Psalms 17:10

KJV

They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

KJV (with Strong's)

They are inclosed {H5462} in their own fat {H2459}: with their mouth {H6310} they speak {H1696} proudly {H1348}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They close their hearts to compassion; they speak arrogantly with their mouths;

Berean Standard Bible

They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.

American Standard Version

They are inclosed in their own fat: With their mouth they speak proudly.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 17:10 offers a stark portrayal of David's adversaries, depicting them as individuals whose abundant prosperity and self-indulgence have led to a profound spiritual insensitivity and an outward manifestation of profound arrogance. The verse employs vivid imagery to describe an internal state of being "inclosed in their own fat," signifying a heart hardened by self-sufficiency, which then overtly expresses itself through boastful, contemptuous, and defiant speech. This powerful description underscores the perilous interplay between worldly success, spiritual dullness, and prideful expression, serving as a critical foundation for David's earnest plea for divine intervention and justice against such ungodly opposition.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 17 is a deeply personal and fervent prayer of David, often classified as a "Michtam" or "golden psalm," functioning primarily as a lament and an impassioned appeal for divine vindication. Throughout the psalm, David meticulously contrasts his own unwavering integrity and blameless walk before God, as highlighted in his commitment to God's ways in [Psalm 17:3](/psalms/17-3 "Psalm 17:3 - David's Blameless Walk") and [Psalm 17:5](/psalms/17-5 "Psalm 17:5 - David's Commitment to God's Ways"), with the malevolent and self-serving nature of his persecutors. Verse 10 serves as a pivotal characterization of these adversaries, providing the theological rationale for David's desperate cry for God's intervention. It immediately follows David's assertion of his own righteousness and precedes his further detailed description of their predatory intent and the ultimate contrast with his profound hope in God's presence, articulated in [Psalm 17:11-15](/psalms/17-11-15 "Psalm 17:11-15 - David's Enemies and Hope in God's Presence").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David's extensive life, from his anointing as king to his eventual reign, was perpetually marked by formidable opposition, ranging from King Saul and the Philistines to later internal rebellions. Within ancient Near Eastern cultures, the imagery of "fat" frequently symbolized abundance, prosperity, and robust strength. However, when applied to individuals becoming "fat" in a pejorative sense, as it is here, it conveyed notions of self-indulgence, spiritual dullness, or an inflated sense of self-importance that tragically led to forgetting God. This negative connotation of prosperity without piety leading to spiritual hardening is a recurring motif in biblical texts, notably echoed in [Deuteronomy 32:15](/deuteronomy/32-15 "Deuteronomy 32:15 - Jeshurun Waxes Fat and Forsakes God"), where Jeshurun (Israel) grows prosperous and subsequently abandons God. Proud speech, in this cultural milieu, was considered a grave offense, an overt act of defiance against both human authority and, more significantly, divine sovereignty, reflecting a heart devoid of the fear of God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it offers a profound insight into **The Nature of the Wicked**, revealing their spiritual and moral condition as characterized by pride, self-sufficiency, and spiritual insensitivity, presenting these as core facets of their ungodliness. Secondly, it explores the dangerous connection between **Prosperity and Spiritual Hardening**. The vivid metaphor of being "inclosed in their own fat" directly links worldly abundance and success with a hardening of the heart, suggesting that material prosperity can render individuals impervious to divine truth, compassion, or correction. This theme resonates powerfully with warnings found throughout the wisdom literature and prophetic books. Finally, the detailed description of the enemies' character, particularly their pride, serves to underscore the righteousness of David's plea for **Divine Justice and Vindication**. This aligns with a pervasive theme in the Psalms, where the psalmist grapples with the perplexing apparent prosperity of the wicked, ultimately finding solace and resolution in God's sovereign justice and His unwavering promise to vindicate the righteous, as extensively explored in [Psalm 73](/psalms/73 "Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of the Wicked and God's Justice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **inclosed (Hebrew, _çâgar'_):** This primitive root signifies 'to shut up', 'to close in', 'to encompass', or 'to seal off'. In the context of Psalms 17:10, it powerfully implies that David's adversaries are completely encased or insulated by their own "fat," suggesting a state of being trapped or imprisoned by their condition. This spiritual enclosure renders them impervious to external influence, divine truth, or the pleas of the righteous. It conveys a profound sense of being sealed off from God and from a proper understanding of reality.
* **fat (Hebrew, _cheleb'_):** While often denoting the 'richest' or 'choicest part' (e.g., the fat of sacrifices offered to the Lord), here it is employed metaphorically. In this context, _cheleb_ signifies excessive abundance, material prosperity, or self-indulgence. When individuals are described as "inclosed in their own fat," it points to a spiritual and moral state where their worldly success or self-gratification has led to dullness, insensitivity, and profound arrogance, resulting in a hardened heart against God's ways and the suffering of others.
