Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 51:5
5Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Psalms 51:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
- New International Version (NIV)Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Context of Psalms 51:5
3For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. 4Against you — you alone — I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. 7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Read all of Psalms 51Psalms 51:5 word by word
הֵן־בְּעָו֥וֹן חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי וּ֝בְחֵ֗טְא יֶֽחֱמַ֥תְנִי אִמִּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 51:5
- Psalms 58:3The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth.
- Genesis 5:3Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.
- Genesis 8:21When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.
- Job 14:4Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!
- Job 15:14What is a mere human, that he should be pure, or one born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
- John 3:6Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- Romans 5:12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
- Ephesians 2:3We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Commentaries on Psalms 51:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity - A genuine penitent will hide nothing of his state; he sees and bewails, not only the acts of sin which he has committed, but the disposition that led to those acts. He deplores, not only the transgression, but the carnal mind which is enmity against God. The light that shines into his soul shows him the very source whence transgression proceeds; he sees his fallen nature, as well as his sinful life; he asks pardon for…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity - The object of this important verse is to express the deep sense which David had of his depravity. That sense was derived from the fact that this was not a sudden thought, or a mere outward act, or an offence committed under the influence of strong temptation, but that it was the result of an entire corruption of his nature - of a deep depravity of heart, running back to the very commencement of his being. The idea is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5I was brought forth in iniquity: The psalmist is not making excuses but is admitting how deep his sinfulness is. From the time we are conceived, we all share in the human condition of sinfulness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. His guilt was aggravated by his essential, native sinfulness, which is as contrary to God's requisitions of inward purity as are outward sins to those for right conduct.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 51:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 51
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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