20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

Other Translations of Psalm 106:20

New International Version

20 They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.

English Standard Version

20 They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.

The Message

20 They traded the Glory for a cheap piece of sculpture - a grass-chewing bull!

New King James Version

20 Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass.

New Living Translation

20 They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 106:20

Commentary on Psalm 106:13-33

(Read Psalm 106:13-33)

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 appetite for the Bread of life, and then the soul must be lean. Those wretchedly forget themselves, that feast their bodies and starve their souls. Even the true believer will see abundant cause to say, It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed. Often have we set up idols in our hearts, cleaved to some forbidden object; so that if a greater than Moses had not stood to turn away the anger of the Lord, we should have been destroyed. If God dealt severely with Moses for unadvised words, what do those deserve who speak many proud and wicked words? It is just in God to remove those relations that are blessings to us, when we are peevish and provoking to them, and grieve their spirits.

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Other Translations of Romans 1:23

New International Version

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

English Standard Version

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

The Message

23 They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.

New King James Version

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

New Living Translation

23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 1:23

Commentary on Romans 1:18-25

(Read Romans 1:18-25)

The apostle begins to show that all mankind need the salvation of the gospel, because none could obtain the favour of God, or escape his wrath by their own works. For no man can plead that he has fulfilled all his obligations to God and to his neighbour; nor can any truly say that he has fully acted up to the light afforded him. The sinfulness of man is described as ungodliness against the laws of the first table, and unrighteousness against those of the second. The cause of that sinfulness is holding the truth in unrighteousness. All, more or less, do what they know to be wrong, and omit what they know to be right, so that the plea of ignorance cannot be allowed from any. Our Creator's invisible power and Godhead are so clearly shown in the works he has made, that even idolaters and wicked Gentiles are left without excuse. They foolishly followed idolatry; and rational creatures changed the worship of the glorious Creator, for that of brutes, reptiles, and senseless images. They wandered from God, till all traces of true religion must have been lost, had not the revelation of the gospel prevented it. For whatever may be pretended, as to the sufficiency of man's reason to discover Divine truth and moral obligation, or to govern the practice aright, facts cannot be denied. And these plainly show that men have dishonoured God by the most absurd idolatries and superstitions; and have degraded themselves by the vilest affections and most abominable deeds.