* **proudly (Hebrew, _gêʼûwth'_):** Derived from a root meaning 'to be high' or 'exalted', this noun denotes 'haughtiness', 'arrogance', 'insolence', or 'majesty'. When applied to speech in this verse, it describes communication that is boastful, contemptuous, defiant, and overtly self-exalting. It is the direct verbal manifestation of an inward heart consumed by self-importance, lacking humility, and devoid of reverence for God or respect for others.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They are inclosed in their own fat":** This initial clause presents a potent and evocative metaphor for the internal spiritual and moral condition of the wicked. It suggests that their material prosperity, self-indulgence, or perceived self-sufficiency has rendered them spiritually dull, insensitive, and impenetrable to divine truth, the suffering of others, or any form of correction. They are depicted as so utterly consumed and insulated by their own bloated sense of importance and worldly success that they have become spiritually hardened, unfeeling, and unresponsive to God's call or human need.
* **"with their mouth they speak proudly":** This second clause directly describes the outward manifestation of the wicked's inward state. Their profound arrogance, fueled by their self-sufficiency and spiritual insensitivity, erupts in boastful, contemptuous, and defiant speech. This verbal pride is a clear and undeniable indicator of their hardened hearts, their open contempt for God, and their blatant disregard for the righteous. It signifies a complete absence of humility and reverence, revealing a heart that exalts itself above God and others.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 17:10 employs powerful **imagery** and **metaphor** to vividly convey the character of the wicked. The phrase "inclosed in their own fat" is a particularly striking **metaphor** that effectively portrays spiritual insensitivity, self-sufficiency, and arrogance. The physical image of being encased or insulated by fat powerfully communicates a state of being bloated with self-importance, rendering the individual impervious to divine truth, insulated from the realities of life, and hardened against God's ways and the plight of others. Furthermore, the verse exhibits a clear form of **cause-and-effect parallelism**, where the first clause describes the internal condition (being "inclosed in their own fat") that directly leads to or is expressed by the external behavior described in the second clause ("with their mouth they speak proudly"). This literary structure profoundly emphasizes the deep and inseparable connection between the wicked's internal spiritual state and their outward, prideful actions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 17:10 stands as a profound biblical commentary on the insidious dangers of pride and the spiritual hardening that often accompanies unchecked worldly prosperity. Theologically, it underscores the truth that a heart consumed by self-sufficiency and insulated by material abundance frequently becomes deaf to God's voice, insensitive to the needs of others, and resistant to correction. This verse highlights pride as a fundamental antithesis to godliness, meticulously revealing how it manifests not only as an internal disposition but also, and most overtly, in the very words spoken. It serves as a potent warning that outward success, when untethered from humility and a profound dependence on God, inevitably leads to spiritual decay, moral corruption, and open defiance against divine authority.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction")
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble")
* [Psalm 73:7](/psalms/73-7 "Psalm 73:7 - Their eyes swell out with fatness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a timeless and convicting mirror, inviting us to engage in honest self-examination regarding our own hearts and the subtle, often insidious, ways that prosperity, self-reliance, or even perceived success might creep in and harden our spiritual sensibilities. It challenges us to critically consider whether our own "fat" – be it material wealth, intellectual prowess, social status, professional achievements, or even spiritual gifts and knowledge – is inadvertently insulating us from God's transformative truth or the genuine needs and suffering of others. The warning against proud speech is particularly poignant and relevant in our contemporary age, where words are easily amplified and broadcast across vast digital platforms. We are profoundly called to cultivate a spirit of profound humility, recognizing with gratitude that all we possess and all we are is a gracious gift from God. Consequently, we must diligently guard our mouths against any form of boastfulness, contempt, arrogance, or self-exaltation. True spiritual health and vitality are marked not by what we accumulate, how much influence we wield, or how loudly we proclaim our own achievements, but rather by a tender heart, a humble spirit, and speech that consistently honors God and genuinely edifies others, regardless of our external circumstances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what subtle or overt ways might worldly prosperity or personal success lead to spiritual insensitivity or a hardening of my heart in my own life?**
* **How do I, or those within my sphere of influence, exhibit "proud speech," and what practical steps can I take to cultivate and demonstrate genuine humility in my communication?**
* **How does understanding the detailed characterization of the wicked in this psalm deepen my unwavering trust in God's ultimate justice and sovereign plan, even when the unrighteous appear to prosper or dominate?**

