Psalm 10 3

Psalm 10:3 kjv

For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

Psalm 10:3 nkjv

For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.

Psalm 10:3 niv

He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

Psalm 10:3 esv

For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.

Psalm 10:3 nlt

For they brag about their evil desires;
they praise the greedy and curse the LORD.

Psalm 10 verses

Psalm 10 3 Meaning

Psalm 10:3 portrays the nature of the wicked individual through three distinct but interconnected actions. It reveals that the wicked boast and find delight in their own corrupt desires and illicit gains, openly endorse and commend others who share their morally perverse, greedy ways, and ultimately, demonstrate a profound, active contempt for the LORD. This verse concisely encapsulates the internal state, external alliance, and spiritual rebellion characteristic of those opposed to God's righteousness.

Psalm 10 3 Context

Psalm 10 forms a poignant lament, opening with the Psalmist's urgent cry questioning God's apparent distance in times of widespread injustice and oppression. It describes a world turned upside down where the wicked pursue the vulnerable and flourish without apparent consequence. Psalm 10:3 is a pivotal verse within this description, serving to profoundly illustrate the internal moral corruption of the wicked. It highlights their perverse values, wherein self-interest and lawlessness are celebrated, rather than the true worship and acknowledgment of God. The surrounding verses in Psalm 10 elaborate on the wicked's predatory nature, their rejection of divine judgment, and their self-sufficient arrogance (Pss 10:4-7). This verse reveals the deep spiritual source of their oppressive actions: a heart alienated from God and consumed by its own base desires.

Psalm 10 3 Word analysis

• For the wicked (רָשָׁע – rasha'): This Hebrew term refers to someone who is actively guilty, lawless, and unrighteous in the sight of God. It's not merely a neutral description but implies hostility towards divine order and deliberate practice of evil. The wicked stands in stark contrast to the righteous (צַדִּיק – tzaddiq).

• boasts (הִלֵּל – hillel): The verb hillel, in the Piel stem, typically means "to praise," "to glorify," or "to shout in triumph." Here, it's used reflexively, indicating self-praise or self-glorification. The wicked gloats or delights in their own actions and achievements, however corrupt they may be.

• of his heart's desire (תַּאֲוַת נַפְשׁוֹ – ta'avat nafsho): "Desire of his soul." This phrase speaks to the wicked's innermost longings and appetites. Ta'avah often carries a negative connotation, referring to craving or lust, particularly for what is illicit (e.g., Num 11:4). It emphasizes that their boasting stems from the fulfillment of their own ungodly passions and selfish agenda.

• he blesses (בֵּרֵךְ – berekh): The verb berekh, also in the Piel stem, typically means "to bless." In this context, it takes on an ironic or perverse meaning. Instead of blessing God or the righteous, the wicked actively commends, congratulates, or speaks well of others who are morally corrupt, showing a deep moral inversion where good is called evil and evil good.

• the greedy (בּוֹצֵעַ – botze'a): Derived from the verb בָּצַע (batza'), meaning "to cut off," "to gain illicitly," or "to extort." A botze'a is someone who profits by unjust, violent, or illicit means—a plunderer, extortioner, or covetous person. The wicked blesses or praises this kind of immoral behavior, affirming shared values of lawlessness and self-enrichment at others' expense.

• and renounces (נִאֵץ – ni'etz): This strong verb, ni'etz, means "to despise," "to scorn," "to revile," or "to spurn." It denotes active contempt, insult, and open defiance. It signifies more than mere ignorance or indifference; it's a deliberate and arrogant rejection of something or someone of value.

• the LORD (יְהוָה – YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's personal, covenant name, representing His sovereign authority, holiness, and faithfulness to His people. The wicked's contempt is directed against the very essence of the true and living God, His moral law, and His rule.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire": This opening statement establishes the self-centered foundation of the wicked's character. Their pride and sense of achievement are derived not from pleasing God or adhering to righteousness, but from gratifying their own deep-seated, often illicit, cravings. This indicates a radical anthropocentrism, where self reigns supreme over the Divine.
  • "he blesses the greedy": This phrase reveals the societal manifestation of the wicked's depravity. Not only are they corrupt within, but they actively encourage and validate similar corruption in others. This fosters a community of immorality, where unrighteous gain is celebrated and admired, forming a "fellowship of evil." This creates a powerful cultural dynamic against God's law.
  • "and renounces the LORD": This final, climatic declaration completes the wicked's portrait of rebellion. Their self-glory and moral inversion inevitably lead to an open and contemptuous rejection of God. It's a defiant spurning of the God who demands justice and righteousness, highlighting an active antagonism that refuses to submit to His authority or acknowledge His very existence as ruler and judge. The wicked’s blessing of evil aligns directly with their despising of God.

Psalm 10 3 Bonus section

Psalm 10:3, in its compact nature, encapsulates a profound theological truth about the nature of human rebellion against God. The sequence—boasting in desires, blessing evil-doers, and then renouncing the LORD—is instructive. It demonstrates that the path away from God is often characterized by first embracing selfish desires (Jas 1:14-15), which then leads to validating others who share similar corrupt paths, and ultimately culminates in an active, defiant rejection of the God who embodies holiness and justice. This systematic progression highlights how sin progressively hardens the heart, replacing devotion to God with an "inverted worship" where human desire becomes the idol and moral corruption is praised. The direct targeting of "the LORD" (YHWH) shows the personal and intentional nature of this renunciation; it's not simply forgetting God but actively pushing Him away with contempt.

Psalm 10 3 Commentary

Psalm 10:3 delivers a stark spiritual profile of the wicked individual, revealing their deep-seated depravity, perverted morality, and outright rebellion against God. The verse underscores that the core problem of the wicked stems from within: a heart consumed by its own selfish and often illicit desires, which they not only indulge but actually boast about. This self-exaltation directly correlates with an inverted moral compass, leading them to commend and approve those who, like themselves, pursue unjust gains through greed and exploitation. Their self-centeredness and their endorsement of wickedness culminate in the most serious offense: an active, disdainful renunciation of the LORD Himself. This is not passive unbelief, but a conscious, defiant scorn directed at the holy and covenant-keeping God. The verse exposes the fundamental conflict between the heart of man ruled by sin and the just character of the Almighty, showing that the ungodly are those whose entire life—from inward desires to outward associations—is fundamentally hostile to the One true God. For example, a corrupt leader who proudly displays ill-gotten wealth and surrounds themselves with cronies involved in similar illicit activities, while publicly mocking religious principles or any notion of divine justice, perfectly embodies this verse.