Psalms 51:1

¶ 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.

To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)}, A Psalm {H4210} of David {H1732}, when Nathan {H5416} the prophet {H5030} came {H935}{H8800)} unto him, after he had gone in {H935}{H8804)} to Bathsheba {H1339}. Have mercy {H2603}{H8798)} upon me, O God {H430}, according to thy lovingkindness {H2617}: according unto the multitude {H7230} of thy tender mercies {H7356} blot out {H4229}{H8798)} my transgressions {H6588}.

For the leader. A psalm of David, when Natan the prophet came to him after his affair with Bat-Sheva: God, in your grace, have mercy on me; in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51:1 (KJV) opens one of the Bible's most profound prayers of repentance, traditionally attributed to King David after his grievous sins with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. This verse immediately sets a tone of desperate appeal to God's boundless compassion.

Context

This psalm is widely understood to be King David's heartfelt cry for forgiveness following his adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent plot to kill her husband, Uriah the Hittite, as recounted in 2 Samuel 11. The prophet Nathan confronted David, leading to this deep expression of remorse (see 2 Samuel 12). Thus, Psalm 51 is a timeless model for personal confession and seeking divine mercy when one has fallen deeply into sin.

Key Themes

  • Divine Mercy and Compassion: The core request is for God's mercy, emphasizing that it is "according to thy lovingkindness" and "the multitude of thy tender mercies." This highlights God's character as inherently compassionate and abundant in grace.
  • Confession and Repentance: David's plea acknowledges his "transgressions," recognizing his sin before God. This verse is the beginning of a sincere turning away from sin and toward God for restoration.
  • Complete Forgiveness: The phrase "blot out my transgressions" signifies a desire for the complete erasure of sin, as if a written record of wrongdoing is wiped clean. It's a prayer for full and absolute pardon.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation beautifully captures key Hebrew terms that deepen the verse's meaning:

  • "Lovingkindness" translates the Hebrew word chesed (חֶסֶד). This rich term signifies God's steadfast love, covenant faithfulness, and loyal mercy. It speaks of a deep, enduring commitment.
  • "Tender mercies" comes from the Hebrew rachamim (רַחֲמִים), derived from a root word meaning "womb." It conveys a profound, visceral compassion, often likened to a mother's deep affection for her child, indicating an intensely personal and empathetic pity from God.
  • "Blot out" is from the Hebrew machah (מָחָה), meaning to wipe away, erase, or obliterate. It suggests a complete removal of the record of sin, not just overlooking it, but making it as if it never existed, similar to how God promises to remove our transgressions far from us.

Significance and Application

Psalm 51:1 offers immense comfort and guidance for anyone seeking forgiveness. It teaches that true repentance begins with acknowledging one's sin and appealing directly to God's character—His infinite lovingkindness and tender mercies—rather than relying on personal merit. It underscores the profound truth that God is willing to grant complete forgiveness and cleanse us from our iniquities, inviting us to approach His throne of grace with confidence, as further encouraged in Hebrews 4:16. This verse remains a timeless prayer for spiritual renewal and a powerful reminder of God's restorative power in the lives of those who genuinely seek Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 3:19

    Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

  • Isaiah 44:22

    I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

  • Isaiah 43:25

    I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

  • Psalms 51:9

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

  • Colossians 2:14

    Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

  • Psalms 69:16

    Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness [is] good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

  • 2 Samuel 11:2

    And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back