"Exchanged the glory": וַיָּמִירוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדָם (Ps 106:20; Jer 2:11)

Says Ps 106:20 (LXX 105:20) recalls the calf at Horeb (106:19): וַיָּמִירוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדָם בְּתַבְנִית שׁוֹר (vayyamiru et-kevodam betavnit shor, "they exchanged their Glory for the image of an ox"), an ox אֹכֵל עֵשֶׂב (okhel 'esev, "eating grass"). The verb is Hiphil of the root BDB lists as H4171 (הֵמִיר, hemir, "change, exchange," BDB p. 558). Jer 2:11 uses it again: וְעַמִּי הֵמִיר כְּבוֹדוֹ (ve'ammi hemir kevodo, "but my people have exchanged their Glory") בְּלוֹא יוֹעִיל (belo' yo'il, "for what does not profit"). In both verses "their Glory" is God himself.

Says The LXX has ἠλλάξαντο τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν ἐν ὁμοιώματι μόσχου ἔσθοντος χόρτον (Ps 105:20) and ὁ δὲ λαός μου ἠλλάξατο τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ (Jer 2:11). Rom 1:23 reads ἤλλαξαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀφθάρτου θεοῦ ἐν ὁμοιώματι (ēllaxan tēn doxan … en homoiōmati). Ps 105:20 LXX supplies the run ἀλλάσσω + τὴν δόξαν + ἐν ὁμοιώματι.

Implies Paul describes humanity's idolatry in the words Israel used to confess its own worst apostasy. This prepares for Rom 2:1–3:20, where the Jew stands under the same charge. Rom 1:25 (μετήλλαξαν) repeats the verb.

Uncertain It is uncertain whether Paul wants the golden calf itself in view or only borrows the psalm's wording. The verbal link to Ps 105:20 LXX is strong either way.