Psalms 119:70
Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Original Language Analysis
טָפַ֣שׁ
is as fat
H2954
טָפַ֣שׁ
is as fat
Strong's:
H2954
Word #:
1 of 6
properly, apparently to be thick; figuratively, to be stupid
כַּחֵ֣לֶב
as grease
H2459
כַּחֵ֣לֶב
as grease
Strong's:
H2459
Word #:
2 of 6
fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part
לִבָּ֑ם
Their heart
H3820
לִבָּ֑ם
Their heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
3 of 6
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
Cross References
Acts 28:27For 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 17:10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.Isaiah 6:10Make 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 73:7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.Psalms 119:16I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.Psalms 119:35Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.Psalms 40:8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.Romans 7:22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Historical Context
Israel's prophets repeatedly warned against hardened hearts—the consequence of persistent rebellion. Pharaoh's hardened heart exemplified this (Exodus 8:15, 32). Prosperity often produced spiritual insensitivity, as Jeshurun 'grew fat and kicked' (Deuteronomy 32:15). The exilic prophets called for circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4), anticipating the New Covenant promise of transformed hearts (Ezekiel 36:26). Only divine grace can cure spiritual obesity and create delight in God's law.
Questions for Reflection
- What symptoms might indicate your heart is growing 'fat' with spiritual insensitivity—dullness toward sin, boredom with Scripture, indifference to God?
- Do you genuinely 'delight' in God's law, or is obedience primarily duty? What might cultivate deeper delight?
- How can believers guard against the prosperity and comfort that often produce spiritually 'fat' hearts?
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Analysis & Commentary
Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. The metaphor fat as grease (טָפַשׁ כַּחֵלֶב, tafish kachelev) describes spiritual insensitivity and moral dullness. In Hebrew thought, the heart was the center of understanding and will. A 'fat' heart is unresponsive, callous, impervious to truth—like adipose tissue that cannot feel or respond to stimulus. Isaiah warned Israel about hearts growing 'dull' (Isaiah 6:10), a condition Jesus cited regarding those who reject Him (Matthew 13:15).
The contrast but I delight in thy law (אָנִי תוֹרָתְךָ שִׁעֲשָׁעְתִּי, ani toratekha shi'asha'ti) shows spiritual sensitivity—the capacity to find pleasure in God's instruction. Delight (שָׁעַע, sha'a) implies joyful preoccupation and deep satisfaction. While the proud have hearts too insensitive to perceive truth's beauty, the believer's responsive heart finds supreme pleasure in God's Torah. This spiritual contrast determines eternal destiny.