Tree of Life Version
Psalms 51:16
16Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God— God of my salvation. Then my tongue will sing for joy of Your righteousness.
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
14Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. 15Then will I teach transgressors Your ways and sinners will return to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God— God of my salvation. Then my tongue will sing for joy of Your righteousness. 17O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. 18For You would not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it, nor be pleased by burnt offerings.
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 51:6Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.
- Exodus 21:14If a man presumes to kill his neighbor with craftiness, you are to take him from My altar and put him to death.
- Numbers 15:27“If but one person should sin unintentionally, he is to bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering.
- Numbers 35:31“You are not to accept ransom for the life of a murderer. He deserves to die and he is to die.
- Deuteronomy 22:22“Suppose a man is found lying with a married woman. Then both of them are to die—the man who lay with the woman and the woman. So you are to purge the evil from Israel.
- Hosea 6:6For I delight in loyalty and not sacrifice, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
- Psalms 40:6Many things You have done, Adonai my God —Your plans for us are wonderful— there is none to be compared to You! If I were to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to count!
- Psalms 50:8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
- Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Adonai, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
- Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more when he brings it with evil intent?
- Isaiah 1:11“For what is it to Me— the multitude of your sacrifices?” says Adonai. “I am full of burnt offerings of rams and fat of fed animals. I have no delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or he-goats.
- Jeremiah 7:22For on the day that I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt I did not speak to them nor did I command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices,
- Amos 5:21“I hate, I despise your festivals! I take no delight in your sacred assemblies.
- Hebrews 10:5So when Messiah comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body 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
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