Psalms 106:20 — Word Study
WLCוַיָּמִ֥ירוּ אֶת־ כְּבוֹדָ֑ם בְּתַבְנִ֥ית שׁ֝֗וֹר אֹכֵ֥ל עֵֽשֶׂב׃
BSAThey exchangedmûwr▸ [traded, replaced] their Glorykâbôwd [honor, splendor, divine majesty] for the imagetabnîyth [pattern, likeness, model] of a grass-eatingʼâkal [herb-eating, vegetation-consuming] oxshôwr [bull, cattle, work animal]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ | and they exchanged | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| כְּבוֹדָ֑ם | glory their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בְּתַבְנִ֥ית | for an image of | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| שׁ֝֗וֹר | an ox | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אֹכֵ֥ל | [which] eats | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| עֵֽשֶׂב׃ | vegetation | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. |
| KJV | Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. |
| ASV | Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass. |
| YLT | And change their Honour Into the form of an ox eating herbs. |
| WEB | Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass. |
| BBE | And their glory was changed into the image of an ox, whose food is grass. |
The translations agree on the meaning of exchanging glory for an image.
One main clause with additional phrases detailing the object of exchange.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמוּר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 106:20
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Israel's Idolatry in the Wildernessgenerated
Psalm 106:20 reflects on how the Israelites, in their discontent, turned away from God and instead worshiped an idol, symbolizing their rejection of divine glory. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the consequences of forsaking true worship. The surrounding verses highlight their forgetfulness of God's mighty acts and their inclination toward false gods, illustrating a recurring theme in Israel's history.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 89:17 | For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 2:11 | Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols. |
| 3 | Romans 1:22–23 | Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, |
| 4 | Exodus 20:4–5 | You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. |
| 5 | Isaiah 40:18–25 | To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מוּר, vai.ya.Mi.rugenerated
The verb מוּר (muwr) is a Hiphil form, indicating a causative action, meaning 'to change' or 'to exchange'. It encapsulates the idea of trading one thing for another, as seen in contexts where something of value is replaced by something inferior.
In this verse, it describes the Israelites' choice to exchange their divine glory — a symbol of God's presence and majesty — for an image of a grass-eating ox, highlighting the gravity of their decision.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that the people exchanged their glory for an image of an ox.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ (vai.ya.Mi.ru) — 'and they exchanged' — governs the entire clause, indicating the action taken by the people. The structure is straightforward, with the object 'their glory' and the prepositional phrase describing what it was exchanged for.
The sentence emphasizes the act of exchange, revealing the weight of their decision through its clear and direct construction.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb מוּר is rendered as ἠλλάχαντο, which means 'they exchanged'. This choice reflects a direct correlation to the act of trading, maintaining the original sense of the Hebrew.
The Greek term conveys the same idea of an exchange, reinforcing the theme of trading something valuable for something worthless.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 106:20 describes how the Israelites exchanged their divine glory for an image of an ox that eats grass. This reflects their unfaithfulness and the foolishness of turning to idols instead of honoring God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies a rejection of God's majesty in favor of something created, demonstrating a lack of understanding of true worth.
The choice of a grass-eating ox symbolizes the lowliness of the idol compared to the greatness of God.
It illustrates a recurring theme of Israel's idolatry and forgetfulness of God's deeds throughout their journey.
It serves as a warning against valuing created things over the Creator, urging a return to true worship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the temptation to exchange my devotion to God for lesser things?
- How can I remind myself of God's glory in my daily life?
- What are some modern-day idols that might distract me from honoring God?
