Psalms 10:3 Meaning: What Teach About the Wicked's Boasting?
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, And the covetous renounceth, yea, contemneth Jehovah.
Because the wicked hath boasted Of the desire of his soul, And a dishonest gainer he hath blessed, He hath despised Jehovah.
For the wicked boasteth of his soul's desire, and he blesseth the covetous; he contemneth Jehovah.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 10:3 reveals the inner world of the wicked: they boast in their cravings, bless greed, and despise God. Two possible readings, one hard truth.
Context
Psalm 10 is a cry of bewilderment. David (or another psalmist) watches the arrogant hunt down the weak, and wonders why God seems far away. This verse sits inside that lament, sketching the character of the wicked from the inside out. The psalmist is not theorizing, he has seen this kind of person up close: someone who not only satisfies his own desires but celebrates them, who praises those who grab what they want, and whose life amounts to a dismissal of God.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb for boasts here is halal, the same root behind “hallelujah.” The wicked takes something meant for God, loud, open praise, and uses it to celebrate his own cravings. That is a fundamental dislocation of worship. The word for heart’s desire pairs ta’avah (a strong longing, often for forbidden things) with nephesh (the whole inner self, the seat of appetite). This is not a casual wish; it is the soul’s hungry demand. And then comes the verb barakh, which usually means to bless. But in some contexts (like Job 1:5 or 1 Kings 21:10) it can mean to curse, as if saying goodbye to someone, renouncing them. So the second half of the verse may be read either way: the wicked pronounces a blessing on the greedy, or the greedy man blesses himself and in doing so curses God. Either way, the root is the same: a heart so full of itself that God has no place.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers have long noticed the ambiguity in the second line. Older Reformed commentators (like the Geneva Bible notes) read it as “the covetous blesseth himselfe: he contemneth the Lord.” The wicked man congratulates himself on his grabbing and thereby shows contempt for God. Many modern translations (WEB, BSB) instead see the wicked blessing the greedy and reviling the LORD. The Cambridge Bible for Schools notes that the verb barakh can mean “to bid farewell to,” so the greedy person renounces Yahweh. Both readings agree on the outcome: whether the wicked praises others like him or praises himself, the result is the same, God is pushed aside.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
Look at what you quietly praise. Not just with your words, but in the desires you allow yourself to celebrate. The wicked in this verse has lost the ability to blush at his own greed. He treats his cravings as trophies. This week, pay attention to the moment you catch yourself envying someone who got ahead by cutting corners. That envy is a kind of blessing, you are nodding at what God calls wrong. Bring that reaction to God honestly. Ask Him to reorder what you admire.
Main takeaway: The wicked person turns his deepest cravings into something to boast about, and in doing so sets himself against God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse talks about a person who brags about wanting wrong things and thinks God is not important. We do not want to be like that. We can ask God to help us want good things instead.
For ages 9, 12
The wicked in this verse is proud of his selfish desires. He even pats other greedy people on the back, and he treats God like He does not matter. Have you ever admired someone for getting what they wanted even if they hurt others? That is the kind of attitude the psalmist is warning about. God sees it, and He calls us to a different path: being content and honoring Him, not our cravings.
Questions People Ask
Does Psalm 10:3 mean God blesses greedy people?
No. The subject of the sentence is the wicked person, he is the one doing the blessing. He praises other greedy people, or he blesses himself. God is not approving greed; the wicked person is.
Why do different translations say different things in the second half of Psalm 10:3?
The Hebrew verb barakh can mean both 'to bless' and 'to curse' (in the sense of renouncing someone). Also, the sentence structure is ambiguous: it could mean 'the wicked blesses the greedy' or 'the greedy blesses himself.' Different translators make a choice, but both readings point to the same attitude of self-centeredness and disregard for God.
What does 'boasteth of his heart's desire' mean?
It means the wicked person brags openly about his inner cravings. He does not hide his greed or lust; he celebrates them as if they were accomplishments. The phrase uses the same Hebrew word for 'praise' used in worship (halal), showing his desires have taken God's place.
How does Psalm 10:3 connect to the rest of the psalm?
The verse explains why the wicked act the way they do, hunting down the weak, thinking God does not see. Their inner boastfulness and contempt for God fuel their outward cruelty. The rest of the psalm describes those actions and then pleads for God to intervene.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study