Psalm 17:10
“They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.”
KJV
Read in Psalm 17Meaning
The image of enemies enclosed in fat or callousness and speaking proudly is ancient moral imagery about insensitivity and arrogance, not a judgment about body size, weight, disability, or appearance.
Surrounded by proud and predatory enemies
Verses 10–12 describe callous speech, encirclement, and lion imagery to portray threatening opponents; the language is poetic description of danger, not tactical instruction.
Read carefully
The image of enemies enclosed in fat or callousness and speaking proudly is ancient moral imagery about insensitivity and arrogance, not a judgment about body size, weight, disability, or appearance. Keep the verse inside its literary unit.
Reflection
Use this verse to bring truthful lament and dependence before God without turning the psalm’s courtroom or combat imagery into self-righteousness, retaliation, or harm.