Psalms 106:20
in Psalms 106They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
KJV
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
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This verse in Psalms 106
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The idolatry was more sinful in view of their recent experience of God's power in Egypt and His wonders at Sinai (Ex 32:1-6). Though intending to worship Jehovah under the symbol of the calf, yet as this was incompatible with His nature (De 4:15-17), they in reality gave up Him, and so were given up by Him.
This site's exposition
At Horeb they made a calf
on Psalms 106:19-23
At Horeb they made a calf and bowed to it. Verse 20 gives the exchange, their own Glory for an ox that eats grass, and verses 21 and 22 say they forgot the God who saved them, who did great things in Egypt and by the Red Sea. Moses His chosen one stood in the breach and turned the wrath away.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And they made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the graven image" (ver. 19). "Thus they changed their glory, in the similitude of a calf that eateth hay" (ver. 20). He saith not "into" the likeness, but "in" the likeness. It is such a form of speech as where he said "and they believed in His words." With great effect in truth he saith not, they changed the glory of God when they did this; as the Apostle also saith, "They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man:" but "their glory." For God was their glory, if they would abide His counsel, and hasten not. ...
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Idolaters are perfectly besotted, and put the greatest disparagement possible both upon God, in representing him by the image of a beast, and upon themselves, in worshipping it when they have so done. That which is here said to be the changing of their glory is explained by St. Paul ( Rom. i.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Their glory - God, who was indeed their glory. Into - Into the golden image of an ox or calf, which is so far from feeding his people, as the true God did the Israelites, that he must be fed by them.
Thus they changed their glory,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. They said that they only meant to worship the one God under a fitting and suggestive similitude by which his great power would be set forth to the multitude; they pleaded the great Catholic revival which followed upon this return to a more ornate ceremonial, for the people thronged around Aaron, and danced before the calf with all their might.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. They said that they only meant to worship the one God under a fitting and suggestive similitude by which his great power would be set forth to the multitude; they pleaded the great Catholic revival which followed upon this return to a more ornate ceremonial, for the people thronged around Aaron, and danced before the calf with all their might. But in very deed they had given up the true God, whom it had been their glory to adore, and had set up a rival to him, not a representation of him; for how should he be likened to a bullock? The psalmist is very contemptuous, and justly so: irreverence towards idols is an indirect reverence to God. False gods, attempts to represent the true God, and indeed, all material things which are worshipped, are so much filth upon the face of the earth, whether they be crosses, crucifixes, virgins, wafers, relics, or even the Pope himself. We are by far too mealy mouthed about these infamous abominations: God abhors them, and so should we. To renounce the glory of spiritual worship for outward pomp and show is the height of folly, and deserves to be treated as such.
Thus they changed their glory - That is, their God, who was their glory; and they worshipped an ox in his stead. See the use St Paul makes of this, Rom 1:23 (note); see also the note there. The incorruptible God was thus served by all the heathen world.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Thus they changed their glory - Their true glory - the proper object of worship - God. Compare the notes at Rom 1:23. They “exchanged” that as an object of worship for the image of an ox. Into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass - Into the likeness of an ox. That is, They worshipped God under that image. The circumstance of its “eating grass” is added to show the absurdity of the act. Instead of worshipping God - an independent Being, who does not need to be supported, but who himself sustains all things, and provides for all - they worshipped an animal that had need of constant sustenance, and would itself soon die if deprived of its proper nourishment. Compare the notes at Isa 40:18-20; notes at Isa 41:6-7.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ | vaiyamiru | and they exchanged | H4171 → | 14 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כְּבוֹדָ֑ם | kevodam | glory their | H3519 → | 200 times |
| בְּתַבְנִ֥ית | betavnit | for an image of | H8403 → | |
| שׁ֝֗וֹר | shor | an ox | H7794 → | |
| אֹכֵ֥ל | ʾokhel | [which] eats | H398 → | 810 times |
| עֵֽשֶׂב׃ | ʾesev | vegetation | H6212 → | 33 times |
וַיָּמִ֥ירוּand they exchanged
vaiyamiruH4171 →14 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
כְּבוֹדָ֑םglory their
kevodamH3519 →200 times
בְּתַבְנִ֥יתfor an image of
betavnitH8403 →
שׁ֝֗וֹרan ox
shorH7794 →
אֹכֵ֥ל[which] eats
ʾokhelH398 →810 times
עֵֽשֶׂב׃vegetation
ʾesevH6212 →33 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 2:11Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
it leads to
- Romans 1:23
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
- Isaiah 37:19
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.
- Jeremiah 16:20
Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!”
- Micah 4:5
Though each of the peoples may walk in the name of his god, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.
- Psalms 115:4
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
- Romans 1:23
Through
Psalms 89:17For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted.
it leads to
- Psalms 75:10
“All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be exalted.”
- Psalms 92:10
But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.
- Psalms 148:14
He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!
- Psalms 75:10
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 106; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.