Psalms 51:5

KJV

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

KJV (with Strong's)

Behold, I was shapen {H2342}{H8797)} in iniquity {H5771}; and in sin {H2399} did my mother {H517} conceive {H3179}{H8765)} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

True, I was born guilty, was a sinner from the moment my mother conceived me.

Berean Standard Bible

Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

American Standard Version

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 51:5 is a profound confession by King David, uttered in the depths of his repentance following his egregious sins involving Bathsheba and Uriah. In this verse, David traces the root of his sinfulness not merely to specific actions, but to the very core of his being, acknowledging an inherent human predisposition toward sin from the moment of his conception, highlighting the pervasive nature of humanity's fallen condition.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of [Psalm 51](/psalms/51 "Psalm 51 - A Prayer of Repentance"), a penitential psalm traditionally attributed to David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite (as recounted in [2 Samuel 12](/2_samuel/12 "2 Samuel 12 - Nathan Confronts David")). Rather than offering excuses or minimizing his actions, David plunges into the depths of his own spiritual condition, recognizing that his outward transgressions stemmed from a deeper, innate flaw within his nature. This radical self-assessment sets the stage for his subsequent fervent pleas for divine cleansing, renewal, and restoration, which permeate the remainder of the psalm, particularly in verses like [Psalm 51:7](/psalms/51-7 "Psalm 51:7 - Wash Me Thoroughly") and [Psalm 51:10](/psalms/51-10 "Psalm 51:10 - Create a Clean Heart").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King David, a figure often described as "a man after God's own heart" ([Acts 13:22](/acts/13-22 "Acts 13:22 - David, a Man After God's Own Heart")), committed acts that were not only morally reprehensible but also carried significant public and theological weight within ancient Israel. His position as king meant his actions had national implications, defiling the community and setting a negative example. The confrontation by Nathan was a direct, prophetic challenge from God, designed to bring David to full repentance. In this cultural setting, sin was understood not just as an individual transgression but as something that could affect the entire covenant community. David's confession, therefore, is not a private lament but a public acknowledgment of a profound spiritual reality, reflecting a deep understanding of God's holiness and the gravity of his own fallen state.
* **Key Themes:** [Psalms 51:5](/psalms/51-5 "Psalms 51:5 - Confession of Inherent Sinfulness") powerfully contributes to several major theological themes. Firstly, it articulates the concept of **Inherent Sinfulness** or **Original Sin**, suggesting that sin is not merely a series of bad choices but a fundamental condition of human existence inherited from the Fall, affecting humanity from the earliest moments of life. David's statement goes beyond personal accountability for his actions to acknowledge a foundational, pervasive predisposition toward sin. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Radical Depravity**, emphasizing that sin affects the entire person—mind, will, and emotions—from the very beginning. This highlights that humanity's orientation is fundamentally away from God's perfect standard, as seen in [Genesis 8:21](/genesis/8-21 "Genesis 8:21 - The Imagination of Man's Heart is Evil"). Finally, by acknowledging such deep-seated sinfulness, the verse implicitly points to the **Need for Divine Intervention**. Human effort alone is utterly insufficient to achieve true purity or righteousness, setting the stage for David's desperate plea for God's sovereign grace to cleanse and transform him, a theme echoed throughout the psalms and prophetic literature.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **shapen (Hebrew, _ḥōlaltî_):** This verb comes from the root חול (ḥûl), which can mean to twist, writhe, or bring forth, often in the context of birth pangs. In this passive form, "I was shapen" or "I was brought forth," it refers to the very act of being born or formed. The phrase "shapen in iniquity" thus emphasizes that David's very formation, his entry into existence, occurred within the sphere or condition of sin, indicating an innate connection to it from the outset.
* **iniquity (Hebrew, _‘āwōn_):** Derived from the verb עָוָה (‘āwāh), meaning to bend, twist, or distort, _‘āwōn_ refers to a crookedness or perversion of nature. It signifies not merely a mistake but a fundamental deviation from uprightness, carrying connotations of guilt, fault, and the punishment due for such distortion. David's use of this word highlights that his inherent state was one of moral distortion or perversity.
* **sin (Hebrew, _ḥēṭ’_):** From the root חָטָא (ḥāṭā’), meaning to miss the mark, go astray, or err. This term emphasizes the failure to meet God's perfect standard, a deviation from the path of righteousness and obedience. When David states he was "conceived in sin," he is reinforcing the idea that from the earliest possible moment of his existence, he was associated with or encompassed by this state of missing God's holy mark.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity":** David uses "Behold" to draw attention to a profound and sobering truth about his own being. He asserts that his very formation, his birth into the world, occurred within the context or condition of "iniquity"—a state of moral distortion and perversion. This is not an accusation against his parents or the act of conception itself, but a radical acknowledgment of the inherited human condition of fallenness, where a predisposition to sin is present from the earliest moments of life.
* **"and in sin did my mother conceive me":** This clause functions as a powerful parallel to the first, reinforcing and intensifying the meaning. It emphasizes that from the absolute earliest point of his existence, even during conception, David was associated with or encompassed by "sin"—a state of missing God's righteous standard. This is a poetic and emphatic declaration of pervasive, innate human depravity, not a literal condemnation of his mother or the act of procreation. It underscores that sin is a deep-seated condition, not merely a learned behavior or a series of isolated acts.