- How can I encourage others to recognize the value of true worship over idolatry?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 106:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThus they changed their glory,.... God, who is glorious in all the perfections of his nature, and is glory itself, and was the glory of these people; it was their greatest honour that they had
Read John Gill on Psalms 106 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: -Three transgressions of Israel in the wilderness are detailed, rising in gradation of moral guilt, without respect to time: (1) Their
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 106 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleChanged, as far as in them lay, and in respect of their worship. Their glory; their God, who was indeed their glory; for they had this just occasion of triumphing and glorying over all the nations of the world; that whereas all other nations worshipped stocks and stones, or the heavenly bodies, or dead men, they only worshipped the living and true God, who was present and in covenant with them, and with them only. Into the similitude of an ox; into the golden image of an ox or calf. That eateth grass; which is so far from feeding his people, as the true God did the Israelites, that he must be fed by them. And yet the image of such a creature was preferred by them, before the all-sufficient…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 106 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 106:20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.Ver. 20. Thus they changed their glory] i.e. Their God, Romans 1:23, the Creator for a contemptible creature. Of an ox that eateth grass] Tunc stercora egerit, et multum inquinatur, as R. Solomon here glosseth. They pretended not to worship the calf, but God in the calf, as did also Jebu, 2 Kings 10:16; 2 Kings 10:29 2 Chronicles 11:15, and as the idolatrous Papists do at this day. See Exodus 32:5-6. Yet the text here saith, "They worshipped the molten image, they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox." And although some of the Rabbis would excuse this gross idolatry of their forefathers…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 106 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20) Their glory—i.e., Jehovah, as shown by Jeremiah 2:11. Similitude.—This is also a Deuteronomic word (Deuteronomy 4:16; Deuteronomy 4:18), meaning originally “structure,” from a root meaning “to build,” and so “form,” “model.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 106 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 20. 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, Romans 1:23; see also the note there. See Clarke on Romans 1:23. The incorruptible God was thus served by all the heathen world.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 106 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20. So they exchanged their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass. Jehovah was the glory of Israel (Deuteronomy 4:6-8; Deuteronomy 10:21); and this spiritual invisible God they bartered for the likeness of an animal, such as they were forbidden to make (Deuteronomy 4:16-18; Exodus 20:4). Cp. Jeremiah 2:11. The reading their glory is reckoned as one of the eighteen Tiqqûnç Sôpherîm[60] or ‘corrections of the scribes,’ and is said to stand for ‘his glory.’ It is disputed whether the term means that the scribes actually altered the text from motives of reverence, or held that his glory was what the Psalmist would have written, had he not purposely avoided it as an indecorous…
Read Cambridge on Psalms 106 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThus 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.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 106 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.
Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass.
They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.
They traded their majestic God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
Tyndale line
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
Thus they changed their glory for the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
Thus they turned their glory into the similitude of a bullocke, that eateth grasse.
Strictly literal
And they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
And change their Honour Into the form of an ox eating herbs.
And change their glory || Into the form of an ox eating herbs.
And they exchanged their glory for the similitude of an ox that eateth herbs.
They traded the glory of God for the image of a bull that eats grass.
From the Latin
He sent his word, and healed them: and delivered them from their destructions.
Simplified
They replaced their God of glory with a bull that eats grass!
And their glory was changed into the image of an ox, whose food is grass.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with six out of seven words matching. This consistency across ancient witnesses underscores the reliability of the text regarding the Israelites' actions.
וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ אֶת־ כְּבוֹדָ֑ם בְּתַבְנִ֥ית שׁ֝֗וֹר אֹכֵ֥ל עֵֽשֶׂב׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 106:20
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מוּר (muwr) is a primitive root meaning to change or alter. It encompasses the ideas of exchanging or bartering, and can also imply being changed in the Niphal form. The word appears in contexts such as Ezekiel 48:14, where it relates to the concept of exchange.
base
H4171 מוּר
4171 muwr moor
a primitive root; to alter; by implication, to barter, to
dispose of:--X at all, (ex-)change, remove.
מוּר (mur) — to change.
1) to change, exchange
1a) (Niphal) to be changed
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to change, alter
1b2) to exchange
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vhw3mp
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.
כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory
abundance, riches
honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
honour, dignity of position
honour, reputation, of character
my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
base
H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches
. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
. honour, dignity of position
. honour, reputation, of character
. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
3519 kabowd kaw-bode'
rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but
only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or
copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).
see HEBREW for 03513
כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.
