Psalm 17:10 kjv
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
Psalm 17:10 nkjv
They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly.
Psalm 17:10 niv
They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
Psalm 17:10 esv
They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
Psalm 17:10 nlt
They are without pity.
Listen to their boasting!
Psalm 17 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 15:27 | "Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks." | Image of arrogant self-indulgence. |
| Psa 73:6 | "Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment." | Pride of the wicked as a prominent feature. |
| Psa 73:7 | "Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish." | Fatness associated with overflowing prosperity and arrogance. |
| Psa 119:70 | "Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law." | Spiritual insensitivity due to a hardened heart. |
| Deut 32:15 | "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God..." | Fatness leading to spiritual apostasy and arrogance. |
| Jer 5:28 | "They are waxen fat, they shine, yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper..." | Prosperity without justice, indicative of a hard heart. |
| Pr 16:18 | "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." | Warning against the inevitable fall of the proud. |
| Pr 21:24 | "Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath." | Description of the haughty and proud individual. |
| Isa 6:10 | "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." | Divine judgment of spiritual hardening. |
| Ezek 34:16 | "I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment." | God's judgment against the oppressors (the fat/strong). |
| Jas 4:6 | "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." | God's opposition to the proud, echoing their inevitable downfall. |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." | New Testament affirmation of God's resistance to pride. |
| Mt 13:15 | "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." | Echoes Isa 6:10, showing spiritual dullness. |
| Acts 28:27 | "For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." | Again echoing Isa 6:10 in the New Testament. |
| Job 20:23 | "When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating." | Judgment on the greedy and prosperous oppressor. |
| Psa 12:3 | "The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:" | God's judgment on those who speak proudly. |
| Psa 59:12 | "For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak." | Sin tied directly to proud and deceptive speech. |
| Isa 3:8 | "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory." | Mouth/tongue being instruments of rebellion against God. |
| 2 Sam 22:28 | "And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down." | God opposes the haughty and lifts the humble. |
| Mal 3:15 | "And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered." | Observation of the temporary prosperity of the wicked and proud. |
| Psa 94:4 | "How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?" | Proud and boasting speech of evildoers. |
Psalm 17 verses
Psalm 17 10 Meaning
Psalm 17:10 describes the characteristics of the psalmist's oppressors, portraying them as self-indulgent, spiritually dull, and arrogantly vocal in their defiance. "Inclosed in their own fat" symbolizes their material prosperity, leading to spiritual insensitivity, self-sufficiency, and an inability to feel empathy or respond to divine truth. This internal state of bloated self-importance then manifests externally as "with their mouth they speak proudly," indicating their boastful, arrogant, and contemptuous speech directed towards God and His righteous servants. The verse illustrates the ungodly character of those who trust in their own strength and possessions rather than the Lord.
Psalm 17 10 Context
Psalm 17 is a prayer of David, often referred to as a "prayer for justice" or a "plea for protection." The broader context of the Psalm involves David appealing to God to judge between him and his malicious enemies. He begins by asserting his own integrity and righteousness before God (vv. 1-5), then petitions God for help, appealing to God's unfailing love and power (vv. 6-9). Verse 10 specifically describes the nature of these enemies, setting the stage for David's request for God to deliver him from such hardened and arrogant individuals (vv. 11-14). Historically, this psalm could relate to periods when David was being persecuted by King Saul or Absalom, or facing the unjust opposition of those who sought his downfall. The description of the enemies in verse 10 explains why David so urgently needs divine intervention: these are not merely adversaries, but individuals whose character is intrinsically opposed to God's righteousness, characterized by self-indulgence and verbal arrogance.
Psalm 17 10 Word analysis
They: Refers to David's "deadly enemies" (v. 9), the "wicked" (v. 13) or the "men of the world" (v. 14).
are inclosed: Hebrew: sagar (סָגַר). Can mean to shut up, close, or be wrapped. Here, it suggests being encased or insulated, not just physically but metaphorically, by their prosperity. It implies being confined within their own narrow worldview, cut off from empathy or spiritual understanding.
in their own fat: Hebrew: chelbam (חֶלְבָּמוֹ), from chelev (חֵלֶב), meaning fat, choicest part. Metaphorically, this indicates abundance, prosperity, luxury, or spiritual insensitivity. Just as literal fat can make one insensitive to physical touch, figurative fat here means their spiritual senses are dulled. It speaks of a self-sufficient, bloated existence that prevents awareness of divine truth or human suffering. This concept links to an ancient understanding that prosperity could lead to spiritual apathy and moral corruption, particularly in cultures that valued outward appearance and wealth.
with their mouth: This specifies the instrument through which their inner character is expressed. The mouth, as the organ of speech, becomes a key indicator of their heart's condition.
they speak: Hebrew: dibberu (דִּבְּרוּ), from dabar (דָּבַר), to speak, declare, converse. It signifies a deliberate and continuous pattern of speech, not an isolated instance.
proudly: Hebrew: ga'avah (גֵּאוּת), meaning arrogance, haughtiness, pride, exaltation. This word conveys their self-exalting attitude, expressed through boasting, defiance, and disdain for others, especially those who walk in God's ways. Their speech is characterized by self-importance and a lack of reverence for God or proper regard for people.
"are inclosed in their own fat": This phrase graphically illustrates the consequence of their excessive prosperity and self-indulgence. Their wealth has made them oblivious to others, unresponsive to truth, and encased in their own comfort. It's an idiom for spiritual and moral callousness, highlighting a heart grown heavy and insensitive due to material abundance, rendering them impervious to the needs or struggles of others, or even divine admonition.
"with their mouth they speak proudly": This links their internal, calloused state to an outward, audible manifestation. The arrogance born of self-sufficiency erupts in boastful and contemptuous language. Their words reveal their proud hearts, their contempt for the psalmist (and by extension, for God), and their reliance on their own power or status. This verbal arrogance is a hallmark of the wicked who set themselves against God and His people.
Psalm 17 10 Bonus section
The imagery of "fatness" leading to spiritual dullness is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, not only as a descriptor of the wicked but also as a warning against the dangers of prosperity for God's own people. When Israel "waxed fat" (Deut 32:15), they "forsook God which made him," illustrating how abundance can breed forgetfulness and arrogance. This verse thus stands as a timeless cautionary principle: unchecked worldly success can foster spiritual apathy and lead to a hardened heart, expressed through prideful words and actions against the humble and righteous. This moral condition positions individuals directly in opposition to the kingdom of God, as divine grace is reserved for the humble, and judgment is against the proud.
Psalm 17 10 Commentary
Psalm 17:10 offers a concise, vivid portrait of the ungodly oppressor: a person so consumed by their own prosperity and self-importance that they become spiritually blind and vocally arrogant. Their "fat" represents an overabundance that numbs their senses and hardens their hearts, making them insensitive to righteousness or human suffering. This internal state of moral obesity inevitably spills over into proud, boastful speech, revealing their defiance towards God and their contempt for His servants. The verse underscores that internal corruption leads to external sinful behavior, particularly verbal expressions of pride and malice. David, in contrast, consistently demonstrates humility and dependence on God, making the stark opposition between him and his enemies evident. It's a reminder that true spiritual health lies not in worldly abundance, but in a humble and contrite spirit, trusting in the Lord alone.