Psalms 106:36 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־ עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָהֶ֣ם לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃
BSAThey worshipedʻâbad▸ [served, gave homage to] their idolsʻâtsâb [idolatrous images, pagan deities] which becamehâyâh▸ [resulted in, led to] a snare to themmôwqêsh [trap, source of destruction]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ | and they served | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם | idols their | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וַיִּהְי֖וּ | and they became | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| לָהֶ֣ם | for them | Preposition, suffix |
| לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃ | a snare | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. |
| KJV | And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. |
| ASV | And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them. |
| YLT | And serve their idols, And they are to them for a snare. |
| WEB | They served their idols, which became a snare to them. |
| BBE | And they gave worship to images; which were a danger to them: |
Where they part company is עָצַב — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb, with two phrases providing further detail. The structure emphasizes the direct relationship between the act of worship and its consequences.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָבַד
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 106:36
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 — The Rebellion of Israelgenerated
Psalm 106:36 reflects on the history of Israel, highlighting their tendency to worship foreign idols instead of remaining faithful to God. This act of idolatry is shown to have dire consequences, as it becomes a trap for them. The surrounding verses illustrate a pattern of disobedience and the resulting judgment, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness to God.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 78:58 | They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their idols. |
| 2 | Exodus 34:15–16 | Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. |
| 3 | Judges 2:12–13 | Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, |
| 4 | Judges 3:5–7 | Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. |
| 5 | Judges 10:6 | And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עָבַד, vai.ya.'av.Dugenerated
The verb עָבַד (abad) means to serve or work, and can imply slavery or bondage. In this context, it refers to the act of serving idols, which is a significant departure from serving God. The Qal form indicates a simple action, and the third person masculine plural indicates that this was a collective action by the people.
This word is often associated with various types of service, including religious service, which in this case is directed towards idolatrous images. The use of this verb here underscores the seriousness of their actions, as they chose to serve false gods instead of the living God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs יַּעַבְד֥וּ (they served) and יִּהְי֖וּ (they became) govern the structure of the verse. The first verb introduces the action of worshiping, while the second verb describes the consequence of that action.
The sentence structure is straightforward, with the main action leading directly to its result, illustrating a cause-and-effect relationship between idolatry and its consequences.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, עָבַד is rendered as ἐδούλευσαν (edouleusan), which means 'they served' or 'they became slaves.' This choice emphasizes the servitude aspect of idolatry, indicating that the Israelites became enslaved to their idols.
The term מוֹקֵשׁ is translated as σκάνδαλον (skandalon), which can mean 'a stumbling block' or 'a trap.' This translation highlights the destructive nature of idolatry, portraying it as a source of temptation and downfall.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 106:36 tells us that the Israelites worshiped idols, which became a trap for them. This verse shows how turning away from God to serve other gods leads to serious consequences.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the worship of idols led to their downfall, trapping them in sin and causing destruction.
They were influenced by the nations around them and turned away from the true God, seeking to adopt the customs of those nations.
Idols can include physical objects like statues or images, as well as anything that takes the place of God in a person's heart.
By keeping our focus on God and ensuring that nothing else takes priority in our lives over our relationship with Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some modern-day idols that people might worship instead of God?
- How can I ensure that my worship is directed towards God alone?
- What steps can I take to avoid being trapped by distractions in my faith?
- How does understanding the consequences of idolatry impact my daily choices?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 106:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they served their idols,.... Of gold and silver, wood and stone; the works of men's hands, senseless creatures; which are nothing in the world, and bring grief and sorrow to the worshippers of
Read John Gill on Psalms 106 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: -From the fathers in the wilderness the Psalmist turns to the sons in Canaan.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 106 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhich idols were an occasion of their falling both into further and greater sins, as it follows, ,38; and into utter ruin, as this phrase also notes, , &c.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 106 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 106:36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.Ver. 36. And they served their idols] The devil is ειδωλοχαρης, saith Synesius, a lover of idolatry, and he speaks through idolaters as through his trunks, persuading people to like practice, as did Julian, whom an ancient, therefore, called Idolian. Which were a snare unto them] Or, a ruin, as some render it; they were first drawn in, and then undone by them.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 106 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(34-39) The national sin after the settlement in Canaan.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 106 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 36. They served their idols] עצביהם atsabbeyhem, their labours or griefs-idols, so called because of the pains taken in forming them, the labor in worshipping them, and the grief occasioned by the Divine judgments against the people for their idolatry.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 106 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges36. which were &c.] And they became a snare unto them, as they had been forewarned, Exodus 23:33, &c. P.B.V. which turned to their own decay = which proved their ruin.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 106 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd they served their idols - Judges 2:12-13, Judges 2:17, Judges 2:19; Judges 3:6-7. Which were a snare unto them - Like the snares or toils by which birds and wild beasts are caught.
