Romans 1:23 (DBY)

Passage

and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into [the] likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and quadrupeds and reptiles.

Nearby Context

Romans 1:21 Because, knowing God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened:

Romans 1:22 professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into [the] likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and quadrupeds and reptiles.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God gave them up [also] in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies between themselves:

Romans 1:25 who changed the truth of God into falsehood, and honoured and served the creature more than him who had created [it], who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "changed", "glory", "incorruptible", "likeness", "image", "birds", and "quadrupeds". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "changed" and "glory", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "professing themselves to be wise they became..." into verse 24's "Wherefore God gave them up also in...", so "changed" and "glory" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "changed" and "glory" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.