Psalms 51:14

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Deliver {H5337}{H8685)} me from bloodguiltiness {H1818}, O God {H430}, thou God {H430} of my salvation {H8668}: and my tongue {H3956} shall sing aloud {H7442}{H8762)} of thy righteousness {H6666}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Rescue me from the guilt of shedding blood, God, God of my salvation! Then my tongue will sing about your righteousness

Berean Standard Bible

Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

American Standard Version

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; Andmy tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 51:14 is a profound and urgent plea from King David, expressing his desperate need for deliverance from the grievous sin of "bloodguiltiness" (likely referring to his role in Uriah's death). In this deeply penitential prayer, David appeals to God as the sole source of his salvation, recognizing that only divine intervention can cleanse him from such a heinous transgression. The verse culminates in a solemn vow: if God grants this deliverance and restoration, David's tongue will joyfully and publicly proclaim God's perfect righteousness, demonstrating a heart transformed by grace and eager to magnify the One who saves.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 51 stands as the quintessential penitential psalm, traditionally attributed to David after his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. Verse 14 is strategically placed within David's comprehensive prayer of confession and petition. It follows his profound acknowledgment of sin's depth and his earnest pleas for cleansing and renewal (e.g., "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" in [Psalms 51:2](/psalms/51-2 "Psalms 51:2 - Plea for Cleansing"), and "Create in me a clean heart, O God" in [Psalms 51:10](/psalms/51-10 "Psalms 51:10 - Prayer for a Clean Heart")). Having confessed the internal defilement, David moves to address the most egregious outward manifestation of his sin—the shedding of innocent blood. This specific plea for deliverance from "bloodguiltiness" intensifies the psalm's emotional and spiritual weight, preparing the way for his subsequent vow to teach transgressors and declare God's praise (e.g., [Psalms 51:13](/psalms/51-13 "Psalms 51:13 - Vow to Teach Transgressors")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription of Psalm 51 explicitly links it to the events recounted in [2 Samuel 11-12](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Sin with Bathsheba and Uriah"). King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then orchestrated the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite, to cover up his sin. The prophet Nathan's confrontation (recorded in [2 Samuel 12:1-15](/2_samuel/12-1 "2 Samuel 12:1-15 - Nathan's Rebuke of David")) brought David to a profound state of repentance. In ancient Israel, the shedding of innocent blood (murder) was considered one of the gravest offenses, not only against the victim but also against God and the land itself, which was believed to be defiled by such an act (e.g., [Numbers 35:33-34](/numbers/35-33 "Numbers 35:33-34 - Defilement of the Land by Blood")). "Bloodguiltiness" carried both legal and spiritual ramifications, requiring divine cleansing and atonement. David's plea reflects this deep understanding of the defilement and the need for God's unique power to remove such a stain.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes prevalent in Psalm 51 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **gravity and defilement of sin**, particularly murder, which carries a unique "bloodguiltiness" that pollutes the perpetrator and the community. Secondly, it underscores **God's absolute sovereignty as the only source of salvation and deliverance**, even from the most heinous sins; David's appeal to "God of my salvation" demonstrates his unwavering trust in divine mercy despite his immense failure. Thirdly, the verse illustrates the **transformative power of genuine repentance**, leading not merely to a desire for forgiveness but to a renewed commitment to public praise and proclamation of God's character. David's vow to "sing aloud of thy righteousness" signifies that true spiritual restoration results in a life dedicated to magnifying God's justice and grace, rather than dwelling on personal shame or self-righteousness, echoing the joy of forgiveness found in [Psalms 32:1-2](/psalms/32-1 "Psalms 32:1-2 - The Blessing of Forgiveness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bloodguiltiness (Hebrew, דָּמִים, _damim_):** This word is the plural form of "blood" (דָּם, _dam_), literally "bloods." The plural intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the gravity, multiplicity, and lasting stain of the sin of shedding innocent blood. It refers not just to the act of murder but to the legal and moral culpability, the defilement, and the spiritual burden that results from such a transgression. It implies a deep, pervasive guilt that contaminates the individual and, in a broader sense, the community and the land itself, requiring a profound, divine act of cleansing.
* **Salvation (Hebrew, תְּשׁוּעָה, _teshu'ah_):** This term denotes deliverance, rescue, or victory. When David calls God "the God of my salvation," he is acknowledging God as his sole rescuer, the one who can bring him out of his desperate state of guilt and spiritual death. It encompasses not just forgiveness of sin but also restoration to a right relationship with God, implying a comprehensive act of divine rescue from all the consequences and burdens of his transgression.
* **Sing aloud (Hebrew, רַנֵּן, _rannen_):** This verb means to shout for joy, to give a ringing cry, or to sing triumphantly. It suggests a loud, fervent, and public declaration of praise, not a quiet whisper. This indicates that David's promised response to God's deliverance will be an uninhibited, joyful, and public proclamation of God's character and saving acts, a testament to the profound transformation experienced through divine forgiveness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God":** This is David's most specific and urgent plea in the psalm, directly addressing the heinous nature of his sin related to Uriah's death. The imperative "Deliver me" conveys a desperate cry for rescue from the overwhelming burden and defilement of this particular transgression. It acknowledges the unique gravity of shedding innocent blood and the profound spiritual stain it leaves, which only God can remove.
* **"thou God of my salvation":** David immediately qualifies his appeal by addressing God with a title that reflects his unwavering faith in God's character. Despite the magnitude of his sin, David recognizes that God is inherently a deliverer and rescuer. This phrase functions as both an act of worship and a theological basis for his plea, affirming that God alone possesses the power and the merciful nature to provide the comprehensive deliverance he so desperately needs.
* **"and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness":** This clause represents David's solemn vow and the promised outcome of divine deliverance. It is a commitment to public and joyful praise. Crucially, David vows to sing of *God's* righteousness, not his own. This "righteousness" refers to God's just character, His faithfulness to His covenant, and His merciful act of forgiving and restoring a sinner. It signifies that the experience of God's grace will transform David's voice into an instrument of God's glory, testifying to the world of God's redemptive power and just dealings.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 51:14 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its profound emotional and theological depth. The most prominent is **parallelism**, specifically a form of synthetic or consequential parallelism, where the second part of the verse ("my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness") presents the consequence or response to the first part ("Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation"). This structure highlights the direct link between divine deliverance and human praise. **Metonymy** is evident in the phrase "my tongue shall sing aloud," where "tongue" stands in for the entire act of verbal praise and proclamation, emphasizing the instrument of vocal expression. The use of "bloodguiltiness" (plural "bloods") can be seen as a form of **intensification** or **hyperbole**, underscoring the extreme gravity and multifaceted nature of the sin. The entire verse functions as a powerful **chiasm** of sorts in its underlying theological movement: from the depth of human sin and need to the height of divine salvation, culminating in human praise that reflects God's character. The raw honesty of the plea combined with the confident vow of praise creates a compelling rhetorical arc.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 51:14 stands as a powerful testament to the biblical understanding of sin, repentance, and divine grace. It underscores the profound defilement that sin, especially murder, brings, and the absolute necessity of God's intervention for true cleansing and restoration. David's appeal to God as "the God of my salvation" highlights the theological truth that salvation is entirely a work of God, not dependent on human merit or ability to atone for sin. His subsequent vow to "sing aloud of thy righteousness" reveals that genuine repentance and the experience of divine forgiveness lead to a transformed life, characterized by grateful praise that magnifies God's just and merciful character. This verse connects deeply with the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant faithfulness, His willingness to forgive even the most grievous sins when met with a truly contrite heart, and the call for the redeemed to bear witness to His saving acts.

