New International Version
Psalms 51:5
5Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
Context of Psalms 51:5
3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7Cleanse 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 58:3Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
- Genesis 5:3When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
- Genesis 8:21The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
- Job 14:4Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!
- Job 15:14“What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?
- John 3:6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
- Romans 5:12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
- Ephesians 2:3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
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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