return from Mount Sinai, demanded Aaron make them gods to lead them. The calf, likely modeled after Egyptian deities such as Apis, represented fertility and strength. The choice of a "grass-eating ox" underscores the absurdity of worshipping a created being that is dependent on the earth for sustenance, contrasting sharply with the self-sufficient Creator. This act of idolatry is condemned throughout Scripture (<a href="/deuteronomy/9-16.htm">Deuteronomy 9:16</a>), and Paul references it in <a href="/romans/1-23.htm">Romans 1:23</a> to illustrate humanity's foolishness in exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal beings. Theologically, this serves as a type of Christ, who is the true image of God (<a href="/colossians/1-15.htm">Colossians 1:15</a>), contrasting with the false images humanity creates.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who were delivered from Egypt but fell into idolatry.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites during the Exodus, who was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law when the idolatry occurred.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/aaron.htm">Aaron</a></b><br>Moses' brother, who was left in charge and facilitated the creation of the golden calf.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/golden_calf.htm">Golden Calf</a></b><br>The idol made by the Israelites, representing a significant act of rebellion against God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_idolatry.htm">The Danger of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can be anything that takes the place of God in our lives. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing idols from our hearts.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_forgetting_god.htm">The Consequences of Forgetting God</a></b><br>The Israelites quickly forgot God's mighty works and turned to idols. We must remember and recount God's faithfulness to avoid spiritual amnesia.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_leadership.htm">The Importance of Leadership</a></b><br>Aaron's failure to stand firm in Moses' absence shows the importance of strong, godly leadership. Leaders must be steadfast in guiding others toward God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_true_worship.htm">The Value of True Worship</a></b><br>Worship should be directed to God alone, who is worthy of all glory. We must ensure our worship is genuine and not influenced by cultural or societal pressures.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>Despite their sin, God continued to work with the Israelites. This teaches us that repentance can lead to restoration and renewed relationship with God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_106.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 106</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_cherubim_in_religion.htm">What are cherubim in religious or mythological contexts?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_so_much_space_if_god_made_it_for_us.htm">Why does the universe contain so much wasted space if God created it for humans?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_god_ride_a_cherub_if_formless.htm">If God 'rode upon a cherub' (Psalm 18:10), how does this align with the notion of a formless, omnipresent deity in other biblical passages?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_exactly_are_black_holes.htm">What exactly are black holes?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/106.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Their glory</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> Jehovah, as shown by <a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm" title="Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.">Jeremiah 2:11</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Similitude.</span>--This is also a Deuteronomic word (<a href="/deuteronomy/4-16.htm" title="Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,">Deuteronomy 4:16</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/4-18.htm" title="The likeness of any thing that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:">Deuteronomy 4:18</a>), meaning originally "structure," from a root meaning "to build," and so "form," "model."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/106.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass;</span> <span class="accented">i.e.</span> they exchanged the spiritual revelation of Jehovah, in all his glorious attributes, for a material emblem, which would naturally suggest low and unworthy thoughts of the supreme Being. So Schultz and Cheyne. The expression, "an ox <span class="accented">that eateth</span> grass," emphasizes the contempt of the writer for a people who could so act. He has, probably, in his thoughts not only the golden calf, but the Apis bulls of Egypt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/106-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">They exchanged</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·mî·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4171.htm">Strong's 4171: </a> </span><span class="str2">To alter, to barter, to dispose of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their Glory</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּבוֹדָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(kə·ḇō·w·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3519.htm">Strong's 3519: </a> </span><span class="str2">Weight, splendor, copiousness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for the image</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּתַבְנִ֥ית</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṯaḇ·nîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8403.htm">Strong's 8403: </a> </span><span class="str2">Structure, a model, resemblance</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of an ox</span><br /><span class="heb">שׁ֝֗וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7794.htm">Strong's 7794: </a> </span><span class="str2">A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that eats</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹכֵ֥ל</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·ḵêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">grass.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵֽשֶׂב׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ê·śeḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6212.htm">Strong's 6212: </a> </span><span class="str2">Herb, herbage</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/106-20.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 106:20 Thus they exchanged their glory (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/106-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 106:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 106:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/106-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 106:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 106:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>