Psalms 51:16

Psalms 51:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
• New International Version (NIV)You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

Context of Psalms 51:16

14Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.

Psalms 51:16 word by word

כִּ֤י׀ לֹא־תַחְפֹּ֣ץ זֶ֣בַח וְאֶתֵּ֑נָה ע֝וֹלָ֗ה לֹ֣א תִרְצֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Psalms 51:16

• Psalms 51:6Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.
• Exodus 21:14But if a man act wantonly toward his neighbour, and slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
• Numbers 15:27And if one soul sin through inadvertence, then he shall present a yearling she-goat for a sin-offering.
• Numbers 35:31And ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall certainly be put to death.
• Deuteronomy 22:22If a man be found lying with a man's wife, they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; and thou shalt put away evil from Israel.
• Hosea 6:6For I delight in loving-kindness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.
• Psalms 40:6Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire: ears hast thou prepared me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not demanded;
• Psalms 50:8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices, or thy burnt-offerings, continually before me;
• Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
• Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!
• Isaiah 1:11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith Jehovah. I am sated with burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and in the blood of bullocks, and of lambs, and of he-goats I take no pleasure.
• Jeremiah 7:22For I spoke not unto your fathers, nor commanded them concerning burnt-offerings and sacrifices, in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt;
• Amos 5:21I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will not smell [a sweet odour] in your solemn assemblies.
• Hebrews 10:5Wherefore coming into the world he says, Sacrifice and offering thou willedst not; but thou hast prepared me a body.

Commentaries on Psalms 51:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For thou desirest not sacrifice - This is the same sentiment which he delivers in Psalm 40:6; (note), etc., where see the notes. There may be here, however, a farther meaning: Crimes, like mine, are not to be expiated by any sacrifices that the law requires; nor hast thou appointed in the law any sacrifices to atone for deliberate murder and adultery: if thou hadst, I would cheerfully have given them to thee. The matter is before thee as Judge.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For thou desirest not sacrifice … - On the words rendered in this verse “sacrifice” and “burnt-offering,” see the notes at Isaiah 1:11. On the main sentiment here expressed - that God did not “desire” such sacrifices - see the notes at Psalm 40:6-8. The idea here is, that any mere external offering, however precious or costly it might be, was not what God required in such cases. He demanded the expression of deep and sincere repentance; the sacrifices of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-19Verses 16-19 Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19This heartfelt prayer for restoration seeks God's favor, mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. With a broken spirit, the psalmist admits his sin and takes responsibility (Psalm 51:3–6). He then asks God to remove his guilt and renew him internally (Psalm 51:7–12). The psalmist commits again to living wisely and joyfully while serving God and others (Psalm 51:13–17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Praise is better than sacrifice (Psa 50:14), and implying faith, penitence, and love, glorifies God. In true penitents the joys of pardon mingle with sorrow for sin.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 51:16

• Conviction
• Desire
• Formalism
• Homicide
• Offerings
• Prayer
• Remorse
• Repentance

In the dictionaries

• Burnt offering
• Acknowledge
• Bloodguiltiness
• Clean
• Conceive
• Contrite
• Create
• Hide
• Iniquity
• Psalms

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