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Psalms 51

BSB·19 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Have mercy on meחָנֵּ֣נִיḥān·nê·nî — To show favor, mercy, or compassion; to be graciousH2603 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, according to Your loving devotionכְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָkə·ḥas·de·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study →; according to Your greatכְּרֹ֥בkə·rōḇ — Abundance, multitude, or great quantityH7230 — Full Word Study → compassionרַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָra·ḥă·me·ḵā — Compassion, mercy, womb; deep emotional affectionH7356 — Full Word Study →, blot outמְחֵ֣הmə·ḥêh — To blot out, erase, or wipe awayH4229 — Full Word Study → my transgressionsפְשָׁעָֽי׃p̄ə·šā·‘āy — Willful rebellion or transgression against God's lawH6588 — Full Word Study →. 2Wash me cleanהַרְבֵּהhar·bēh — To increase, multiply, grow abundantH7235 — Full Word Study → of my iniquityמֵעֲוֺנִ֑יmê·‘ă·wō·nî — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → and cleanse meטַהֲרֵֽנִי׃ṭa·hă·rê·nî — to be clean, purify, make pureH2891 — Full Word Study → from my sinוּֽמֵחַטָּאתִ֥יū·mê·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study →. 3Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Iאֲנִ֣י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → knowאֵדָ֑ע’ê·ḏā‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → my transgressionsפְ֭שָׁעַיp̄ə·šā·‘ay — Willful rebellion or transgression against God's lawH6588 — Full Word Study →, and my sinוְחַטָּאתִ֖יwə·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study → is alwaysתָמִֽיד׃ṯā·mîḏ — continually, perpetually, alwaysH8548 — Full Word Study → before meנֶגְדִּ֣יneḡ·dî — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study →. 4Against You, You onlyלְבַדְּךָ֨׀lə·ḇad·də·ḵā — alone, apart, or bar/poleH905 — Full Word Study →, have I sinnedחָטָאתִי֮ḥā·ṭā·ṯî — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study → and doneעָ֫שִׂ֥יתִי‘ā·śî·ṯî — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → what is evilוְהָרַ֥עwə·hā·ra‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → in Your sightבְּעֵינֶ֗יךָbə·‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →, so thatלְ֭מַעַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → You may be proved rightתִּצְדַּ֥קtiṣ·daq — To be righteous, justify, vindicateH6663 — Full Word Study → when You speakבְּדָבְרֶ֗ךָbə·ḏā·ḇə·re·ḵā — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → and blamelessתִּזְכֶּ֥הtiz·keh — to be clean, cleanse, purifyH2135 — Full Word Study → when You judgeבְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ׃ḇə·šā·p̄ə·ṭe·ḵā — to judge, govern, or execute justiceH8199 — Full Word Study →. 5Surelyהֵן־hên- — Look! Behold! — an attention-directing particleH2005 — Full Word Study → I was brought forthחוֹלָ֑לְתִּיḥō·w·lā·lə·tî — To twist, whirl, dance, writhe; to be in pain or travailH2342 — Full Word Study → in iniquityבְּעָו֥וֹןbə·‘ā·wō·wn — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study →; I was sinfulוּ֝בְחֵ֗טְאū·ḇə·ḥêṭ — sin, transgression, or guiltH2399 — Full Word Study → when my motherאִמִּֽי׃’im·mî — mother; female parentH517 — Full Word Study → conceived meיֶֽחֱמַ֥תְנִיye·ḥĕ·maṯ·nî — to conceive; to become warm or heatedH3179 — Full Word Study →. 6Surelyהֵן־hên- — Look! Behold! — an attention-directing particleH2005 — Full Word Study → You desireחָפַ֣צְתָּḥā·p̄aṣ·tā — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study → truthאֱ֭מֶת’ĕ·meṯ — Truth; faithfulness; reliability; what is established and sureH571 — Full Word Study → in the inmost beingבַטֻּח֑וֹתḇaṭ·ṭu·ḥō·wṯ — inner parts, inward organsH2910 — Full Word Study →; You teach meתוֹדִיעֵֽנִי׃ṯō·w·ḏî·‘ê·nî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → wisdomחָכְמָ֥הḥāḵ·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study → in the inmost placeוּ֝בְסָתֻ֗םū·ḇə·sā·ṯum — To stop up, close off, or concealH5640 — Full Word Study →. 