Psalm Chapter 51

Commentary

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

(2 Samuel 12:1-12)

1{To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.} Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1–12)

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.

16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1–12)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba.

1Have mercy on me, a O God,

according to Your loving devotion;

according to Your great compassion,

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me clean of my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in Your sight,

so that You may be proved right when You speak

and blameless when You judge. b

5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity;

I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

6 Surely You desire truth in the inmost being;

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from Your presence;

take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and sustain me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners will return to You.

14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God,

the God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare Your praise.

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and a contrite heart,

O God, You will not despise.

18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,

in whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

 

Footnotes:

1 a Or Be gracious to me
4 b LXX and victorious when You judge ; cited in Romans 3:4

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

(2 Samuel 12:1-12)

1To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

2Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,

3For my transgressions I do know, And my sin is before me continually.

4Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

5Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.

6Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

7Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

8Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

9Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

10A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me.

11Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

12Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

13I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

14Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.

15O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.

16For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give it, Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

18Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!

Superscription
¹To the choirmaster. A mizmor* of David ²when Natan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in unto Bat-Sheva.

Plea for Cleansing
³Show favour to me, Elohim, according to Your chesed*; according to the abundance of Your compassions, wipe away my transgressions. Abundantly wash me from my iniquity, and from my sin cleanse me. For my transgressions I am knowing, and my sin before me continually. Against You, You alone, I have sinned, and the evil in Your eyes I have done, so that You are being righteous in Your speaking, You are being pure in Your judging.

Acknowledgment of Sin
Behold, in iniquity I was brought forth*, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, truth You have desired in the inward parts, and in the hidden place wisdom You are causing me to know. Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be white from snow. ¹⁰Cause me to hear joy and gladness; let rejoice the bones you have crushed.

Prayer for Restoration
¹¹Hide Your face from my sins, and all my iniquities wipe away. ¹²A clean heart create for me, Elohim, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. ¹³Do not cast me from Your presence, and Your Ruach HaKodesh* do not take from me. ¹⁴Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and with a willing spirit uphold me.

Vow of Praise
¹⁵I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners unto You shall return. ¹⁶Deliver me from bloodguilt*, Elohim, Elohim of my salvation; my tongue shall ring out Your righteousness. ¹⁷Adonai, my lips you shall open, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.

True Sacrifice
¹⁸For You are not desiring sacrifice, or I would give; burnt offering You are not accepting. ¹⁹The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit; a heart broken and crushed, Elohim, You will not despise.

Prayer for Zion
²⁰Do good in Your favour to Tzion; build the walls of Yerushalayim. ²¹Then You will delight in sacrifices of righteousness, burnt offering and whole offering; then they will offer bulls upon Your altar.

Footnotes:

    • mizmor: Technical term for a psalm with musical accompaniment

    • chesed: Covenant faithfulness and steadfast love

    • brought forth: Pulal stem emphasizing passive state

    • Ruach HaKodesh: The Holy Spirit/breath of God

    • bloodguilt: Plural form דמים suggesting serious bloodshed​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A Broken Heart's Cry for Mercy

¹ Have mercy on me, O God, out of Your boundless covenant love*! Let Your infinite compassion erase all trace of my rebellious acts. ² Wash me completely clean from my moral corruption; purify me from the stain of my sin. ³ For I can’t escape the reality of my transgressions*—my sin haunts me day and night. Against You, You alone, have I sinned, committing evil in Your sight. When You judge me, Your verdict is perfectly just and Your sentence entirely right*.

The Deep Roots of Sin

Look—I was born with a bent toward sin*, shaped in iniquity from my very conception. But I know You desire truth in my innermost being*; in the secret depths of my heart, You will teach me wisdom. Purify me with hyssop until I’m clean; wash me until I’m whiter than freshly fallen snow*. Let me hear joy and gladness again; let the bones You have crushed dance once more.

Prayer for Renewal

Turn Your face away from my sins and wipe away all my guilt. ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God*, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Don’t cast me away from Your presence or take Your precious Holy Spirit from me*. ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

The Response of a Restored Heart

¹³ Then I will teach rebels Your ways, and sinners will turn back to You. ¹⁴ Deliver me from blood-guilt*, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. ¹⁵ Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. ¹⁶ You don’t desire sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings*. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Prayer for Zion

¹⁸ In your good pleasure, make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Then You will delight in proper sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar*.

 

Footnotes:

*51:1 - The Hebrew word "chesed" implies God's covenant love and faithfulness.
*51:3 - Written after David's sin with Bathsheba, showing the weight of conviction.
*51:4 - Acknowledges God's role as ultimate moral authority and judge.
*51:5 - Expresses the doctrine of inherited sinful nature.
*51:6 - "Truth" here means moral integrity and authenticity before God.
*51:7 - Hyssop was used in ceremonial cleansing; symbolizes spiritual purification.
*51:10 - "Create" uses the same Hebrew word as Genesis 1:1, suggesting total renewal.
*51:11 - Reflects David's fear of losing his relationship with God like Saul did.
*51:14 - Specifically references the death of Uriah the Hittite.
*51:16 - Shows that external ritual without internal repentance is meaningless.
*51:19 - The final verses reconcile individual repentance with corporate worship.

