Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 106:20
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
20. So they exchanged their glory
For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
Jehovah was the glory of Israel (Deu 4:6-8; Deu 10:21); and this spiritual invisible God they bartered for the likeness of an animal, such as they were forbidden to make (Deu 4:16-18; Exo 20:4). Cp. Jer 2:11.
The reading their glory is reckoned as one of the eighteen Tiqqn Spherm [60] or ‘corrections of the scribes,’ and is said to stand for ‘his glory.’ It is disputed whether the term means that the scribes actually altered the text from motives of reverence, or held that his glory was what the Psalmist would have written, had he not purposely avoided it as an indecorous expression. It is noteworthy that some MSS of the LXX ( c.a ART) read his glory, and to this form of the text St Paul refers in Rom 1:23. The Targ. gives ‘the glory of their Lord.’
[60] See Ginsburg, Introd. to the Heb. Bible, pp. 347 ff., who holds the view that the Scribes altered the text: and Barnes in the journal of Theol. Studies, i. 387 ff., who holds that the so-called corrections are interpretations not readings.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thus they changed their glory – Their true glory – the proper object of worship – God. Compare the notes at Rom 1:23. They exchanged that as an object of worship for the image of an ox.
Into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass – Into the likeness of an ox. That is, They worshipped God under that image. The circumstance of its eating grass is added to show the absurdity of the act. Instead of worshipping God – an independent Being, who does not need to be supported, but who himself sustains all things, and provides for all – they worshipped an animal that had need of constant sustenance, and would itself soon die if deprived of its proper nourishment. Compare the notes at Isa 40:18-20; notes at Isa 41:6-7.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. Thus they changed their glory] That is, their God, who was their glory; and they worshipped an ox in his stead. See the use St Paul makes of this, Ro 1:23; see also the note there. See Clarke on Ro 1:23. The incorruptible God was thus served by all the heathen world.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Changed, as far as in them lay, and in respect of their worship.
Their glory; their God, who was indeed their glory; for they had this just occasion of triumphing and glorying over all the nations of the world; that whereas all other nations worshipped stocks and stones, or the heavenly bodies, or dead men, they only worshipped the living and true God, who was present and in covenant with them, and with them only.
Into the similitude of an ox; into the golden image of an ox or calf.
That eateth grass; which is so far from feeding his people, as the true God did the Israelites, that he must be fed by them. And yet the image of such a creature was preferred by them, before the all-sufficient and ever-blessed God, which was an evidence of their horrid contempt of God, and also of their prodigious folly and stupidity.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Thus they changed their glory,…. God, who is glorious in all the perfections of his nature, and is glory itself, and was the glory of these people; it was their greatest honour that they had knowledge of him, nearness to him, the true worship of him among them, and that they were worshippers of him; and who, though he is unchangeable in himself, may be said to be changed when another is substituted and worshipped in his room, or worshipped besides him; which was what the Heathen did, and in which the Israelites exceeded them, Ro 1:23, the Targum is,
“they changed the glory of their Lord.”
Into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass; which was monstrous stupidity, to leave the worship of the true God, El Shaddai, God all sufficient, all powerful, that stands in need of nothing, but upholds and supports all creatures in being, and provides them with necessaries; and worship an ox, yea, the figure of one that eats grass, that lives on hay, and is supported by that which is so weak and withering; the Targum adds,
“and makes dung;”
or defiles itself with it, as the ox does while it is eating grass; Jarchi observes, there is nothing more abominable and filthy than an ox when it is eating grass, which then makes much dung, and defiles itself; this the Targumist adds, to make the worship of such a creature the more contemptible.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) Their gloryi.e., Jehovah, as shown by Jer. 2:11.
Similitude.This is also a Deuteronomic word (Deu. 4:16; Deu. 4:18), meaning originally structure, from a root meaning to build, and so form, model.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Their glory The cloud of light, or fire, in which God appeared to them, as Exo 16:7; Exo 16:10; Exo 24:16-17; Deu 5:24. In all these appearances “they saw no similitude.” Deu 4:12; Deu 4:15. In making one they fundamentally revolted from Jehovah, though they saw it not at first. Comp. Rom 1:23.
That eateth grass A description at once definitive of species and expressive of contempt.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 106:20. They changed their glory That is, their God, who was their glory; as Jer 2:11. Compare Rom 1:23. This passage fully shews that the golden calf was intended as a symbolic representation of Jehovah. See Exo 32:4.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 106:20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
Ver. 20. Thus they changed their glory ] i.e. Their God, Rom 1:23 , the Creator for a contemptible creature.
Of an ox that eateth grass
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
their glory. The primitive text was “My glory”, but this was changed by the Sopherim to “their” out of a mistaken reverence. See App-33.
glory. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for God Himself. Who was and should have been He Whom they gloried in.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Thus: Psa 89:17, Jer 2:11, Rom 1:22, Rom 1:23
their glory: That is, their God, who ought to have been the peculiar object of their glory.
into: Exo 20:4, Exo 20:5, Isa 40:18-25
Reciprocal: Deu 4:16 – corrupt 1Sa 4:21 – The glory 1Ki 14:9 – thou hast gone 2Ki 14:24 – he departed 2Ch 11:15 – for the calves Psa 4:2 – my glory Eze 5:6 – she hath Dan 4:25 – to eat Hos 8:6 – from Act 17:29 – we ought 1Co 10:7 – be
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
106:20 Thus they changed their {k} glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
(k) He shows that all idolaters renounce God to be their glory when instead of him, they worship any creature much more wood, stone, metal or calves.