The Meaning of Psalms 17:10 Explained

Psalms 17:10

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

YLT: Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:

Darby: They are enclosed in their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 17:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 17:1-15 - God's True Servants Safely Kept
This also dates from the Sauline persecutions. In the earlier verses David protests his innocence, pleads for deliverance from his foes, and ends with glad anticipation of the vision of God. The psalm may have been composed for use at eventide; two at least of its verses point in that direction, Psalms 17:3; Psalms 15:1-5.
What a comfort it is to appeal from the accusations of men to the judgment-bar of God! Yet our sufferings at their hands are God's smelting-furnace. The Hebrew word translated tried is "melted," Psalms 17:3. But we cannot be kept without constant use of God's Word, Psalms 17:4. And then how safe we are! The apple of the eye-that is, the pupil-is defended by eye lash, lid, brow, bony socket, and uplifted arm. Thy wings, see Deuteronomy 32:11.
Note the contrast between Psalms 17:14 and Psalms 16:5; Psalms 16:11. The worldly are filled with this world-I with thee. They look for the things of this life-I for the unseen and eternal. They are satisfied with children-I with thy likeness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 17

1  David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies
10  He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness
13  He prays against them in confidence of his hope

What do the individual words in Psalms 17:10 mean?

Their fat [hearts] they have closed up with their mouths they speak proudly
חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ סָּגְר֑וּ פִּ֝֗ימוֹ דִּבְּר֥וּ בְגֵאֽוּת

חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ  Their  fat  [hearts] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חֵלֶב  
Sense: fat.
סָּגְר֑וּ  they  have  closed  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: סָגוּר 
Sense: to shut, close.
פִּ֝֗ימוֹ  with  their  mouths 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
דִּבְּר֥וּ  they  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בְגֵאֽוּת  proudly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֵּאוּת  
Sense: majesty.