Psalms 17:10 — Word Study
WLCחֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ סָּגְר֑וּ פִּ֝֗ימוֹ דִּבְּר֥וּ בְגֵאֽוּת׃
BSAThey have closedçâgar■ [shut up, enclosed] their callous [hearts]cheleb [hardened, unfeeling] their mouthspeh [lips, edge of the soul] speakdâbar■ with arrogancegêʼûwth [proudly, in majesty, pride, haughtiness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ | fat their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| סָּגְר֑וּ | they have closed up | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| פִּ֝֗ימוֹ | mouth their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| דִּבְּר֥וּ | they have spoken | Verb, Piel, perfect third person common plural |
| בְגֵאֽוּת׃ | with pride | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance. |
| KJV | They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. |
| ASV | 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: |
| WEB | They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly. |
| BBE | They are shut up in their fat: with their mouths they say words of pride. |
Where they part company is סָּגְר֑וּ — see How Translations Differ.
The main action is clear, with the subject and their speech forming a straightforward structure.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbסָגַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 17:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Lament Against the Wickedgenerated
Psalm 17:10 presents a vivid picture of the wicked, who have hardened their hearts and speak with arrogance. This verse is part of a larger lament where the psalmist seeks deliverance from those who oppress him, illustrating the contrast between the psalmist's righteous plea and the wicked's prideful defiance. The surrounding verses further emphasize the danger posed by these enemies, as noted in Psalm 17:9 and Psalm 17:11.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 73:7–9 | From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild. |
| 2 | Psalm 119:70 | Their hearts are hard and callous, but I delight in Your law. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 32:15 | But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked— becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation. |
| 4 | Job 15:27 | Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh, |
| 5 | Isaiah 6:10 | Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. ” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בְגֵאֽוּת, ve.ge.'Utgenerated
The word גֵּאוּת (ge'uwth) refers to majesty or pride, derived from the root that conveys the idea of rising up or swelling. It can describe both divine majesty and human arrogance, indicating a sense of superiority or haughtiness.
In this verse, it highlights the attitude of the wicked, who speak with an inflated sense of self-importance. The parsing indicates it is a noun in the feminine singular form, suggesting a concept that embodies pride as a characteristic of their speech.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs סָּגְר֑וּ (they have closed) and דִּבְּר֥וּ (they have spoken) govern the main actions of the verse. The structure emphasizes the actions of the wicked — closing their hearts and speaking arrogantly.
The sentence flows from the subject of the wicked to their actions, illustrating a clear cause-and-effect relationship between their hardened hearts and their arrogant speech.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates סָּגְר֑וּ as συνέκλεισαν (sunekleisan), meaning 'they have shut together,' which implies a more comprehensive closing off than the Hebrew suggests. This choice highlights the severity of their actions.
For בְגֵאֽוּת, the Septuagint uses ὑπερηφανίαν (hyperēphanian), which translates to 'pride,' aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning but also emphasizing the arrogance of their speech.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 17:10 describes how the wicked have hardened their hearts and speak arrogantly. This verse is part of a lament where the psalmist seeks help from God against those who oppress him, showing a contrast between the psalmist's righteousness and the wicked's pride.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that the wicked have become unfeeling and unresponsive to compassion, showing a deliberate choice to reject goodness.
Pride can lead to arrogance in speech, causing individuals to speak without regard for others, often elevating themselves above those around them.
The lament highlights the struggle between the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing the need for divine intervention in the face of oppression.
The surrounding verses provide context for the psalmist's plight, illustrating the threats posed by the wicked and the urgency of seeking God's protection.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen pride affect my own speech or the speech of others?
- How can I guard my heart against becoming callous or unfeeling?
- What steps can I take to be more compassionate in my interactions with others?
- How do I respond to the arrogance of those around me, and how can I seek God's help in such situations?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse includes insights from Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the nature of the wicked's actions and their consequences.
"Mine enemies have compassed about My soul;" "they have shut up their own fat" [Psalms 17:10].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 17 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 17:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey are enclosed in their own fat,.... Or "their fat has enclosed them"; either their eyes, that they can hardly see out of them, or their hearts, so that they are stupid and senseless, and devoid
Read John Gill on Psalms 17 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 17 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey live in great splendour and prosperity, whilst I am exercised with many and sore troubles. The like phrase we have . They speak proudly; not only against us, whom they scorn, but even against God himself, whom they despise, boasting of their own power, and what great things they will certainly effect against me.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 17 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 17:10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.Ver. 10. They are inclosed in their own fat] See Job 15:27, They abound in all delights, and therefore soare not to speak proudly. They have closed up their eyes in their fulsome fat, ut non videant nec timeant te, saith R. Solomon, that they cau neither see nor fear thee. Adipem suum obesant (Tram.). With their mouth they speak proudly] Heb. in pride, that is, Palam et pleats buccis; openly and with full mouth they condemn God and men; they belch out blasphemies, and do what they please.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 17 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) They are inclosed . . .—Literally, Their fat have they shut up. So LXX. and Vulgate, without indicating the meaning. But the “proudly” of the next clause suggests that “fat” is only a figure for the conceit of prosperity, and as that verb is active, the word mouth should be joined with it as object from the next clause, “In their conceit they shut their mouth; (when they do speak) they speak proudly.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 17 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 10. They are enclosed in their own fat] Dr. Kennicott, Bishop Horsley, Houbigant, and others, read the passage thus: עלי חבלמו סגרו alai chablamo sageru, "They have closed their net upon me." This continues the metaphor which was introduced in the preceding verse, and which is continued in the two following: and requires only that עלי ali, "upon me," should began this verse instead of end the preceding; and that חלב cheleb, which signifies fat, should be read חבל chebel, which signifies rope, cable, or net. This important reading requires only the interchange of two letters. The Syriac translates it, shut their mouth: but the above emendation is most likely to be true. They speak…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 17 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThey are enclosed in their own fat - The meaning here is, that they were prosperous, and that they were consequently self-confident and proud, and were regardless of others.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 17 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible10. From this to Psalms 17:14 the character and deadly purposes of the writer’s enemies are described.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 17 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
They are calloused; they speak arrogantly.