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 worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
Tyndale line
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.
And they served their idols; which became a snare unto them:
And they served their idols: which were a snare to them.
And serued their idoles, which were their ruine.
Strictly literal
And they served their idols; and they were a snare unto them:
And serve their idols, And they are to them for a snare.
And serve their idols, || And they are for a snare to them.
And they served their idols, and these became unto them a snare.
and worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
From the Latin
And hath placed there the hungry; and they made a city for their habitation.
Simplified
They worshiped their pagan idols which became a trap for them.
And they gave worship to images; which were a danger to them:
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 states, "וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־ עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָהֶ֣ם לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃" which translates to, "They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them." The Septuagint has a similar meaning but does not provide a direct word-for-word translation in this instance, as it reflects its own structure and articles. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not have surviving texts for this specific verse, so we cannot compare them here. However, the agreement between the Masoretic Text and the general sentiment in the Septuagint indicates a consistent understanding of the worship of idols leading to a snare.
וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־ עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָהֶ֣ם לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃
4 of the 6 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 106:36
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.
עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.
עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve
Qal
labour, work, do work
work for another, serve him by labour
serve as subjects
serve God
serve י׳ with Levitical service
Niph.
be tilled, of land
dub. cultivated field
Pu. worked
Hiph.
compel to labour as slaves
make to serve as subjects
cause to serve God
Hoph. be led or enticed to serve
base
H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work
. work for another, serve him by labour
. serve as subjects
. serve God
. serve י׳ with Levitical service
. . be tilled, of land
. dub. cultivated field
. worked
. . compel to labour as slaves
. make to serve as subjects
. cause to serve God
. be led or enticed to serve
5647 `abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to
serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in
bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,
execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,
(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)
servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from
margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.
: serve[someone]
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve
1d2) to cause to serve as subjects
1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.
: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
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
עָצָב (atsab) means 'idol' or 'image' and is derived from the root word for 'to carve' or 'to fashion.' The entries consistently define it as an idolatrous image, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[עָצָב] n.[m.] idol
base
H6091 [עָצָב] idol
6091 `atsab aw-tsawb'
from 6087; an (idolatrous) image:--idol, image.
see HEBREW for 06087
עָצָב (a.tsav) — idol.
idol, image
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
מוֹקֵשׁ (mowqesh) refers to a bait or lure used in trapping, particularly in a fowler's net, and can also mean a snare in a figurative sense. It is derived from a root meaning to catch, and its implications include a noose or hook for capturing animals. The entries consistently describe it as a snare or trap.
מוֹקֵשׁ n.m. prop. a bait or lure in a fowler's net; then fig. a snare
base
H4170 מוֹקֵשׁ prop. a bait or lure in a fowler's net; then fig. a snare
4170 mowqesh mo-kashe'
or moqesh {mo-kashe'}; from 3369; a noose (for catching
animals) (literally or figuratively): by implication, a hook
(for the nose):--be ensnared, gin, (is) snare(-d), trap.
see HEBREW for 03369
מוֹקֵשׁ (mo.qesh) — snare.
bait, lure, snare
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
snar (pach; pagis, but brochos, in 1Co 7:35): Over half a dozen Hebrew words are used to indicate different methods of taking birds and animals, of which the snare (pach) is mentioned oftener than any other. It was a noose of hair for small birds, of wire for larger birds or smaller animals. The snares were set in a favorable location and grain scattered to attract the attention of feathered creatures. They accepted the bribe of good feeding and walked into the snare, not suspecting danger. For this reason the snare became particularly applicable in describing a tempting bribe offered by men to lead their fellows into trouble, and the list of references is a long one, all of the same nature. See Ex 10:7; 1Sa 18:21; 28:9;
Snare
The expression (Amos 3:5), “Shall one take up a snare from the earth?” etc. (Authorized Version), ought to be, as in the Revised Version, “Shall a snare spring up from the ground?” etc. (See GIN.)
→ General scriptures concerning Am 3:5
→ FIGURATIVE
Of the evils in life of wicked people Job 18:8-10
Of the devices of evil people to deceive the righteous Ps 91:3; Jer 5:26
See AMBUSH
See CONSPIRACY
See PIT