* [Psalms 32:1-2](/psalms/32-1 "Psalms 32:1-2 - The Blessing of Forgiveness")
* [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")
* [Isaiah 1:18](/isaiah/1-18 "Isaiah 1:18 - Invitation to Reason with God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's desperate cry in Psalms 51:14 resonates deeply with the human condition. While few may experience "bloodguiltiness" in the literal sense of murder, all humanity is burdened by sin that defiles and separates us from God. This verse calls us to confront the true weight and defilement of our own transgressions, especially those that harm others or violate God's sacred commands. It reminds us that true repentance begins with an honest, unvarnished acknowledgment of our sin's gravity, rather than minimizing or excusing it. Yet, even in the depths of our brokenness, David's plea to "the God of my salvation" offers profound hope. It assures us that God's capacity to forgive and deliver is boundless, extending even to the most grievous of offenses, provided there is genuine contrition. Our response to such divine mercy, like David's, should be a transformed life that joyfully and publicly proclaims God's righteousness and redemptive power. Our voices, our lives, and our actions become a testament to His incredible grace, demonstrating that true spiritual freedom is found not in self-justification, but in magnifying the One who delivers us from guilt and shame.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I tend to minimize or rationalize my own sin, rather than confronting its true "bloodguiltiness" or defilement before God?**
* **How does David's unwavering trust in God as "the God of my salvation," even in his deepest shame, encourage me to bring my own failures before Him?**
* **What does it mean for my "tongue to sing aloud of thy righteousness" in my daily life? How can my life be a public proclamation of God's saving work?**
* **What specific steps can I take to move from acknowledging sin to experiencing God's deliverance and then offering Him genuine, joyful praise?**

