English Standard Version
Psalms 51:16
16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
- New Living Translation (NLT)You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
Context of Psalms 51:16
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
Read all of Psalms 51Psalms 51:16 word by word
כִּ֤י׀ לֹא־תַחְפֹּ֣ץ זֶ֣בַח וְאֶתֵּ֑נָה ע֝וֹלָ֗ה לֹ֣א תִרְצֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 51:16
- Psalms 51:6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
- Exodus 21:14But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
- Numbers 15:27"If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering.
- Numbers 35:31Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death.
- Deuteronomy 22:22"If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
- Hosea 6:6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
- Psalms 40:6In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
- Psalms 50:8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
- Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
- Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
- Isaiah 1:11"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
- Jeremiah 7:22For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.
- Amos 5:21"I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
- Hebrews 10:5Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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