Psalms 51:1

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 51:1 introduces one of the most profound and widely cherished prayers of repentance in the biblical canon, traditionally ascribed to King David following his grievous sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. This opening verse immediately establishes a tone of profound humility and desperate appeal, directly addressing God and invoking His intrinsic character of boundless compassion and unwavering covenant faithfulness as the sole basis for the forgiveness and cleansing of transgression. It is a foundational declaration of human brokenness and divine sufficiency.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 51 is a penitential psalm, one of seven such psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). It is unique among them for its detailed superscription, which explicitly links it to a specific, well-known event in David's life. The psalm immediately follows Psalm 50, which is a prophetic oracle emphasizing true worship over mere ritual, setting a stage for the internal, heart-level repentance expressed in Psalm 51. The verses that follow Psalm 51:1 delve deeper into David's confession, his recognition of God's justice, his plea for a clean heart, and his desire for restoration to God's presence and service, culminating in a communal prayer for Zion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba" grounds this psalm firmly in the historical narrative of [2 Samuel 11](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Sin with Bathsheba") and [2 Samuel 12](/2_samuel/12 "2 Samuel 12 - Nathan Confronts David"). David, as king, wielded immense power, yet his actions with Bathsheba and Uriah represented a profound abuse of that power and a direct violation of God's law (Exodus 20:13-14, 17). The confrontation by Nathan, a prophet who spoke God's word with authority, was a pivotal moment, bringing David to a place of brokenness and genuine repentance (see [2 Samuel 12:13](/2_samuel/12-13 "2 Samuel 12:13 - David's Confession")). In ancient Israel, sin was understood not merely as a private failing but as an offense against God and the community, requiring both individual and often communal acts of purification and reconciliation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several overarching themes that permeate Psalm 51 and resonate throughout the biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Mercy and Compassion**, highlighting God's character as inherently gracious and abundant in His capacity to forgive, even the most egregious sins. It also powerfully introduces the theme of **Genuine Repentance and Confession**, demonstrating that true turning from sin begins with a humble acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a direct appeal to God's character, not human merit. Furthermore, the plea to "blot out my transgressions" establishes the theme of **Complete Forgiveness and Cleansing**, portraying forgiveness not as a mere overlooking of sin but as a radical, transformative erasure, leading to spiritual restoration and renewal, a concept echoed in passages like [Isaiah 43:25](/isaiah/43-25 "Isaiah 43:25 - God Blots Out Transgressions").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lovingkindness (Hebrew, _ḥesed'_):** This profound Hebrew term signifies God's steadfast love, covenant faithfulness, and loyal mercy. It is a love that is not based on the recipient's worthiness but on God's enduring commitment to His covenant. In this context, David appeals to God's character as one who maintains His promises and extends grace even when His people fail, emphasizing the reliability and enduring nature of divine compassion.
* **Tender mercies (Hebrew, _raḥamim'_):** Derived from the root word for "womb," this term conveys a deep, visceral, and affectionate compassion, akin to a mother's profound pity and care for her child. It speaks of God's intensely personal, empathetic, and nurturing pity, revealing a God who is not distant or indifferent to human suffering and sin, but one who feels deeply and responds with profound tenderness.
* **Blot out (Hebrew, _maḥah'_):** This verb literally means to wipe away, erase, or obliterate. It conjures the image of a scribe wiping clean a tablet or a painter washing away a mistake. In the context of sin, it signifies a complete removal of the record of wrongdoing, not merely overlooking it but making it as if it never existed. This powerful imagery underscores the desire for absolute and comprehensive forgiveness, a total erasure of the guilt and stain of transgression.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Have mercy upon me, O God":** This opening imperative is a direct, desperate plea for God's unmerited favor. "Mercy" (from the Hebrew verb חָנַן, _ḥānan_) implies a gracious act from a superior to an inferior, a plea for pity and compassion from the divine sovereign. David, despite his royal status, positions himself as utterly dependent on God's grace, acknowledging his profound need and God's ultimate authority.
* **"according to thy lovingkindness":** David immediately grounds his plea not in his own merit or any ritualistic act, but in the very character of God. His "lovingkindness" (_ḥesed_) refers to God's covenant faithfulness and steadfast love. This phrase indicates that David's hope for mercy is rooted in God's consistent and reliable nature, a love that persists despite human unfaithfulness.
* **"according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies":** This phrase intensifies the appeal, emphasizing the vastness and abundance of God's compassion. The "multitude" highlights that God's capacity for _raḥamim_ (tender, womb-like mercies) is not limited but is overflowing and inexhaustible. David is not asking for a small measure of forgiveness but for a comprehensive, overflowing outpouring of divine compassion commensurate with the depth of his sin.
* **"blot out my transgressions":** This is the specific request for forgiveness, using the powerful imagery of erasure. "Transgressions" (פֶּשַׁע, _peshaʿ_) refers to rebellious acts, a breaking away from God's established order and law. The plea to "blot out" (_maḥah_) signifies a desire for the complete removal of the record, the guilt, and the stain of these rebellious acts, seeking a thorough and absolute pardon that leaves no trace of the offense.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 51:1 employs several powerful **Literary Devices**. **Invocation** is immediately present as David directly addresses "O God," establishing a personal and direct appeal. The verse also showcases **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second half of the verse reiterates and intensifies the thought of the first half using different but related terms: "according to thy lovingkindness" is mirrored and amplified by "according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies." This repetition emphasizes the vastness of God's compassion. Furthermore, the phrase "blot out my transgressions" utilizes a vivid **Metaphor** or **Imagery**, likening sin to something written that can be wiped away, conveying the idea of complete erasure and removal of guilt. The term "multitude" also borders on **Hyperbole**, underscoring the immeasurable and overflowing nature of God's mercies.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 51:1 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God and the path to repentance. It underscores that true forgiveness is not earned but is a gift flowing from God's inherent character—His boundless lovingkindness and tender mercies. David's plea establishes that genuine repentance begins with a humble acknowledgment of sin and a direct appeal to God's grace, rather than reliance on human performance or ritual. This verse sets the stage for the New Covenant understanding of forgiveness, where God's mercy is fully manifested through Christ. It teaches that God desires not merely to overlook sin but to completely cleanse and remove its stain, offering a radical transformation to those who sincerely seek Him.

