New Living Translation
Psalms 106:20
20They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull.
Psalms 106:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
- New International Version (NIV)They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
- English Standard Version (ESV)They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass.
Context of Psalms 106:20
18Fire fell upon their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. 19The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull. 21They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt— 22such wonderful things in the land of Ham, such awesome deeds at the Red Sea.
Read all of Psalms 106Psalms 106:20 word by word
וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדָ֑ם בְּתַבְנִ֥ית שׁ֝֗וֹר אֹכֵ֥ל עֵֽשֶׂב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 106:20
- Psalms 89:17You are their glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong.
- Jeremiah 2:11Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
- Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.
- Exodus 20:4“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.
- Isaiah 40:18To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him?
Commentaries on Psalms 106:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Thus 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, Romans 1:23; (note); see also the note there. The incorruptible God was thus served by all the heathen world.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Thus they changed their glory - Their true glory - the proper object of worship - God. Compare the notes at Romans 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-33Verses 13-33 Those that will not wait for God's counsel, shall justly be given up to their own hearts' lusts, to walk in their own counsels. An undue desire, even for lawful things, becomes sinful. God showed his displeasure for this. He filled them with uneasiness of mind, terror of conscience, and self-reproach. Many that fare deliciously every day, and whose bodies are healthful, have leanness in their souls: no love to God, no thankfulness, no…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-23they … worshiped a molten image: The people forgot their Savior and worshiped idols (see Exodus 32:1–6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2319-23. From indirect setting God at naught, they pass to direct. made--though prohibited in Ex 20:4, 5 to make a likeness, even of the true God. calf--called so in contempt. They would have made an ox or bull, but their idol turned out but a calf; an imitation of the divine symbols, the cherubim; or of the sacred bull of Egyptian idolatry. The idolatry was more sinful in view of their recent experience of God's power in Egypt and His wonders at Sinai (Ex…Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 106:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 106
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries