James 5:5 accuses the wealthy of living luxuriously on earth, fattening their hearts in a day of slaughter. The verb conveys self-indulgent living, the pursuit of comfort and pleasure without regard for justice or eternal consequences. While physical comfort isn't inherently wrong, James condemns luxury that comes through exploiting workers and ignoring divine judgment. The image of fattening oneself for slaughter evokes livestock being prepared for butchering—unaware that their indulgence hastens their doom. The term challenges all forms of heedless materialism.