The F.O.G Commentary:

What is the meaning of Psalm 51?

Introduction to Psalm 51

Psalm 51 stands as one of the most profound expressions of genuine repentance in all of Scripture. This deeply moving psalm was composed by King David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his grievous sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the arranged murder of her husband Uriah. What makes this psalm particularly powerful is its raw honesty and complete absence of excuses or self-justification. Here we witness a broken king, who was once called a man after God’s own heart, pouring out his soul in desperate need of divine mercy and restoration.

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The psalm serves as a masterclass in true biblical repentance, demonstrating the path from conviction of sin to full restoration. Its enduring relevance spans three millennia, speaking to all who have experienced moral failure and seek genuine reconciliation with God.

Context of Psalm 51

This psalm emerges from one of the darkest chapters in David’s life, documented in 2 Samuel 11-12. After remaining silent about his sins for approximately a year, David was confronted by the prophet Nathan through a powerful parable about a rich man who stole a poor man’s only lamb. When David’s anger burned against this injustice, Nathan delivered the crushing revelation: “You are the man!” This divine confrontation shattered David’s defenses and led to this heartfelt prayer of repentance.

Within the broader context of Scripture, Psalm 51 holds a unique position among the seven traditional penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143). It serves as a theological bridge between the Old Testament’s sacrificial system and the New Testament’s emphasis on internal transformation. The psalm anticipates key New Testament teachings about the nature of sin, the need for complete spiritual regeneration, and the insufficiency of external religious ritual without internal change.

This psalm’s placement in the Psalter itself is significant, coming after Psalm 50’s divine rebuke of merely external worship and before Psalm 52’s condemnation of those who trust in their own strength. This arrangement emphasizes that true worship flows from a broken and contrite heart, not merely religious observance.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • חָנַן (chanan) – “Be gracious” (v.1): This root word carries the idea of showing favor or extending mercy to someone in desperate need. Unlike צֶדֶק (tzedek, righteousness), which deals with legal justice, chanan appeals to the benefactor’s generous character rather than any merit of the recipient.
  • חֶסֶד (chesed) – “Lovingkindness” (v.1): This foundational covenant term represents God’s faithful, unchanging, committed love. It combines loyalty, mercy, and love in a way that no single English word can capture. This is the love that caused יהוה to pursue Israel despite their unfaithfulness.
  • פֶּשַׁע (pesha) – “Transgression” (v.1): The strongest Hebrew word for sin, indicating willful rebellion against authority. Unlike חָטָא (chata, miss the mark), pesha describes a conscious breach of relationship and rejection of God’s authority.
  • טָהֵר (taher) – “Clean” (v.7): A term from the Levitical system referring to ritual purity. Its use here shows David understood that his need went beyond moral forgiveness to complete spiritual cleansing, anticipating the New Testament concept of regeneration.
  • בָּרָא (bara) – “Create” (v.10): This is the same word used in Genesis 1:1 for God’s creative activity. Its exclusive usage for divine creation emphasizes that only God can accomplish this level of transformation. David needs more than reform; he needs re-creation.
  • רוּחַ נָכוֹן (ruach nachon) – “Steadfast spirit” (v.10): Literally a “fixed” or “established” spirit, contrasting with David’s previous wavering loyalty. This phrase suggests the kind of spiritual stability that comes only from divine transformation.
  • שָׂשׂוֹן (sason) – “Joy” (v.12): Not merely happiness but the deep exultation that comes from experiencing God’s presence and favor. This word often appears in contexts of restoration and redemption.
  • רוּחַ נְדִיבָה (ruach nedivah) – “Willing spirit” (v.12): A noble, generous spirit that freely chooses to serve God. This term is related to the word used for freewill offerings, suggesting voluntary, loving service rather than mere duty.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1: “Have mercy upon me, O God” uses אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) rather than יהוה (Yahweh). This choice emphasizes God’s sovereign power to judge and absolve rather than His covenant relationship, showing David’s recognition that he has broken covenant and must appeal to God’s absolute authority.
  • Verse 4: “Against You, You only, have I sinned” might seem to ignore the victims of David’s actions, but the Hebrew construction emphasizes the ultimate vertical dimension of all sin. The phrase literally reads “to You alone” (לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ), stressing that all sin is primarily an offense against God’s holiness.
  • Verse 5: The phrase “in sin did my mother conceive me” uses the word יָחַם (yacham) for “conceive” rather than הָרָה (harah). This specific word choice emphasizes the inherited nature of sin rather than just the act of conception.
  • Verse 7: “Purge me with hyssop” uses אֵזוֹב (ezov), connecting to the Passover narrative and ceremonial cleansing. This specific plant was chosen for its absorptive properties and its ability to reach into crevices, symbolizing thorough cleansing.
  • Verse 10: “Create in me a clean heart” uses בְּרָא (bara) instead of עָשָׂה (asah, make) or יָצַר (yatzar, form), emphasizing that only God’s creative power can accomplish this transformation.
  • Verse 11: “Take not Your Holy Spirit from me” reflects David’s awareness of Saul’s fate rather than New Testament pneumatology. The Hebrew construction emphasizes the Spirit’s presence rather than His person.
  • Verse 17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” uses זֶבַח (zevach) rather than מִנְחָה (minchah), specifically connecting to blood sacrifices rather than grain offerings, emphasizing the cost of true repentance.
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Psalm 51 Unique Insights

The Midrash Tehillim provides a fascinating insight into verse 6, “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,” connecting it to the creation narrative. It suggests that when God created Adam, He consulted with Truth (אֱמֶת). This links David’s need for internal truth with humanity’s original design, suggesting that genuine repentance is a return to God’s creative intent for humanity.

