Bible Dictionary
FATNESS
Fatness literally means bodily fat, richness, fertility, or abundance. Figuratively, it describes the fullness and goodness of God’s provision and blessing.
Definition
Fatness means bodily fat, the best or richest part, fertility, abundance, or richness. Literally it may describe fat, marrow, fertile land, or oil; figuratively it may express fullness and prosperity.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses fatness for the fertility of the earth, the richness of food, and the abundance of God’s goodness. God’s house is described as supplying fatness, and his paths as dropping fatness.
Historical Background
The term translates Hebrew words for fat, the best part, fertility, oil, and richness, and a Greek word for fatness. Some translation differences reflect whether the context emphasizes fatness, oil, sleekness, or abundance.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fat'-nes (deshen; piotes):</p><p>1. Literal:</p><p>The translation of deshen (Jud 9:9, "But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness?"; Job 36:16 (of food)), "full of fatness"; of chelebh, "fat," "the best part," "the marrow" (Job 15:27; Ps 73:7; Isa 34:6,7); of mishman, "fathess," "fertility" (Ge 27:28, "the fatness of the earth"; Isa 17:4, "the fatness of his flesh"); of shemen, "fatness," "oil" (Ps 109:24); of piotes, "fat," "fatness" (Ro 11:17, "partaker .... of the root of the fatness of the olive tree").</p><p>2. Figurative:</p><p>"Fatness" is used figuratively for the richness of God's goodness; as such it is the translation of deshen ("They shall be abundantly satisfied (margin "Hebrew watered") with the fatness of thy house" (Ps 36:8); "Thy paths drop fatness" (Ps 65:11; compare Isa 55:2; Jer 31:14).</p><p>"With fatness" is supplied, De 32:15 the King James Version, "covered with fatness"; the Revised Version (British and American) has "become sleek"; for "The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing" (Isa 10:27) the American Standard Revised Version has "by reason of fatness," margin "Hebrew oil"; the English Revised Version as the King James Version, with margin as the American Standard Revised Version; the text is believed to be corrupt; Septuagint has "from your shoulders."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>