### FAQ

**What does the phrase "inclosed in their own fat" truly mean in the context of Psalms 17:10?**

Answer: This phrase is a powerful and vivid metaphor for a state of profound spiritual hardening, insensitivity, and arrogance, which is often fueled by unchecked worldly prosperity or excessive self-indulgence. It means that the wicked are so utterly consumed by their own perceived abundance, inflated self-importance, or material success that they have become spiritually dull, impervious to divine truth, unresponsive to compassion, and resistant to any form of correction. Their "fat" metaphorically insulates them from reality and from God, fostering a dangerous sense of self-sufficiency and emotional unfeelingness, leading to a state where they are effectively sealed off from true spiritual understanding and genuine connection with God. This imagery bears a strong resemblance to the biblical concept of a hardened heart, exemplified by Pharaoh's persistent resistance to God's commands in [Exodus 7:3](/exodus/7-3 "Exodus 7:3 - God Hardens Pharaoh's Heart").

**Is "fat" always used as a negative symbol in the Bible?**

Answer: No, the Hebrew word for "fat" (חֵלֶב, _cheleb_) is not consistently used as a negative symbol throughout the Bible. In many contexts, it denotes the 'best part', 'abundance', 'richness', or 'blessing'. For instance, the fat of sacrifices was explicitly considered the Lord's portion, representing the choicest and most valuable offering presented to Him ([Leviticus 3:16](/leviticus/3-16 "Leviticus 3:16 - The Fat is the Lord's")). It can also positively describe fertile land, a prosperous state, or a bountiful harvest, indicating God's favor and blessing upon His people. However, when associated with people becoming "fat" and subsequently forsaking God, as vividly depicted in [Deuteronomy 32:15](/deuteronomy/32-15 "Deuteronomy 32:15 - Jeshurun Waxes Fat and Forsook God"), or as used here in Psalms 17:10, it undeniably carries a negative connotation. In these instances, it signifies spiritual dullness, arrogance, or a dangerous self-sufficiency that arises from prosperity, ultimately leading to a profound disregard for God and His righteous ways. Therefore, the specific literary and theological context is absolutely crucial for accurately interpreting its meaning.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 17:10, with its stark depiction of the wicked "inclosed in their own fat" and speaking proudly, finds its ultimate contrast and profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The pride, self-sufficiency, and spiritual insensitivity of David's adversaries powerfully foreshadow the spiritual blindness and hardened arrogance of those who ultimately rejected God's promised Messiah. While the wicked were metaphorically bloated with self-importance and worldly gain, Christ, in a breathtaking act of divine condescension, "emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant," humbling Himself even to the ignominious death on a cross ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). His earthly life was characterized by perfect humility, absolute dependence on the Father, and unwavering obedience, standing as the quintessential antithesis to the "fatness" and pride described in the psalm. Furthermore, the proud and contemptuous speech of the wicked stands in sharp contrast to the "gracious words" that flowed from Jesus' mouth, words of truth, healing, and eternal life that astonished His listeners ([Luke 4:22](/luke/4-22 "Luke 4:22 - Gracious Words from Jesus")). Jesus Himself profoundly taught that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ([Matthew 12:34](/matthew/12-34 "Matthew 12:34 - Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth Speaks")), demonstrating that the proud speech of the wicked in Psalms 17:10 was merely an outward manifestation of their deeply hardened, self-centered, and unregenerate hearts. Ultimately, Christ's victorious triumph over sin, death, and all forms of human pride is God's definitive and sovereign answer to all human arrogance and injustice. Through His cross, God definitively demonstrates that He truly "resists the proud but gives grace to the humble" ([1 Peter 5:5](/1_peter/5-5 "1 Peter 5:5 - God Resists the Proud")). He is the righteous King and vindicator, ensuring that the self-exaltation of the wicked will ultimately be brought low, while those who humble themselves before Him in faith will be eternally exalted.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 2:3

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Psalms 123:4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.

Psalms 31:18

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Revelation 13:5

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.

Revelation 13:6

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Matthew 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.

Psalms 119:70

Their heart is as fat as grease; [but] I delight in thy law.