Psalms 51:2

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

Wash {H3526}{H8761)} me throughly {H7235}{H8685)} from mine iniquity {H5771}, and cleanse {H2891}{H8761)} me from my sin {H2403}.

Wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

Psalms 51:2 (KJV): Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Context

Psalm 51 is a deeply penitential psalm, attributed to David. It is traditionally understood as his heartfelt prayer of repentance following his grievous sin involving Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah, as recounted in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and the subsequent confrontation by the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel chapter 12. This verse opens the core plea of the psalm, expressing a profound awareness of personal guilt and a desperate need for divine purification.

Key Themes

  • Deep Confession: The prayer is not a casual request but an intense cry for thorough cleansing, indicating a deep understanding of the defiling nature of sin.
  • Need for Purification: The use of strong verbs like "wash throughly" and "cleanse" highlights the perceived need for a complete removal of sin's stain, which mere human effort cannot achieve.
  • Understanding of Sin: David recognizes both 'iniquity' (often implying the perversion or bent nature of sin) and 'sin' (missing the mark, specific wrong actions), acknowledging sin's pervasive presence and effect.
  • Reliance on God: The plea is directed to God, acknowledging that only He has the power to truly wash away and cleanse from sin's defilement.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses powerful imagery. "Wash me throughly" translates a Hebrew verb (כָּבַס, kabas) often used for laundry, vigorously treading or beating clothes to get them clean. It suggests a thorough, intensive cleaning process, not just a surface rinse. "Cleanse me" translates another verb (טָהֵר, taher), related to ritual and moral purity, often used for purification from uncleanness. The pairing of 'iniquity' (עָוֹן, avon) and 'sin' (חַטָּאָה, chatta'ah) covers both the twisted nature or guilt associated with wrongdoing and the specific acts of transgression themselves. This dual request emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the cleansing needed.

Reflection and Application

This verse speaks to the universal human condition of sinfulness and the innate desire, when convicted, for purification. David's raw honesty provides a model for our own prayers of confession. We too need God to "wash us throughly" and "cleanse us" from our sins, acknowledging that sin is not just individual actions but also a defiling force that penetrates deep within us. The hope offered here is that God is able and willing to provide that deep cleansing, just as promised in 1 John 1:9, which assures us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This verse calls us to humble ourselves, acknowledge our sin fully, and seek God's complete purification.

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.

  • 1 John 1:7

    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  • 1 John 1:9

    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

  • Psalms 51:7

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

  • Hebrews 10:21

    And [having] an high priest over the house of God;

  • Hebrews 10:22

    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Revelation 1:5

    And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

  • Ezekiel 36:25

    ¶ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
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