Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 50:13
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
13. Such a gross and material notion of sacrifice was common in heathen countries, and the survival of the phrase ‘bread’ or ‘food of Jehovah’ seems to indicate that it once existed even in Israel. See Lev 3:11; Lev 21:6; Lev 21:8; Lev 21:17; Lev 21:21; &c. See Robertson Smith, Religion of the Semites, p. 207.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? – This is said to show still further the absurdity of the views which seem to have prevailed among those who offered sacrifices. They offered them as if they were needed by God; as if they laid him under obligation; as if in some way they contributed to his happiness, or were essential to his welfare. The only supposition on which this could be true was, that he needed the flesh of the one for food, and the blood of the other for drink; or that he was sustained as creatures are. Yet this was a supposition, which, when it was stated in a formal manner, must be at once seen to be absurd; and hence the emphatic question in this verse. It may serve to illustrate this, also, to remark, that, among the pagan, the opinion did undoubtedly prevail that the gods ate and drank what was offered to them in sacrifice; whereas the truth was, that these things were consumed by the priests who attended on pagan altars, and conducted the devotions of pagan temples, and who found that it contributed much to their own support, and did much to secure the liberality of the people, to keep up the impression that what was thus offered was consumed by the gods. God appeals here to his own people in this earnest manner because it was to be presumed that they had higher conceptions of him than the pagan had; and that, enlightened as they were, they could not for a moment suppose these offerings necessary for him. This is one of the passages in the Old Testament which imply that God is a Spirit, and that, as such, he is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth. Compare Joh 4:24.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. Will I eat the flesh of bulls] Can ye be so simple as to suppose that I appointed such sacrifices for my own gratification? All these were significative of a spiritual worship, and of the sacrifice of that Lamb of God which, in the fulness of time, was to take away, in an atoning manner, the sin of the world.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
If I did want anything, hast thou such carnal and gross conceptions of me, that I need or delight in the blood of brute creature.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?] That is, express a pleasure, take delight and satisfaction, in such kind of sacrifices, which can never take away sin: no, I will not; wherefore other sacrifices, more agreeable to his nature, mind, and will, and to the Gospel dispensation, are next mentioned.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
13. Will I eat the flesh of bulls Such gross ideas of worship as linger in the mere forms, as if God delighted in them, arise from gross ideas of God, and this is the source of corruption in all heathenism and false religions.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 50:13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Ver. 13. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, &c.? ] q.d. Are you so thick brained as to think so?
Vervecum in patria, crassoque sub aere nati?
No; “He that killeth an ox” (unless he kill his corruptions too) “is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb” (unless he see his own guilt, and be carried out to the immaculate Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world) is “as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation” (unless therewith he offer up himself for a whole burnt sacrifice, Rom 12:1 ) is “as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense” (unless he lift up holy hands in prayer without wrath, and without doubting, 1Ti 2:8 ) is “as if he blessed an idol,” Isa 66:3 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Reciprocal: Lev 7:12 – a thanksgiving Deu 32:38 – eat the fat Deu 33:19 – they shall Psa 69:31 – also shall Joh 4:24 – must Rom 12:1 – that ye
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
50:13 {k} Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
(k) Though man’s life for the infirmity of it has need of food, yet God whose life quickens all the world, has no need of such means.