7Purify meתְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִיtə·ḥaṭ·ṭə·’ê·nî — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study → with hyssopבְאֵז֣וֹבḇə·’ê·zō·wḇ — A small aromatic shrub used in purification ritualsH231 — Full Word Study →, and I will be cleanוְאֶטְהָ֑רwə·’eṭ·hār — to be clean, purify, make pureH2891 — Full Word Study →; wash meתְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִיtə·ḵab·bə·sê·nî — To wash, cleanse, or full clothH3526 — Full Word Study →, and I will be whiterאַלְבִּֽין׃’al·bîn — to be white; to make bricksH3835 — Full Word Study → than snowוּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶגū·miš·še·leḡ — snow; whiteness; purityH7950 — Full Word Study →. 8Let me hearתַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִיtaš·mî·‘ê·nî — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → joyשָׂשׂ֣וֹןśā·śō·wn — Joy, gladness, rejoicingH8342 — Full Word Study → and gladnessוְשִׂמְחָ֑הwə·śim·ḥāh — Joy, gladness, rejoicingH8057 — Full Word Study →; let the bonesעֲצָמ֥וֹת‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ — bone; body; substance; strengthH6106 — Full Word Study → You have crushedדִּכִּֽיתָ׃dik·kî·ṯā — to crush, break, or oppress severelyH1794 — Full Word Study → rejoiceתָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָהtā·ḡê·lə·nāh — to rejoice, be glad, exultH1523 — Full Word Study →. 9Hideהַסְתֵּ֣רhas·têr — To hide, conceal, or keep secretH5641 — Full Word Study → Your faceפָּ֭נֶיךָpā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → from my sinsמֵחֲטָאָ֑יmê·ḥă·ṭā·’āy — sin, transgression, or guiltH2399 — Full Word Study → and blot outמְחֵֽה׃mə·ḥêh — To blot out, erase, or wipe awayH4229 — Full Word Study → allוְֽכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → my iniquitiesעֲוֺ֖נֹתַ֣י‘ă·wō·nō·ṯay — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study →. 10Createבְּרָא־bə·rā- — to create; to makeH1254 — Full Word Study → in me a cleanטָ֭הוֹרṭā·hō·wr — Ritually or morally pure; cleanH2889 — Full Word Study → heartלֵ֣בlêḇ — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, and renewחַדֵּ֥שׁḥad·dêš — to renew, restore, or repairH2318 — Full Word Study → a rightנָ֝כ֗וֹןnā·ḵō·wn — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → spiritוְר֥וּחַwə·rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study → within meבְּקִרְבִּֽי׃bə·qir·bî — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study →. 11Cast me not awayתַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥נִיtaš·lî·ḵê·nî — to throw, cast, or hurlH7993 — Full Word Study → from Your presenceמִלְּפָנֶ֑יךָmil·lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →; takeתִּקַּ֥חtiq·qaḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → Your Holyקָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗qāḏ·šə·ḵā — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → Spiritוְר֥וּחַwə·rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study → from meמִמֶּֽנִּי׃mim·men·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study →. 12Restoreהָשִׁ֣יבָהhā·šî·ḇāh — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → to me the joyשְׂשׂ֣וֹןśə·śō·wn — Joy, gladness, rejoicingH8342 — Full Word Study → of Your salvationיִשְׁעֶ֑ךָyiš·‘e·ḵā — Salvation, deliverance, safetyH3468 — Full Word Study →, and sustain meתִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃ṯis·mə·ḵê·nî — to support, sustain, upholdH5564 — Full Word Study → with a willingנְדִיבָ֣הnə·ḏî·ḇāh — Noble, willing, generous person or heartH5081 — Full Word Study → spiritוְר֖וּחַwə·rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. 13Then I will teachאֲלַמְּדָ֣ה’ă·lam·mə·ḏāh — To learn; to teach; to become accustomedH3925 — Full Word Study → transgressorsפֹשְׁעִ֣יםp̄ō·šə·‘îm — To transgress, rebel, or violate a covenant or lawH6586 — Full Word Study → Your waysדְּרָכֶ֑יךָdə·rā·ḵe·ḵā — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study →, and sinnersוְ֝חַטָּאִ֗יםwə·ḥaṭ·ṭā·’îm — A sinner; one who transgresses God's lawH2400 — Full Word Study → will returnיָשֽׁוּבוּ׃yā·šū·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → to Youאֵלֶ֥יךָ’ê·le·ḵā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →. 