Psalms 25:11

For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great.

For thy name's {H8034} sake, O LORD {H3068}, pardon {H5545} mine iniquity {H5771}; for it is great {H7227}.

For the sake of your name, ADONAI, forgive my wickedness, great though it is.

For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.

For thy name’s sake, O Jehovah, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 25:11 (KJV)

Psalms 25:11: "For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great."

Context

Psalm 25 is a prayer of David, characterized by a deep sense of dependence on God. It is an acrostic psalm, with each verse (or pair of verses) beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, though this structure is not perfectly maintained throughout. In this psalm, David seeks divine guidance ("Shew me thy ways, O LORD"), protection from enemies, and most prominently, forgiveness for his sins. Verse 11 stands as a poignant confession and a humble plea for mercy, rooted not in David's merit but in God's inherent character and glory.

Key Themes

  • The Plea for Pardon Based on God's Name: David's primary appeal for forgiveness is "For thy name's sake." This signifies that his request is not based on his own worthiness, but on God's reputation, character, and covenant faithfulness. God's "name" represents His entire revealed being—His holiness, justice, mercy, and truth. David appeals to God to act in a way consistent with who He is. This concept is central to understanding God's actions throughout Scripture, as when God acts for His holy name among the nations.
  • Acknowledgment of Great Iniquity: The phrase "for it [is] great" reveals David's profound humility and honesty before God. He does not minimize his sin but acknowledges its significant weight and severity. This frank confession is a prerequisite for genuine repentance and receiving divine pardon. It underscores that even great sins can be forgiven when approached with a contrite heart and a plea to God's boundless mercy.
  • Divine Mercy as the Foundation of Forgiveness: The verse highlights that God's forgiveness is an act of sovereign grace, flowing from His own nature rather than from human merit. David understands that the magnitude of his sin requires an equally great act of mercy from the LORD.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "For thy name's sake" (לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, lema'an shimkha) is powerful. It means "for the sake of Your name" or "on account of Your name." It's an appeal to God's honor, His very essence, and His commitment to His covenant people. God's willingness to forgive, even great iniquity, demonstrates His character of compassion and faithfulness, which brings Him glory. The word for "iniquity" (עָוֹן, avon) refers not just to a transgression but often carries the nuance of guilt, perversity, or the crookedness of sin, emphasizing its moral deformity.

Practical Application

Psalms 25:11 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Honest Confession: It encourages us to be utterly honest about the nature and magnitude of our sins before God, without excuses or minimization.
  • Basis of Forgiveness: It reminds us that our hope for pardon rests solely on God's character and His promises, not on our own attempts to earn it. We appeal to His nature as "the LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth".
  • Hope for the Burdened: For those weighed down by the guilt of significant sins, this verse offers immense hope. No iniquity is too great for God to pardon when approached with a humble and repentant heart, appealing to His glorious name.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 79:9 (10 votes)

    Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

  • 1 John 2:12 (8 votes)

    ¶ I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

  • Psalms 31:3 (7 votes)

    For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

  • Isaiah 43:25 (6 votes)

    I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

  • Ezekiel 20:9 (4 votes)

    But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they [were], in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

  • Romans 5:20 (4 votes)

    Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

  • Romans 5:21 (4 votes)

    That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.