Psalms 66:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Had I cherished evil thoughts, Adonai would not have listened.

Berean Standard Bible:

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

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

If I regard^{H7200}{H8804)} iniquity^{H205} in my heart^{H3820}, the Lord^{H136} will not hear^{H8085}{H8799)} me:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Psalms 66:18

Psalm 66:18 is part of the Book of Psalms, a collection of Hebrew poetry that serves as a prayer book and a hymnal for Jewish and Christian worship. The Psalms cover a wide range of human emotions and spiritual experiences, from joy and thanksgiving to lament and penitence. They were written over many centuries, with some dating back to the time of King David, around the 10th century BCE.

The verse itself speaks to the theme of personal honesty and integrity in one's relationship with God. The psalmist declares that if one harbors sin or iniquity in their heart, the Lord will not listen to their prayers. This reflects the understanding that genuine worship and effective prayer require a pure heart and a life that seeks to align with God's will. The historical context of this verse is rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where faithfulness to the covenant was seen as essential for maintaining a right relationship with God.

In the broader context of Psalm 66, the psalmist calls the community to praise God for His mighty acts and deliverance (verses 1-12), offers a personal testimony of how God has been faithful to the psalmist (verses 13-17), and then concludes with the warning found in verse 18. This verse serves as a sobering reminder that insincerity and unconfessed sin can create a barrier between the individual and God, hindering divine-human communication. It encourages self-examination and repentance as prerequisites for approaching God in prayer.

The theme of Psalm 66:18 is consistent with the teachings of the prophets and the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible, which emphasize the importance of inner purity and the sincerity of the heart in worship and prayer. It also prefigures the New Testament's emphasis on the heart's condition in the teachings of Jesus, such as the Sermon on the Mount, where the purity of heart is linked to truly seeing God (Matthew 5:8).

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
2. Strong's Number: H205
   There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָוֶן
   Transliteration: ʼâven
   Pronunciation: aw-ven'
   Description: from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol; affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare אַיִן.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3820
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵב
   Transliteration: lêb
   Pronunciation: labe
   Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.
   
4. Strong's Number: H136
   There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
   Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
   Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
   Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.