Psalms 106:36

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

And they served {H5647} their idols {H6091}: which were a snare {H4170} unto them.

They went on to serve their idols, which became a snare for them.

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

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

Psalms 106:36 is a poignant verse from a historical psalm that recounts the cyclical disobedience of the Israelites and God's enduring faithfulness. This particular verse highlights a critical failure in their covenant relationship with God after entering the promised land.

Context

Psalm 106 serves as a national confession, detailing Israel's repeated rebellion against God from the Exodus to the Babylonian exile. Verses 34-39 specifically describe their failure to obey God's command to utterly destroy the Canaanite nations (as instructed in Deuteronomy 7:2). Instead of driving them out, they mingled with the heathen and learned their works (Psalms 106:35). This verse, "And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them," directly states the disastrous consequence of that mingling: the adoption of pagan worship and its entrapment.

Key Themes

  • The Peril of Idolatry: The primary theme is the serving of false gods. Israel, chosen to be God's unique people, repeatedly turned away from the one true God to worship the lifeless idols of the surrounding nations. This was a direct violation of the First Commandment.
  • The Deceptive Nature of Sin: The phrase "which were a snare unto them" powerfully illustrates how sin, particularly idolatry, operates. It promises satisfaction or power but ultimately traps, enslaves, and brings ruin. What seems appealing or harmless becomes a destructive force.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: This verse underscores that disobedience to God's clear commands, especially regarding spiritual purity, leads to severe and often self-inflicted harm. The idols didn't merely exist; serving them actively harmed Israel.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Idols" (Hebrew: אֱלִילִים - 'elilim): This term often carries the connotation of "worthless things," "nothings," or "vanities." It emphasizes the impotence and futility of the objects of false worship, contrasting sharply with the omnipotent God of Israel.
  • "Snare" (Hebrew: מוֹקֵשׁ - moqesh): This word literally means a trap, a gin, or a lure. It vividly describes something that entangles, captures, and leads to destruction. It's often used in wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs 29:6) to describe the ruinous outcome of folly or transgression.

Practical Application

While modern societies may not worship physical statues, the principle of idolatry remains highly relevant. Anything that takes priority over God in our lives—be it money, career, relationships, power, comfort, or even self-image—can become an idol. Just as the Canaanite idols were a "snare" for ancient Israel, these modern idols can subtly ensnare us, leading to spiritual emptiness, moral compromise, and ultimately, a separation from God's blessings and purpose.

This verse serves as a timeless warning to guard our hearts against anything that competes with God for our ultimate allegiance. It calls us to spiritual discernment, recognizing that what the world offers as fulfilling can often be a trap, leading to consequences that are far from liberating. True freedom and blessing are found only in serving the one true God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • Judges 2:3

    Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 78:58

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

  • Judges 2:12

    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.

  • Judges 2:15

    Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

  • 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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