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 bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou delightest not in 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 thou 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 desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
• Exodus 21:14And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
• Numbers 15:27And if one person sin unwittingly, then he shall offer a she-goat of the first year for a sin offering.
• Numbers 35:31Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a manslayer, which is guilty of death: but he shall surely be put to death.
• Deuteronomy 22:22If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel.
• Hosea 6:6For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
• Psalms 40:6Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
• Psalms 50:8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices; and thy 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 his delight.
• Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!
• Isaiah 1:11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.
• Jeremiah 7:22For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
• Amos 5:21I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
• Hebrews 10:5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare 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

• 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