Psalms 106:20

“And they exchanged their glory for the likeness of an ox that eats grass.”
Psalms 106:20 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

20

And they exchangedוַיָּמִירוּtheir gloryכְּבוֹדָםfor the likenessבְּתַבְנִיתof an oxשׁוֹרthat eatsאֹכֵלgrass.עֵשֶׂב

Allusion · Romans 1:23

Go to Romans 1:23

Both texts say that they exchanged the glory (of God) for the image of an animal: in the psalm, the golden calf.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

יָּמִירוּyamiruH4171ἤλλαξανēllaxanG236“exchange”
כְּבוֹדָkevodaH3519δόξανdoxanG1391“glory, honor”

Psalms 106:20, word by word

And they exchangedיָּמִירוּyamiru

substitute

To put one thing in place of another.

Where else “yamiru” appears

their gloryכְּבוֹדָkevoda

glory

God's majesty and presence.

Where else “kevoda” appears

for the likenessתַבְנִיתtavnit

figure

The image or figure that represents something, often an idol.

Where else “tavnit” appears

of an oxשׁוֹרshor

ox, bull

Ox or bull: a head of cattle.

Where else “shor” appears

that eatsאֹכֵלochel

eat

To bring food to the mouth and swallow it, above all at a shared table.

Where else “ochel” appears

grassעֵשֶׂבesev

plants, vegetation

Small plants, herbs and crops that serve as food for people and animals.

Where else “esev” appears

The context

19They made a calf at Horeb and bowed down to a cast image.

20 · This verse (above)

21They forgot El their savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

Read all of Psalms 106