God’s Word Translation
Psalms 51:5
5Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner 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
3I admit that I am rebellious. My sin is always in front of me. 4I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me. 6Yet, you desire truth and sincerity. Deep down inside me you teach me wisdom. 7Purify me from sin 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 58:3⌞Even⌟ inside the womb wicked people are strangers ⌞to God⌟. From their birth liars go astray.
- Genesis 5:3When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father ⌞of a son⌟ in his own likeness, in his own image. He named him Seth.
- Genesis 8:21The Lord smelled the soothing aroma. He said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humans, even though from birth their hearts are set on nothing but evil. I will never again kill every living creature as I have just done.
- Job 14:4“If only an unclean person could become clean! It’s not possible.
- Job 15:14Why should a mortal be considered faultless or someone born of a woman be considered righteous?
- John 3:6Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual.
- Romans 5:12Sin came into the world through one person, and death came through sin. So death spread to everyone, because everyone sinned.
- Ephesians 2:3All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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