Psalms 106:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people exchanged their glorious God for a lifeless image of an ordinary animal.
The Context of Psalms 106:20
A theological commentary on the golden calf's absurdity—exchanging the living God for a dead representation of a creature.
What Does Psalms 106:20 Mean?
The contrast is stark: 'glory' refers to God's splendor and majesty, the revealed presence of the divine. They exchanged this for 'an ox that eateth grass'—a creature of earth and appetite, utterly powerless and ordinary.
The equation of the golden calf to a grazing ox emphasizes its baseness and futility. It may be made of gold, but what it represents is merely an animal, incapable of delivering, protecting, or blessing them.
Psalms 106:20 in the Original Language
tammunat (תְּמוּנַת), 'similitude' — likeness, shape, the form or image of something.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 106:20
What does Psalms 106:20 mean?
The people exchanged their glorious God for a lifeless image of an ordinary animal.
What is the context of Psalms 106:20?
A theological commentary on the golden calf's absurdity—exchanging the living God for a dead representation of a creature.