Psalm 106:36
New International Version
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

New Living Translation
They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall.

English Standard Version
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

Berean Standard Bible
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

Berean Literal Bible
And they served their idols, and they were to them as a snare.

King James Bible
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

New King James Version
They served their idols, Which became a snare to them.

New American Standard Bible
And served their idols, Which became a snare to them.

NASB 1995
And served their idols, Which became a snare to them.

NASB 1977
And served their idols, Which became a snare to them.

Legacy Standard Bible
And served their idols, Which became a snare to them.

Amplified Bible
And served their idols, Which became a [dreadful] snare to them.

Berean Annotated Bible
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

Christian Standard Bible
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

American Standard Version
And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.

Contemporary English Version
Then they fell into the trap of worshiping idols.

English Revised Version
And they served their idols; which became a snare unto them:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and they worshiped their idols, which became a trap for them.

Good News Translation
God's people worshiped idols, and this caused their destruction.

International Standard Version
They worshipped their idols, and this became a trap for them.

NET Bible
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

New Heart English Bible
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they served their idols: which were a snare to them.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

World English Bible
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And serve their idols, "" And they are for a snare to them.

Berean Literal Bible
And they served their idols, and they were to them as a snare.

Young's Literal Translation
And serve their idols, And they are to them for a snare.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will serve their images, and they will be for a snare to them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
and served their idols, and it became a stumblingblock to them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and they served their graven images, and it became a scandal to them.

New American Bible
They served their idols and were ensnared by them.

New Revised Standard Version
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they served their idols, which were a snare to them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they feared their idols and they were a stumbling block to them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they served their idols, Which became a snare unto them;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they served their graven images; and it became an offence to them.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Give Thanks to the LORD, for He is Good
35but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. 36They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. 37They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.…

Cross References
They worshiped their idols

Acts 7:41
At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.

Exodus 32:8
How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”

2 Kings 17:12
They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”
which became a snare to them

Deuteronomy 7:16
You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

Judges 2:3
So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

Exodus 23:33
They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”
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, / for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

Judges 2:17
Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.

Judges 3:6-7
And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. / So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

2 Kings 17:15
They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

2 Kings 17:17
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

2 Chronicles 25:14
When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; …

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. …

Isaiah 44:9-20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. …

Jeremiah 10:3-5
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”


Treasury of Scripture

And they served their idols: which were a snare to them.

and

Psalm 78:58
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

Exodus 34:15,16
Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; …

Judges 2:12,13,17,19
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger…

which

Exodus 23:33
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

Deuteronomy 7:16
And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.

Joshua 23:13
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

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Psalm 106
1. The psalmist exhorts to praise God
4. He prays for pardon of sin, as God pardoned the fathers
7. The story of the people's rebellion, and God's mercy
47. He concludes with prayer and praise












They worshiped their idols,

Israel repeatedly adopted the gods and practices of the Canaanite peoples despite God’s command to worship Him alone. Idolatry violated the covenant and drew the nation into corrupt worship, including practices God had condemned. Rather than remembering the Lord who delivered them from Egypt, they gave devotion to lifeless images and false gods.

Act 7:41 At that time they made a calf and offered…
Exo 32:8 How quickly they have turned aside from the way…
2Ki 17:12 They served idols, although the LORD had told them,…

which became a snare to them.

The idols they embraced brought spiritual ruin and moral corruption. Their compromise led to oppression, defeat, and judgment, as foreign nations gained power over them. What Israel accepted as part of the surrounding culture became a trap that turned their hearts from the Lord.

Deu 7:16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God…
Jdg 2:3 So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people…
Exo 23:33 They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelites
The people of God who were delivered from Egypt but repeatedly fell into idolatry.

2. Canaan
The land promised to the Israelites, where they encountered pagan nations and their idols.

3. Idols
Objects of worship that the Israelites adopted from surrounding nations, contrary to God's commandments.

4. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who warned them against idolatry.

5. Pagan Nations
The surrounding cultures in Canaan that influenced the Israelites to worship false gods.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can be anything that takes the place of God in our lives. It becomes a snare, leading us away from true worship.

Cultural Influence
Just as the Israelites were influenced by the surrounding nations, Christians today must be vigilant against cultural pressures that lead us away from God.

Spiritual Vigilance
We must constantly examine our hearts and lives to ensure that nothing becomes more important than our relationship with God.

Obedience to God's Commands
Following God's commandments protects us from the snares of idolatry and keeps us aligned with His will.

Repentance and Restoration
When we fall into idolatry, repentance is crucial. God is faithful to restore us when we turn back to Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 106:36?

2. How does Psalm 106:36 warn against idolatry in our modern lives?

3. What are the consequences of serving idols according to Psalm 106:36?

4. How can we identify "idols" in our lives today?

5. What scriptural connections highlight the dangers of idolatry in the Bible?

6. How can we apply Psalm 106:36 to strengthen our faithfulness to God?

7. How does Psalm 106:36 relate to idolatry in modern society?

8. What historical context influenced the message of Psalm 106:36?

9. How does Psalm 106:36 challenge personal beliefs about materialism?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 106?


Verse 36. - And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them; or, which became a snare unto them. The idols worshipped were especially Baal and Ashtoreth - the nature-god and nature-goddess, sometimes identified with the sun and moon. These alone are mentioned in the time of the Judges. Afterwards, however, Chemosh, Molech, Remphan, the gods of Syria, and perhaps Ammon of Egypt, were added to the catalogue (1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 21:19; 2 Chronicles 28:23; Acts 7:43).

Psalm 106:36 is a sober reminder that whatever we choose to honor above the LORD will inevitably master us. Israel’s story is recorded so we can avoid the same trap: reserve worship for God alone, tear down every rival, and walk in the freedom He designed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They worshiped
וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ (way·ya·‘aḇ·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

their idols,
עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם (‘ă·ṣab·bê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6091: An, image

which became
וַיִּהְי֖וּ (way·yih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a snare to them.
לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃ (lə·mō·w·qêš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4170: A bait or lure, a snare


Additonal Resources
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Psalm 106:36 Bible Gateway
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OT Poetry: Psalm 106:36 They served their idols which became (Psalm Ps Psa.)

Psalm 106:35
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