#### Literary Devices
[Psalms 51:5](/psalms/51-5 "Psalms 51:5 - Confession of Inherent Sinfulness") employs several literary techniques to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **synonymous parallelism**, where the second clause ("and in sin did my mother conceive me") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first ("Behold, I was shapen in iniquity"). This repetition serves to underscore the deep-seated and foundational nature of David's (and by extension, humanity's) sinfulness, emphasizing that it is not merely external but inherent. The language also contains an element of **Hyperbole** or **Figurative Language**. While stating a profound truth about inherited sin, the expression of being "shapen in iniquity" and "conceived in sin" uses extreme terms to vividly express the radical extent of human depravity, tracing it back to the earliest possible point of existence. It is a poetic exaggeration to emphasize a spiritual reality, rather than a literal accusation against the act of conception. Furthermore, the verse contributes to the overall **Confessional Tone** of [Psalm 51](/psalms/51 "Psalm 51 - A Prayer of Repentance"), characterized by raw honesty, self-abasement, and a profound acknowledgment of sin before God, setting a precedent for genuine repentance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Psalms 51:5](/psalms/51-5 "Psalms 51:5 - Confession of Inherent Sinfulness") serves as a cornerstone for understanding the biblical doctrine of original sin and the universal human condition. David's confession goes beyond acknowledging specific transgressions to lamenting a fundamental, inherited predisposition to sin that affects all humanity from birth. This innate sinfulness, stemming from Adam's fall, means that every person is born alienated from God, with a nature inclined toward disobedience. This theological truth highlights humanity's utter inability to achieve righteousness by its own efforts and underscores the absolute necessity of divine grace and intervention for salvation and transformation. It establishes that sin is not merely an external act but an internal state, a pervasive corruption that requires a radical, supernatural remedy.

* [Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin and Death Through Adam")
* [Ephesians 2:3](/ephesians/2-3 "Ephesians 2:3 - Children of Wrath by Nature")
* [Genesis 8:21](/genesis/8-21 "Genesis 8:21 - The Imagination of Man's Heart is Evil")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's raw and unflinching honesty in [Psalms 51:5](/psalms/51-5 "Psalms 51:5 - Confession of Inherent Sinfulness") provides a profound model for genuine repentance and self-awareness. It challenges us to move beyond superficial confessions of outward actions and to confront the deeper, inherent sinfulness that resides within our nature. Recognizing that our propensity to sin is not merely a matter of bad choices but a fundamental condition of our being fosters true humility and shatters any illusion of self-righteousness. This understanding compels us to acknowledge our complete dependence on God's grace for salvation, sanctification, and daily strength. It reminds us that true spiritual transformation begins with a radical admission of our fallen state, leading us to a deeper appreciation for the boundless mercy and redemptive power of God, who alone can cleanse and renew a heart steeped in sin.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does acknowledging inherent sinfulness, as David does, shape our view of ourselves and our continuous need for God's grace?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge superficial understandings of sin as merely isolated acts, rather than a pervasive condition of the human heart?**
* **How does David's radical honesty in this confession encourage our own prayers of repentance and our pursuit of deeper spiritual integrity?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse mean conception itself is sinful or that David's parents sinned in conceiving him?**

Answer: No, this verse does not imply that the act of conception itself is sinful, nor does it accuse David's parents of sin in conceiving him. Rather, David is using poetic and emphatic language to express the depth and pervasiveness of his own sinfulness, tracing it back to the earliest possible moment of his existence. It speaks to the universal human condition of being born into a world corrupted by sin, inheriting a nature prone to disobedience and alienated from God. The emphasis is on the state into which all humanity is born after the Fall, a state of inherent sinfulness or predisposition to sin, not on the moral culpability of the act of procreation.

**Is this verse talking about "original sin"?**

Answer: Yes, [Psalms 51:5](/psalms/51-5 "Psalms 51:5 - Confession of Inherent Sinfulness") is one of the clearest Old Testament expressions of the concept of original sin. While the full theological articulation of original sin developed more extensively in later Jewish and Christian thought (particularly in the New Testament, such as [Romans 5:12-21](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12-21 - Adam and Christ")), David's confession here strongly supports the doctrine that humanity inherited a sinful nature and a predisposition to guilt from Adam's fall. It highlights that sin is not just learned behavior or a series of choices, but an innate, foundational condition of the human heart from birth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's profound lament in [Psalms 51:5](/psalms/51-5 "Psalms 51:5 - Confession of Inherent Sinfulness")—acknowledging a sinfulness so deep it traces back to his very conception—finds its ultimate fulfillment and answer in Jesus Christ. David's cry for cleansing and a new heart ([Psalms 51:10](/psalms/51-10 "Psalm 51:10 - Create a Clean Heart")) foreshadows the radical spiritual transformation only possible through the Messiah. Unlike all humanity, Jesus was uniquely conceived by the Holy Spirit ([Luke 1:35](/luke/1-35 "Luke 1:35 - Conception of Jesus")) and born without any inherent sin or predisposition to evil ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus Tempted Yet Without Sin")). He is the perfect [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), not merely addressing our sinful acts but fundamentally dealing with the root of sin that David so poignantly confessed. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ offers a new birth ([John 3:3](/john/3-3 "John 3:3 - Born Again")) and makes us a new creation ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")), overcoming the very inherited sinfulness that David lamented and providing the righteousness we could never achieve on our own.

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

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Job 14:4

Who can bring a clean [thing] out of an unclean? not one.

Psalms 58:3

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Job 15:14

What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

Job 15:16

How much more abominable and filthy [is] man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Ephesians 2:3

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.