Their heart is as fat as grease; [but] I delight in thy law.
Their hearts are as thick as fat, but I take delight in your Torah.
Their hearts are hard and callous, but I delight in Your law.
Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
-
Psalms 17:10
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. -
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. -
Psalms 73:7
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. -
Psalms 119:16
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. -
Isaiah 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. -
Psalms 40:8
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart. -
Romans 7:22
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Psalms 119:70 presents a striking contrast between the spiritual condition of those who disregard God's ways and the Psalmist's profound devotion to divine instruction. This verse encapsulates a core theme of Psalm 119: the supreme value of God's law amidst a world often indifferent or hostile to it.
Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic poem celebrating the beauty, wisdom, and power of God's Word. Throughout its 176 verses, the Psalmist expresses an unwavering love and commitment to God's statutes, precepts, and commandments. Verse 70 appears in the Yodh section, following expressions of affliction and the faithfulness of God. The "their" likely refers to the proud, the arrogant, or those who persecute the righteous, as alluded to in other verses like Psalm 119:51 and Psalm 119:61, who reject or mock God's law.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "their heart is as fat as grease" (KJV) uses the Hebrew word חֵלֶב (chelev), which literally means "fat." While fat in other contexts could signify the best or richest part (e.g., offerings), here it carries a negative connotation. It implies a heart that has become dull, heavy, and unresponsive, much like an organ clogged with fat loses its sensitivity and function. It suggests a spiritual dullness or insensitivity, a heart grown callous through prosperity or indifference to God's ways. The word for "delight" (שַׁעֲשֻׁעִים - sha'ashu'im) signifies deep pleasure, enjoyment, and even playful amusement, indicating a joyful engagement with God's instruction, far from a begrudging obligation.
Practical Application
This verse serves as a powerful call to self-examination. Am I allowing worldly preoccupations or self-indulgence to dull my spiritual senses, making my heart "fat as grease"? Or do I, like the Psalmist, find genuine delight and spiritual vitality in God's Word? The verse encourages believers to cultivate a heart that is tender and receptive to God's voice, actively seeking His will and finding joy in His precepts. It reminds us that true spiritual well-being comes from a continuous engagement with and love for God's divine instruction, as exemplified by the Psalmist's longing for God's testimonies in Psalm 119:24.