1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance
1a) abundance, riches
1b) honour, splendour, glory
1c) honour, dignity
1d) honour, reputation
1e) honour, reverence, glory
1f) glory
N-cs | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
תַּבְנִית (tabniyth) refers to a construction or pattern, encompassing meanings like figure, form, and resemblance. It is derived from the root meaning 'to build' and suggests a model or plan for construction. The term appears in contexts related to structures and images, including idols, though its precise meaning can be uncertain.
תַּבְנִית n.f. construction, pattern, figure
app. originally construction, structure, yet only P & late
pattern, acc. to which anything is to be constructed
figure, image
base
H8403 תַּבְנִית construction, pattern, figure
8403 tabniyth tab-neeth'
from 1129; structure; by implication, a model,
resemblance:--figure, form, likeness, pattern, similitude.
see HEBREW for 01129
תַּבְנִית (tav.nit) — pattern.
1) pattern, plan, form, construction, figure
1a) construction, structure
1a1) meaning uncertain
1b) pattern
1c) figure, image (of idols)
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular constructHR/Ncfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שׁוֹר (shor) refers to a head of cattle, specifically a bullock or ox, and is associated with agricultural and sacrificial contexts. It is derived from the root meaning to travel, indicating its role in farming and food. The term appears in various forms and usages, including in Aramaic.
שׁוֹר 78 n.m. a head of cattle, bullock, ox, etc.
base
H7794 שׁוֹר a head of cattle, bullock, ox, etc.
7794 showr shore
from 7788; a bullock (as a traveller):--bull(-ock), cow, ox,
wall (by mistake for 7791).
see HEBREW for 07788
see HEBREW for 07791
שׁוֹר (shor) — cattle.
1) ox, bull, a head of cattle
1a) for plowing, for food, as sacrifice
Aramaic equivalent: tor (תּוֹר "bullock" H8450)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Ox
Heb. bakar, “cattle;” “neat cattle”, (Gen. 12:16; 34:28; Job 1:3, 14; 42:12, etc.); not to be muzzled when treading the corn (Deut. 25:4). Referred to by our Lord in his reproof to the Pharisees (Luke 13:15; 14:5).
There was no animal in the rural economy of the Israelites, or indeed in that of the ancient Orientals generally, that was held in higher esteem than the ox and deservedly so, for the ox was the animal upon whose patient labors depended all the ordinary operations of farming. Oxen were used for ploughing, (22:10; 1 Samuel 14:14) etc.; for treading out corn, (25:4; Hosea 10:11) etc.; for draught purposes, when they were generally yoked in pairs, (Numbers 7:3; 1 Samuel 6:7) etc.; as beasts of burden, (1 Chronicles 12:40) their flesh was eaten, (14:4; 1 Kings 1:9) etc.…
The male of the beeve kind when grown, synonymous in the Bible with BULL; a clean animal, by the Levitical law; much used for food, 1Ki 19:21, and constituting no small part of the wealth of the Hebrews in their pastoral life, Ge 24:35 Job 1:14 42:12. Oxen were used in agriculture for ploughing, 1Ki 19:19; and for treading out the grain, during which they were not to be muzzled, 1Co 9:9, but well fed, Isa 30:24. The testing of a new yoke of oxen is still a business of great importance in the East, as of old, Lu…
→ See BULLOCK
→ See CATTLE
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
עֵ֫שֶׂב (‘eseb) refers to herbs, grass, or any tender green plants. The word is derived from a root meaning to glisten or be green. It encompasses vegetation in general, and its Aramaic equivalent is עֲשַׂב (‘asav), which also means grass.
עֵ֫שֶׂב n.m. herb, herbage
base
H6212 עֵ֫שֶׂב herb, herbage
6212 `eseb eh'seb
from an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green); grass
(or any tender shoot):--grass, herb.
עֵ֫שֶׂב (e.sev) — vegetation.
herb, herbage, grass, green plants
Aramaic equivalent: a.sav (עֲשַׂב "grass" H6211B)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa