Psalm 66 18

Psalm 66:18 kjv

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Psalm 66:18 nkjv

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.

Psalm 66:18 niv

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

Psalm 66:18 esv

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Psalm 66:18 nlt

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.

Psalm 66 verses

Psalm 66 18 Meaning

Psalm 66:18 expresses a fundamental truth about God's holiness and His relationship with humanity: If the psalmist had cherished or delighted in sin in his heart, the Sovereign Lord would not have listened to or answered his prayer. This verse highlights that unconfessed, cherished sin creates a barrier to communion with a holy God, specifically impacting the effectiveness of prayer. It implies that the reason the psalmist's prayer was heard (as the preceding verses imply deliverance) is because his heart was pure and not clinging to wickedness.

Psalm 66 18 Context

Psalm 66 is a hymn of thanksgiving, divided into two main sections. The first section (vv. 1-12) is a communal call to all the earth to praise God for His mighty works, particularly for delivering Israel through historical trials (e.g., the Red Sea, the wilderness). The psalmist recounts God's powerful acts and severe testing, which ultimately led to a place of abundance. The second section (vv. 13-20) transitions to a personal thanksgiving for answered prayer and specific deliverance. The psalmist pledges to offer sacrifices and fulfill vows made in distress.

Verse 18 serves as a pivotal theological explanation within this personal thanksgiving. Having recounted his vows and intention to bring sacrifices, he explains why God listened to his personal cry. It establishes the precondition for God's favorable hearing – the absence of cherished sin in the heart. This verse links personal spiritual integrity directly to divine responsiveness, leading to the confident declaration in verse 19, "But certainly God has heard; He has given attention to the voice of my prayer." Historically and culturally, the ancient Israelite understanding of covenant loyalty, purity, and sin heavily influenced their approach to God, especially concerning access to the Temple and the efficacy of prayers and sacrifices. Sin was perceived not merely as a breaking of a rule but as a violation of relationship, incurring divine displeasure and withdrawal.

Psalm 66 18 Word analysis

• If (אִם - im): This is a conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation. It sets up a cause-and-effect relationship, emphasizing that the positive outcome (God hearing) depends on the psalmist's inner disposition. It doesn't imply actual sin was present, but highlights the condition for hearing.
• I regard (אָוֶן רָאִיתִי - ra'iti 'aven):
  • regard (רָאִיתִי - ra'iti): From the root ra'ah, meaning "to see," "behold," "gaze at," but here it takes on a deeper sense of internal consideration, dwelling upon, cherishing, or contemplating. It implies more than merely having an evil thought pass through the mind; it speaks to actively harboring, delighting in, or assenting to sin. It's not about involuntary temptation but a deliberate allowance of sin to lodge and rule in the heart.
  • iniquity (אָוֶן - 'aven): This Hebrew term signifies wickedness, evil, mischief, trouble, or vanity. It often denotes moral perversity, often specifically related to idolatry, injustice, or destructive acts. Here, it refers to sin that originates from a corrupted inner disposition or thought life.
• in my heart (בְלִבִּי - b'libbi): Refers to the innermost being, the core of one's will, affections, intentions, and conscience. In biblical thought, the "heart" is the seat of all understanding, decision-making, and moral disposition. This emphasizes that God looks beyond outward actions to the true motivations and inclinations within. It stresses internal purity over mere external conformity.
• the Lord (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): A deferential title for God, often translated as "Sovereign Lord" or "Master." It emphasizes His authority, sovereignty, and rightful claim over His creation. It signifies a profound respect and acknowledgment of His divine person.
• would not hear (לֹא יִשְׁמָע - lo' yishma):
  • would not (לֹא - lo'): The strong negative particle, expressing absolute refusal or denial.
  • hear (יִשְׁמָע - yishma): From the root shama', meaning "to hear," "listen," "obey," or "understand." In the context of prayer, it means to give heed, respond favorably, and act upon the request. The negative form clearly indicates that if the condition (cherished sin) were met, God's listening ear would be shut off.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "If I regard iniquity in my heart": This phrase precisely defines the internal condition that severs communion. It's not incidental sin or even regretted sin, but cherished or desired sin – sin that is embraced inwardly and given lodging. It points to a conscious choice to allow evil thoughts, desires, or intentions to reside within the soul.
  • "the Lord would not hear": This clearly states the divine consequence. A holy God cannot be petitioned effectively by a heart clinging to unholy desires. This is not arbitrary; it stems from God's perfect holiness and justice, which cannot tolerate complicity with evil. It illustrates a direct link between spiritual state and effective prayer.

Psalm 66 18 Bonus section

The profound insight of Psalm 66:18, connecting cherished sin with unanswered prayer, finds its ultimate resolution and application in the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, the Law provided a framework for righteousness and understanding sin, but offered limited means for deep internal purification. The psalmist here implies a striving for internal integrity, perhaps through seeking to avoid certain thought patterns or repenting of them.

However, the coming of Jesus Christ shifted the paradigm dramatically. His sacrificial death on the cross did not only deal with the penalty of sin but also its power and its presence in the believer's heart. Through faith in Christ, believers receive a new heart (Ezek 36:26), and the Holy Spirit indwells them, empowering them to battle sin at its very root – in the heart and mind (Rom 8:1-4). While believers may still experience temptation or even stumble, the critical distinction from Psalm 66:18 is the presence of the Holy Spirit to convict and lead to confession and repentance. The provision in 1 John 1:9 ensures that confessed sin does not eternally separate the believer from God or cause permanent refusal of His ear, because our ultimate righteousness is found in Christ (2 Cor 5:21), and He is our Advocate (1 Jn 2:1). This allows continued communion, even when individual sins arise, provided there is a turning away from cherishing them.

Psalm 66 18 Commentary

Psalm 66:18 powerfully communicates God's profound interest in the human heart. It is not merely the outward act of sin that obstructs our relationship with Him, but the internal "regard" or cherishing of iniquity. This 'regard' means to consent to sin in thought, to find pleasure in its contemplation, or to deliberately house unconfessed and unrepented wickedness within one's inner being. This inward disposition effectively shuts down the communication line with God, causing Him to "not hear." This does not imply that God is unaware of the prayer or its contents, but rather that He will not answer or act favorably on behalf of one whose heart remains rebellious. God is holy, and while He is merciful to forgive sin that is repented of and confessed, He will not endorse or validate a lifestyle or a heart that willingly embraces what is contrary to His nature. This verse calls believers to radical internal integrity, recognizing that true access to God's presence and power in prayer flows from a sincere, clean heart that delights in His ways rather than in wickedness. It underscores the truth that communion with God requires moral congruence and spiritual authenticity.

Examples for practical usage:

• Before praying, take a moment for self-examination, asking if there's any unconfessed sin you're knowingly holding onto.
• When prayers seem unanswered, consider not just your methods or requests, but the posture of your heart.
• Recognize that the pursuit of personal holiness is directly connected to a vibrant prayer life and intimate fellowship with God.