14Deliver meהַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִיhaṣ·ṣî·lê·nî — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study → from bloodguiltמִדָּמִ֨ים׀mid·dā·mîm — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים’ĕlō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of my salvationתְּשׁוּעָתִ֑יtə·šū·‘ā·ṯî — Deliverance, salvation, victoryH8668 — Full Word Study →, and my tongueלְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗יlə·šō·w·nî — Tongue; language; speechH3956 — Full Word Study → will singתְּרַנֵּ֥ןtə·ran·nên — To shout or sing aloud with joy; to cry out triumphantlyH7442 — Full Word Study → of Your righteousnessצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃ṣiḏ·qā·ṯe·ḵā — Righteousness, justice, right conductH6666 — Full Word Study →. 15O Lordאֲ֭דֹנָי’ă·ḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study →, openתִּפְתָּ֑חtip̄·tāḥ — to open, loosen, or beginH6605 — Full Word Study → my lipsשְׂפָתַ֣יśə·p̄ā·ṯay — Lips; edge, border, or shoreH8193 — Full Word Study →, and my mouthוּ֝פִ֗יū·p̄î — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → will declareיַגִּ֥ידyag·gîḏ — to tell, declare, make knownH5046 — Full Word Study → Your praiseתְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃tə·hil·lā·ṯe·ḵā — Praise, song of praise, object of praiseH8416 — Full Word Study →. 16Forכִּ֤י׀kî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You do notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → delightתַחְפֹּ֣ץṯaḥ·pōṣ — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study → in sacrificeזֶ֣בַחze·ḇaḥ — sacrificial offering; animal sacrificeH2077 — Full Word Study →, or I would bring itוְאֶתֵּ֑נָהwə·’et·tê·nāh — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study →; You take no pleasureתִרְצֶֽה׃ṯir·ṣeh — to accept, be pleased with, delight inH7521 — Full Word Study → in burnt offeringsע֝וֹלָ֗ה‘ō·w·lāh — burnt offering; ascending sacrificeH5930 — Full Word Study →. 17The sacrificesזִֽבְחֵ֣יziḇ·ḥê — sacrificial offering; animal sacrificeH2077 — Full Word Study → of Godאֱלֹהִים֮’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → are a broken spiritר֪וּחַrū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →; a brokenנִשְׁבָּ֥רniš·bār — to break, shatter, crushH7665 — Full Word Study → and a contriteוְנִדְכֶּ֑הwə·niḏ·keh — to crush, break, or oppress severelyH1794 — Full Word Study → heartלֵב־lêḇ- — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, You will notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → despiseתִבְזֶֽה׃ṯiḇ·zeh — to despise, treat with contemptH959 — Full Word Study →. 18In Your good pleasureבִ֭רְצוֹנְךָḇir·ṣō·wn·ḵā — Favor, pleasure, or acceptable willH7522 — Full Word Study →, cause Zionצִיּ֑וֹןṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study → to prosperהֵיטִ֣יבָהhê·ṭî·ḇāh — to be good, to improve, to do wellH3190 — Full Word Study →; build upתִּ֝בְנֶ֗הtiḇ·neh — to build, construct, establishH1129 — Full Word Study → the wallsחוֹמ֥וֹתḥō·w·mō·wṯ — A fortified wall or defensive barrierH2346 — Full Word Study → of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃yə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →. 19Thenאָ֤ז’āz — Then; at that time; thereforeH227 — Full Word Study → You will delightתַּחְפֹּ֣ץtaḥ·pōṣ — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study → in righteousצֶ֭דֶקṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study → sacrificesזִבְחֵי־ziḇ·ḥê- — sacrificial offering; animal sacrificeH2077 — Full Word Study →, in wholeוְכָלִ֑ילwə·ḵā·lîl — Complete, whole, entire; burnt offeringH3632 — Full Word Study → burnt offeringsעוֹלָ֣ה‘ō·w·lāh — burnt offering; ascending sacrificeH5930 — Full Word Study →; thenאָ֤ז’āz — Then; at that time; thereforeH227 — Full Word Study → bullsפָרִֽים׃p̄ā·rîm — Young bull or bullock; a sacrificial animalH6499 — Full Word Study → will be offeredיַעֲל֖וּya·‘ă·lū — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Your altarמִזְבַּחֲךָ֣miz·ba·ḥă·ḵā — altar; place of sacrifice and worshipH4196 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 51
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Chapter Overview

