Psalms 51:15

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

O Lord {H136}, open {H6605}{H8799)} thou my lips {H8193}; and my mouth {H6310} shall shew forth {H5046}{H8686)} thy praise {H8416}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Adonai, open my lips; then my mouth will praise you.

Berean Standard Bible

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

American Standard Version

O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 51:15 is a profound cry from King David, deeply embedded within his penitential prayer following his grievous sins with Bathsheba and Uriah. It expresses a fervent desire for divine intervention to restore his spiritual capacity for genuine worship. David recognizes that his lips, once stained by sin and silenced by guilt, cannot offer true praise without God's gracious act of "opening" them, signifying a spiritual liberation that enables his mouth to joyfully proclaim God's praise and redemptive power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Psalm 51, a quintessential psalm of repentance. It follows David's earnest pleas for cleansing from sin and the renewal of a right spirit and steadfast heart (e.g., [Psalms 51:7](/psalms/51-7 "Psalms 51:7 - Cleansing from Sin"), [Psalms 51:10](/psalms/51-10 "Psalms 51:10 - A Clean Heart and Steadfast Spirit")). Having confessed his profound guilt and experienced the crushing weight of God's displeasure, David moves from a focus on internal purification to the outward expression of a restored relationship. The psalm progresses from confession and a longing for inner transformation to a desire for renewed public worship and testimony, culminating in a prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem and its sacrifices, indicating a holistic understanding of repentance and restoration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The traditional superscription attributes Psalm 51 to David after the prophet Nathan confronted him regarding his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite (as detailed in [2 Samuel 11](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Sin") and [2 Samuel 12](/2_samuel/12 "2 Samuel 12 - Nathan's Rebuke")). In ancient Israelite culture, sin, especially by a king, carried significant public ramifications, affecting not only the individual but also the community. Guilt could lead to a sense of separation from God and an inability to participate in communal worship. David's prayer reflects a deep understanding of the covenant relationship, where sin breaks fellowship and silences the voice of praise. His plea for God to "open" his lips underscores the cultural understanding that true worship was not merely ritualistic but flowed from a heart in right standing with God, a standing that only divine grace could restore.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 51:15 encapsulates several key themes prevalent in the psalm and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **divine enablement of worship**: true praise is not a human achievement but a gift, flowing from a heart renewed and empowered by God. David acknowledges his spiritual inability to praise genuinely without God's intervention. Secondly, it speaks to the **restoration of spiritual vitality**: sin stifles spiritual expression and fellowship, and David yearns for the renewed capacity to declare God's goodness, a sign of his spiritual life being rekindled. This restoration is not just for personal relief but for the **purpose of glorifying God**. Forgiveness is not an end in itself but a means to restore the worshiper to their intended purpose: to "shew forth thy praise," testifying to God's mercy and transforming power. This aligns with the broader biblical emphasis that salvation leads to a life of worship and witness, as seen in passages like [1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Open (Hebrew, _pataḥ'_):** This verb signifies "to open," "to loosen," or "to set free." In this context, it implies a spiritual blockage or constraint on David's lips, not a physical inability to speak. His guilt and estrangement from God have silenced his capacity for genuine praise. The plea for God to "open" his lips is a request for divine intervention to remove this spiritual impediment, to liberate his tongue for its intended purpose of worship. It underscores that true worship is not forced or mechanical but flows from a heart freed by divine grace.
* **Shew forth (Hebrew, _nagad'_):** This verb means "to declare," "to proclaim," "to tell," or "to make known." It suggests an outward, public, and emphatic declaration. David is not merely seeking to feel praise internally but to articulate it, to make God's praise manifest. This implies a desire for his restored life to be a public testimony to God's forgiveness and redemptive power, a witness to others of God's mercy. It moves beyond private devotion to public proclamation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O Lord, open thou my lips":** This clause is a direct, earnest plea to God. The vocative "O Lord" (Adonai) emphasizes God's sovereign authority and ability to act. David recognizes his own spiritual impotence; his lips, once used for sinful speech or silenced by the weight of guilt, are now incapable of offering true, heartfelt praise. The request to "open" them signifies a desire for spiritual liberation, for God to remove the impediment of sin that has stifled his worship. It is a prayer for divine enablement, acknowledging that genuine praise is a gift from God, flowing from a renewed heart.
* **"and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise":** This second clause expresses the intended outcome and purpose of the divine intervention. Once God has "opened" David's lips, his mouth will naturally and joyfully "shew forth" or proclaim God's praise. This is not a conditional statement ("if you open, then I will praise") but a confident declaration of the inevitable result of God's restorative grace. A heart cleansed and liberated by God's forgiveness cannot but overflow with adoration and public testimony to His goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. It highlights that the ultimate purpose of forgiveness and restoration is to enable the believer to glorify God.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 51:15 employs several powerful literary devices. The primary device is **Metonymy**, where "lips" and "mouth" stand in for the entire person's capacity for vocal expression and worship. David is not merely asking for a physical opening but a spiritual unburdening that enables genuine praise. This is further enhanced by **Personification**, as the "mouth" is depicted as actively "showing forth" or proclaiming praise, giving agency to what is typically an instrument. The phrase "open thou my lips" also functions as a **Metaphor** for spiritual liberation and enablement; it's not a literal opening but a divine act that removes the spiritual blockage caused by sin, allowing the flow of authentic worship. The structure itself presents a **Cause and Effect** relationship: God's action ("open thou my lips") directly leads to the worshiper's response ("my mouth shall shew forth thy praise"), emphasizing divine initiative in human worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly connects the act of repentance and divine forgiveness with the purpose of worship and witness. It reveals that true praise is not merely an emotional outburst but the natural overflow of a heart reconciled to God. Sin silences, but grace liberates the voice of adoration. Theologically, it underscores God's active role in enabling human worship; we cannot truly praise Him in our own strength, especially when burdened by unconfessed sin. Our ability to declare His goodness is a direct result of His cleansing and restorative work. This concept resonates throughout scripture, emphasizing that a life transformed by God's grace inevitably leads to a life of praise and testimony, demonstrating His power and mercy to the world.

