Bible Strands
Psalms 119:70
Their hearts are callous and insensitive, but I delight in Your law.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, contrasting the spiritual state of arrogant opponents with his own response to divine instruction. This declaration occurs within a broader meditation on Torah obedience following a reflection on affliction and false accusations.
The words — The Hebrew טָפַשׁ (ta.Fash) denotes insensitivity, paired with כֶּלֶב (Che.lev) meaning fat, to describe hearts hardened against spiritual perception. The verb שִׁעֲשַׁעְתִּי (Shi.'a.Sha.'e.ti) conveys active delight or playful engagement with the תּוֹרָה (torah) or law.
The thread — This metaphor of hardened hearts appears in Psalms 17:10, where opponents close their callous hearts and speak arrogantly, and in Acts 28:27, where a calloused heart leads to spiritual deafness and blindness. The contrast between insensitivity and delight in divine instruction remains a recurring biblical theme.
Why it lands — The text demands a conscious rejection of spiritual numbness in favor of active engagement with Scripture. It requires the reader to choose consistent obedience over the defensive posture of arrogance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Cross-references
- Psalms 17:10 They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
- Acts 28:27 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
- Psalms 73:7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
- Psalms 119:16 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
- 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.”
- Psalms 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
- Psalms 119:35 Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.
- Romans 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.