Tyndale line
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They are inclosed in their own fat: With their mouth they speak proudly.
They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They are inclosed in their owne fat, and they haue spoken proudely with their mouth.
Strictly literal
They are enclosed in their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly.
Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:
They have closed up their fat, || Their mouths have spoken with pride:
They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They have no mercy on anyone; their mouths speak with pride.
From the Latin
He bowed the heavens, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
Simplified
They have no compassion, and all they have to say is pure arrogance.
They are shut up in their fat: with their mouths they say words of pride.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls reflect a similar structure, but two words are partially restored by an editor, indicating some textual damage.
חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ סָּגְר֑וּ פִּ֝֗ימוֹ דִּבְּר֥וּ בְגֵאֽוּת׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[חלב׳מו] [סגרו] [פי׳מו] דברו בגאות
2 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 17:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
חֵ֫לֶב (cheleb) means fat, referring to both human and animal fat, as well as the choicest parts of agricultural products. It conveys the idea of richness or abundance, highlighting the best or finest portions. The entries consistently emphasize its literal and figurative uses, but do not provide specific verse references.
חֵ֫לֶב n.m. fat
fat of human body
fat of beasts
choicest, best part of products of land
base
H2459 חֵ֫לֶב fat . fat of human body
. fat of beasts
. choicest, best part of products of land
2459 cheleb kheh'-leb
or cheleb {khay'-leb}; from an unused root meaning to be fat;
fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or
choice part:--X best, fat(-ness), X finest, grease, marrow.
חֵ֫לֶב (che.lev) — fat.
1) fat
1a) fat (of humans)
1b) fat (of beasts)
1c) choicest, best part, abundance (of products of the land)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
סָגַר (sagar) means to shut or close, with various applications including shutting doors, closing up breaches, and imprisoning. It can also imply delivering someone up or surrendering. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal (to shut), Niphal (to be shut up), and Piel (to deliver up). The term is associated with the concept of being tightly sealed or enclosed.
סָגַר vb. shut, close
Qal
shut door
close in upon
close up breach
Pt. pass., closed up = closely joined with tight seal
elsewhwere only Pt. pass. (gold shut up, and so prized, rare, fine?)
Niph.
subj. pers. be shut up
be shut, closed, of city gates
Pi. deliver up to (leave no other opening for one, shut one up to)
Pu.
of cities
of prisoners
of doors
Hiph.
deliver up to
shut up
base
H5462 סָגַר shut, close .. shut door
. . close in upon
. close up breach
. Pt. pass., closed up = closely joined with tight seal
. elsewhwere only Pt. pass. (gold shut up, and so prized, rare, fine?)
. . subj. pers. be shut up
. be shut, closed, of city gates
. deliver up to (leave no other opening for one, shut one up to)
. . of cities
. of prisoners
. of doors
. . deliver up to
. shut up
5462 cagar saw-gar'
a primitive root; to shut up; figuratively, to
surrender:--close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose,
X pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, X
straitly.
סָגַר (sa.gar) — to shut.
1) to shut, close
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to shut
1a2) to close, close up
1a3) closed up, closely joined, shut up
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be shut up
1b2) to be shut or closed
1c) (Piel) to shut up, deliver up
1d) (Pual) to be shut up
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to deliver up
1e2) to shut up, imprison
2) pure gold
Aramaic equivalent: se.gar (סְגַר "to shut" H5463)
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.
[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)
Qal speak
Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk
Pi. speak
Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for
Hithp. speaking this word
Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues
base
H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)
1696 dabar daw-bar'
a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used
figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive
sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,
declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,
say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,
use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.
: speak/tell/command
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.
: subdue
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.
: promise/declare
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
V-Piel-Perf-3cp — Verb · Piel · perfect third person common pluralHVpp3cp
גֵּאוּת (ge'uwth) refers to concepts of majesty and pride, derived from the root words for lifting up and excellent things. It encompasses a range of meanings including the majesty of God, a rising up, and even pride. The entries highlight its use in describing both divine attributes and human qualities.
גֵּאוּת n.f. majesty
lifting up
majesty of God
pride
base
H1348 גֵּאוּת majesty
1348 ge'uwth gay-ooth'
from 1342; the same as 1346:--excellent things, lifting up,
majesty, pride, proudly, raging.
see HEBREW for 01342
see HEBREW for 01346
גֵּאוּת (ge.ut) — majesty.
1) majesty
1a) a rising up (of column of smoke)
1b) a swelling (of sea)
1c) majesty (of God)
1d) pride
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 18:10,11; Le 26:19; De 8:11-14,17-20; Jud 9:14,15; 1Sa 2:3-5; 1Ki 20:11; 2Ki 14:9,10; 2Ch 25:18,19; Job 11:12; 12:2,3; 13:2,5; 15:1-13; 18:3; 21:31,32; 32:9-13; 37:24; Ps 9:20; 10:2-6,11; 12:4; 18:27; 31:23; 49:11; 52:7; 73:6,8,9; 75:4-6; 101:5; 119:21,69,70,78; 138:6;