The rabbinical tradition notes that this psalm is one of only a few that explicitly mentions the Holy Spirit (רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ). The Targum expands on verse 11’s plea not to remove the Holy Spirit, connecting it to the prophetic gift. This understanding adds depth to David’s concern – he feared losing not just his kingdom (like Saul) but his prophetic insight and ability to compose inspired psalms.

The early church father Origen noted that this psalm contains all five elements of complete repentance according to Jewish tradition: recognition of sin, remorse, confession, restitution (through teaching others), and transformation. This structure became influential in early Christian penitential practices and continues to inform understanding of genuine repentance.

The psalm’s superscription contains a rare musical term לַמְנַצֵּחַ (lamnatzeach), which some scholars connect to the Temple’s purification rituals. This suggests the psalm may have been incorporated into ceremonies of restoration for those who had been ceremonially unclean, pointing to its role in community restoration as well as individual repentance.

Psalm 51 Connections to Yeshua

The Messiah’s work is prefigured throughout this psalm in profound ways. David’s cry for cleansing with hyssop (verse 7) points forward to Yeshua’s ultimate cleansing sacrifice. Just as hyssop was used to apply the blood during the first Passover (Exodus 12:22), so Yeshua’s blood provides the final cleansing from sin. This connection is made explicit when Yeshua was offered sour wine on hyssop at His crucifixion (John 19:29).

David’s understanding that external sacrifices alone cannot atone for sin (verses 16-17) anticipates the Messiah’s perfect sacrifice. The author of Hebrews draws on this theme, quoting from Psalm 40 to show that Yeshua’s offering of Himself fulfilled what the animal sacrifices could only picture (Hebrews 10:5-10). The broken and contrite heart that David describes becomes possible through the new covenant that Yeshua established, where God promises to give His people a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26).

Psalm 51 Scriptural Echoes

This psalm resonates deeply with numerous biblical passages. The plea for cleansing echoes the purification ritual of the red heifer in Numbers 19, while the language of washing (Psalm 51:2) connects to Jeremiah’s rebuke of those who think they can cleanse themselves (Jeremiah 2:22).

The concept of being born in sin (Psalm 51:5) finds echoes in Job’s lament (Job 14:4) and points forward to Paul’s teaching on original sin (Romans 5:12). The prayer for joy and gladness (Psalm 51:8) connects to Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messianic age (Isaiah 61:3).

Psalm 51 Devotional

This psalm calls us to examine our own hearts with the same ruthless honesty David displayed. Like him, we must move beyond merely feeling bad about sin’s consequences to recognizing it as rebellion against God Himself. True repentance begins with acknowledging that our sin is primarily against God, even when others are hurt by our actions.

The psalm teaches us that genuine repentance involves both honest confession and dependent prayer for transformation. We cannot simply try harder or turn over a new leaf – we need God to create something new within us. This requires humility to admit our complete dependence on God’s gracious work in our lives.

Finally, the psalm shows us that true restoration leads to ministry. David’s promise to teach transgressors God’s ways (verse 13) reminds us that our struggles and restoration can become a testimony to help others find their way back to God. Our deepest failures, when met by God’s grace, can become platforms for ministry.

Did You Know

  • The Hebrew word for “blot out” (מְחֵה) in verse 1 is the same word used for wiping clean a dish (2 Kings 21:13) and for erasing writing from a scroll, suggesting complete removal of sin’s record.
  • The phrase “purge me with hyssop” refers to a small plant used in ceremonial cleansing. Hyssop’s branching structure made it perfect for sprinkling blood or water in purification rituals.
  • The word for “broken” (נִשְׁבָּר) in “broken spirit” (verse 17) is the same word used for breaking the neck of an animal in sacrifice, suggesting complete surrender.
  • This psalm was traditionally recited by Jewish communities on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), connecting personal repentance with national atonement.
  • The word for “create” (בְּרָא) in verse 10 appears only about 50 times in the Old Testament and is used exclusively for God’s creative activity, never human activity.
  • Archaeological findings from David’s time show that hyssop was often planted around doorways, making it readily available for ceremonial use – a detail that adds depth to the psalm’s imagery.
  • The phrase “against You, You only, have I sinned” uses a grammatical construction that appears only seven times in the Hebrew Bible, each time emphasizing absolute exclusivity.
  • The musical term “lamnatzeach” in the superscription appears 55 times in the psalms and may indicate this was used in Temple worship ceremonies for restoration of the ceremonially unclean.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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