* [Isaiah 43:25](/isaiah/43-25 "Isaiah 43:25 - God Blots Out Transgressions")
* [Micah 7:18-19](/micah/7-18 "Micah 7:18-19 - God Delights in Mercy")
* [Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 51:1 offers immense comfort and profound guidance for every believer. It reminds us that no sin, no matter how grievous, is beyond the reach of God's boundless mercy. David, a man after God's own heart, yet capable of profound moral failure, models for us the posture of true repentance: not self-justification or despair, but a humble, direct appeal to the character of God. This verse invites us to lay bare our transgressions before the Lord, trusting not in our own ability to atone, but in His infinite lovingkindness and tender mercies to "blot out" our sins completely. It calls us to cultivate a heart that is quick to confess and confident in the restorative power of God's grace, knowing that He is eager to forgive and cleanse.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does David's immediate appeal to God's "lovingkindness" and "tender mercies" teach us about the foundation of true repentance?**
* **In what ways does the imagery of "blotting out" transgressions offer a deeper understanding of God's forgiveness than merely "pardoning" or "overlooking" sin?**
* **How does this verse challenge any tendency we might have to rely on our own efforts or merits for forgiveness, rather than God's character?**
* **Considering David's profound sin, what encouragement does Psalm 51:1 offer to someone struggling with deep guilt or shame?**

### FAQ
**Why is Psalm 51 attributed to David, and how does its superscription impact its interpretation?**

Answer: Psalm 51 is traditionally attributed to King David, as indicated by its superscription: "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba." This superscription directly links the psalm to the events described in [2 Samuel 11](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Adultery and Murder") and [2 Samuel 12](/2_samuel/12 "2 Samuel 12 - Nathan's Confrontation with David"), where David committed adultery with Bathsheba, orchestrated the death of her husband Uriah, and was subsequently confronted by the prophet Nathan. The superscription is crucial because it provides the historical and biographical context for the psalm, transforming it from a generic prayer of repentance into a deeply personal confession arising from a specific, profound moral failure. This context enriches the psalm's meaning, highlighting the depth of David's remorse and the authenticity of his plea for divine mercy, making it a timeless model for confession for all who have sinned.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 51:1, with its desperate plea for God's mercy and the blotting out of transgressions, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. David's cry for a complete cleansing foreshadows the perfect and final atonement accomplished through the sacrifice of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). While David appealed to God's lovingkindness and tender mercies, the New Testament reveals that these attributes are fully expressed and made accessible through Christ's work on the cross. It is through His shed blood that sins are not merely overlooked, but truly "blotted out" (or "canceled" as in [Colossians 2:14](/colossians/2-14 "Colossians 2:14 - Christ Cancels the Record of Debt")), and the record of our debt is nailed to the cross. The mercy David sought is now offered freely to all who believe in Jesus, who became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God (see [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Thus, David's ancient prayer becomes a template for the believer's confession under the New Covenant, where we approach the Father through the Son, confident that our sins, though scarlet, will be made as white as snow (cf. [Isaiah 1:18](/isaiah/1-18 "Isaiah 1:18 - Sins Made White as Snow")) through the power of Christ's redeeming love.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.