Psalm 51 is David's cry for forgiveness and restoration after his grievous sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11-12). This is not a psalm of self-righteousness or minimizing sin; rather, it is a profound expression of genuine repentance—the breaking of a contrite heart before God. David moves from acknowledging his guilt, to pleading for cleansing, to requesting a renewed spirit, and finally to promising restoration in service. This psalm has become the church's anthem of repentance across all centuries and remains powerfully relevant to every believer who has failed.

Verses 1-5: Acknowledging Sin and Seeking Mercy

David begins not with excuses but with an appeal to God's character—His lovingkindness and tender mercies (v. 1). He asks God to blot out his transgressions, using language of erasure and removal. In verses 2-3, he moves from external cleansing imagery (washing and cleansing) to internal acknowledgment. The phrase "my sin is ever before me" (v. 3) reveals that David cannot escape the weight of his guilt; it haunts him constantly. Verse 4 contains a remarkable confession: "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned." This does not mean David harmed no one else—he deeply wronged Bathsheba and murdered Uriah—but rather that all sin is ultimately against God. His statement acknowledges that his sin violated God's holy character and law.

Verse 5 expresses the doctrine of original sin: David recognizes that his capacity to sin runs deep, rooted in his very nature from conception. This is not an excuse but a sober acknowledgment of human depravity apart from God's grace.

Verses 6-12: Requesting Inward Transformation

David shifts from confession to petition. He knows that God desires truth in the inward parts (v. 6)—genuine integrity of heart, not merely outward conformity. Verses 7-8 employ Old Testament imagery of purification (the hyssop branch used in cleansing rituals) and speak of a joy so complete that even broken bones will rejoice.

The heart of this section is verse 10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God." The word create is significant—only God can perform this spiritual recreation. David asks not merely for forgiveness of acts but for transformation of nature. He requests a renewed spirit, restoration of God's presence (v. 11), and the return of the joy of thy salvation (v. 12). This joy is not mere happiness; it is the deep assurance of reconciliation with God, the One from whom all blessing flows.

Verses 13-19: From Restored Joy to Renewed Service

Once cleansed, David promises to become a teacher of sinners (v. 13). His own experience of forgiveness qualifies him to lead others to God's ways. Verse 14 requests deliverance from bloodguiltiness—the specific stain of Uriah's murder—and promises that his tongue will sing of God's righteousness.

Verses 15-17 contain a crucial truth: God does not delight in mere sacrificial ritual (v. 16). Instead, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (v. 17). This emphasizes that God values authentic repentance over empty religious performance. Finally, verses 18-19 express David's longing for Jerusalem's restoration and renewed worship, showing that his personal repentance connects to the community's spiritual health.

Application for Today

Psalm 51 teaches us that true repentance is not shame-based avoidance but God-ward turning. When we fail, we need not hide from the Lord; rather, we appeal to His mercy, confess honestly, seek genuine inner transformation, and offer Him a broken and contrite heart. God does not despise such repentance—He honors it and restores us not merely to forgiveness but to joyful service in His kingdom.

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