### FAQ
**What is "bloodguiltiness" and why is it so significant in this psalm?**

Answer: "Bloodguiltiness" (Hebrew: _damim_, literally "bloods") refers to the moral and legal culpability for shedding innocent blood, i.e., murder. In the Old Testament, this was considered one of the most heinous sins, not only against the victim but also against God and the land itself, which was believed to be defiled by such an act (e.g., [Numbers 35:33](/numbers/35-33 "Numbers 35:33 - Defilement by Blood")). David's plea for deliverance from "bloodguiltiness" in [Psalms 51:14](/psalms/51-14 "Psalms 51:14 - Deliverance from Bloodguiltiness") is highly significant because it specifically addresses his role in the death of Uriah the Hittite, which was a direct consequence of his adultery with Bathsheba (as recounted in [2 Samuel 11](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Sin with Bathsheba and Uriah")). It highlights the extreme gravity of his sin and his desperate need for divine cleansing from this profound spiritual and moral stain.

**Why does David call God "the God of my salvation" in such a moment of deep sin?**

Answer: David's appeal to God as "the God of my salvation" (Hebrew: _Elohei teshu'ati_) even in his profound brokenness demonstrates a deep theological understanding and unwavering faith. It signifies that he recognizes God as the sole source of rescue, deliverance, and restoration. Despite the magnitude of his sin, David knows that no human effort or sacrifice can truly cleanse him from "bloodguiltiness"; only God, in His infinite mercy and power, can provide the necessary salvation. This title underscores God's character as a deliverer, a consistent theme throughout the Psalms (e.g., [Psalms 3:8](/psalms/3-8 "Psalms 3:8 - Salvation Belongs to the Lord")), and shows David's complete reliance on divine grace rather than his own merit.

**What does it mean for David's "tongue to sing aloud of thy righteousness"?**

Answer: This phrase is a vow of public and joyful praise to God. It means that if God grants David deliverance from his guilt and restores him, his response will be to loudly and triumphantly proclaim God's character. The "righteousness" David refers to is not his own, but God's. It encompasses God's justice, His faithfulness to His covenant, and most importantly in this context, His merciful and just act of forgiving and restoring a sinner who deserves judgment. It signifies that the experience of God's grace will transform David's life and voice into an instrument that magnifies God's redemptive power, demonstrating that true repentance leads to a desire to glorify the One who saves. This transformative praise is a common biblical theme, as seen in [Psalms 34:1-3](/psalms/34-1 "Psalms 34:1-3 - I Will Bless the Lord at All Times").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 51:14, with David's desperate plea for deliverance from "bloodguiltiness" and his vow to sing of God's righteousness, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. David's cry for cleansing foreshadows humanity's universal need for atonement for sin, which is far more pervasive than mere "bloodguiltiness." Christ is the true and perfect [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose innocent blood was shed not for His own sin, but as the perfect sacrifice to cleanse humanity from all guilt and defilement. The Old Testament sacrificial system, which hinted at the need for blood atonement ([Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness")), pointed forward to Christ's singular, sufficient sacrifice on the cross. Through His death, Christ bore the full weight of humanity's "bloodguiltiness" and all other sins, offering a righteousness that is not our own but is freely imputed to those who believe ([Romans 3:21-26](/romans/3-21 "Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness Through Faith")). Thus, our deliverance from sin's defilement and its eternal consequences comes solely through Christ's atoning work. Our "tongues sing aloud of thy righteousness" not merely because God has forgiven us, but because He has provided the perfect, righteous substitute in Jesus, making us righteous in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Our praise, therefore, is ultimately directed to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit, for the glorious salvation secured by the cross and resurrection, a salvation that is far more comprehensive than David could have fully imagined ([Revelation 5:9-10](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9-10 - The New Song of the Lamb")).

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.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 12:9

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

Psalms 35:28

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.

Romans 10:3

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Hosea 4:2

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

Genesis 9:6

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Psalms 26:9

Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

Psalms 86:12

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.