HEBREW WORD STUDY – REGARD INIQUITY –   ‘AVEN  IM  RA’ITI און אמ ראיתי

Psalms 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:”

At first glance or a quick read we get the idea that David is saying that if we have iniquity in our hearts God will not answer our prayer.  Unfortunately, for most Christians, a glance or a quick read is all they give in their Bible studies. However, let’s take this verse very slowly and examine a couple of these words very closely.

We must first realize that the context is David giving a testimony of deliverance. It has already been done, God came through.  Therefore David is bragging.  God answered his prayer and that is proof that he had no iniquity in his heart.  Or maybe David is not bragging on how holy he is maybe he is saying that despite the iniquity in his heart, God still came through and answered his prayer. A third possibility is that he is admitting that we all have iniquity in their hearts that we don’t even know about it and yet if we harbor unknown iniquities God will still answer our prayers, but if they are known, He will not answer our prayers. Yet, from Jewish literature I have found a fourth possibility, one that I feel is the most appropriate understanding.

First, let’s look at this word regard. It is the word ra’iti which comes from the root word ra’ah which means to see, to look, regard, look out for, find out, give attention, to discern, to gaze, to respect.  Rabbi Samson Hirsch, whom I love to quote, says it could mean an understanding. It could also mean a mirror and satisfying a need.  The ISV does a little paraphrasing and says: “If I cherish the iniquity in my heart”. I believe that rendering gives us a good 21^st Century understanding of the word ra’ah in this context. You are not just aware of your iniquity but you just keep staring it, admiring it, cherishing it. 

So what is iniquity?  In this case, translators just choose an English word that can mean many things to different people. Actually, there is no one sin that fits the word that is rendered as iniquity.  Webster defines iniquity as a gross injustice, wickedness a wicked act or just sin. That just barely introduces you to the Hebrew word that is used.  You see the word in Hebrew that is rendered as iniquities is a very common word used in the Biblical Hebrew and has a wide range of usages.  It is the word ‘aven from the root word ‘ayin. This is spelled Aleph, Vav, Nun.

You see ‘avin, as used in just Biblical Hebrew, is used for idolatry, sorrow, trouble, mischief, iniquity, vainness, selfishness, vanity, unrighteousness, unjustness, fatigue, weariness and on a positive side vigor rest or being at ease. This is just to name a few.  

In other words, David is saying that if there is anything not compatible with God in his heart God will not hear his prayer. Yet, every Christian has something of ‘avin in their heart.  It is something they may be working very hard at overcoming, it might be a reoccurring sin, it might be something they thought they conquered only to have it rear its ugly head in a moment of weakness.  As long as we are in this fleshly body it will be crying out to us to do things that are not compatible with God.  Even the Apostle Paul admits in Romans 7:19-25 that he does evil things that he does not want to do.  Ah, there is the rub.  He does do evil things, but his heart does not want to do them.  

I believe the fourth possible interpretation of Psalms 66:18 is that even if you have iniquity in your heart, which we all have, God will still hear our prayers.  It is cherishing that iniquity, feeding it, enjoying it that is not compatible with God such that He can not hear our prayer.  He is too holy to listen or respond to our prayers when they are blocked.  But if we really, in our hearts hate that sin in us, God is right there with us to hear and answer prayer.

I remember talking with a former drug addict and he told before he even accepted Jesus as his Savior he had an answer to prayer.  He was making a drug deal that quickly went South and suddenly he was pursued by a couple junkies intent on shooting and killing him.  My friend ran down the street with the junkies following him and taking shots at him.  He ran into the lobby of a two flat.  There were two doors in that little 6×12 foot lobby, almost like an enclosed porch, both doors were lock and the two men pursuing him came to the exterior door.  My friend quickly prayed, “O God make me invisible.”  The two gunmen entered the little lobby or porch, looked right at him crouched in the corner.  He closed his eyes ready to be shot dead when he heard one say; “I am sure he came in here, I saw him.”  “Well,” the other said: “He certainly is not here now.” They left without even ringing any doorbells. 

God answered the prayer of this drug addict who harbored ‘avin in his heart, but he said he hated those sins, he hated everything about drugs and the life he was living, in fact, he was hoping those men would shot him to death, but God decided to answer a prayer that He heard from this man’s heart which was filled with repentance.