* [Hebrews 13:15](/hebrews/13-15 "The Sacrifice of Praise")
* [Isaiah 6:5-7](/isaiah/6-5 "Isaiah's Cleansing and Commission")
* [Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9 "Confession and Belief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 51:15 offers a timeless model for believers grappling with the aftermath of sin or spiritual dryness. It reminds us that our capacity for genuine worship is deeply intertwined with the state of our hearts and our relationship with God. When we allow sin to linger, it not only grieves the Holy Spirit but also stifles our spiritual voice, making heartfelt praise feel distant or impossible. David's plea encourages us to acknowledge our spiritual impotence in such moments and to humbly ask God to intervene, to "open" our lips by His grace, cleansing us and restoring our fellowship with Him. The ultimate goal of this restoration is not merely personal peace, but the renewed ability to "shew forth His praise," making our lives a public testimony to His forgiveness, mercy, and transformative power. This verse challenges us to consider if our lives are truly proclaiming God's praise, and if not, to seek the divine cleansing and enablement that makes such proclamation possible and authentic.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might unconfessed sin or spiritual apathy be "closing" your lips to genuine praise and worship?**
* **What does it mean for God to "open" your lips in a practical sense today, and how might you seek that divine enablement?**
* **How does your restored relationship with God manifest in your outward expression of praise and testimony to others?**
* **Beyond personal benefit, what is the ultimate purpose of God restoring your ability to praise Him?**

### FAQ

**Why does David need God to "open" his lips?**

Answer: David's need for God to "open" his lips is not a physical request but a profound spiritual one. After his grievous sins, David experienced deep guilt and a sense of estrangement from God. This spiritual burden had effectively "silenced" his capacity for genuine, heartfelt praise. His lips, which should have been instruments of worship, were rendered incapable of offering acceptable praise due to his unconfessed sin. Therefore, "opening his lips" signifies a divine act of cleansing, forgiveness, and spiritual liberation, allowing the flow of authentic worship from a renewed heart. It acknowledges that true worship is not a human effort but a divine enablement, flowing from a reconciled relationship with God, as seen in [Psalms 32:3-5](/psalms/32-3 "David's Confession and Forgiveness").

**What does "my mouth shall shew forth thy praise" imply about the nature of worship?**

Answer: This phrase implies that true worship is not merely an internal feeling or private devotion; it is meant to be outwardly expressed and proclaimed. The Hebrew verb "shew forth" (נגד, _nagad_) means to declare, proclaim, or make known. Once God has removed the impediment of sin and restored David's spiritual vitality, his natural response is to publicly declare God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. This highlights that worship is inherently testimonial. A heart transformed by divine grace cannot help but overflow with praise, becoming a living witness to God's redemptive power. It signifies that the purpose of forgiveness is not just personal relief but also the restoration of one's capacity to glorify God and share His works with others, echoing the call to be a "light to the nations" in [Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "A Light to the Nations").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 51:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. David's plea for God to "open" his lips, recognizing his inability to praise due to sin, foreshadows the radical spiritual liberation made possible through Christ's atoning work. Under the Old Covenant, sacrifices provided temporary covering for sin, but true and lasting cleansing, which enables unhindered access to God and genuine praise, was only fully achieved through the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of [Jesus, the Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Through His death and resurrection, Christ has broken the power of sin that silences and separates us from God, opening a "new and living way" into the holiest presence (cf. [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Access to God Through Christ")). Now, through faith in Him, believers are cleansed, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and empowered to offer a "sacrifice of praise" that is truly acceptable to God (cf. [Hebrews 13:15](/hebrews/13-15 "The Sacrifice of Praise") and [1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "Spiritual Sacrifices")). Our lips are opened not by our own merit or effort, but by the finished work of Christ, enabling us to boldly "shew forth His praise" and declare the marvelous light into which we have been called (cf. [1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood")). In Christ, the prayer of Psalms 51:15 is not just answered, but eternally fulfilled for all who believe.

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.