Psalm 51:2

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 51:2

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity
Which supposes defilement by sin, and that very great, and such as none can remove but the Lord himself; who, when he takes it in hand, does it effectually and thoroughly; see ( Ezekiel 36:25 ) . David's sin had long lain upon him, the faith of it had as it were eaten into him, and spread itself over him, and therefore he needed much washing: "wash me much", all over, and thoroughly:

and cleanse me from my sin:
which only the blood of Christ can do, ( 1 John 1:7 ) . The psalmist makes use of three words to express his sin by, in this verse ( Psalms 51:1 ) ; (evp) , which signifies "rebellion", as all sin has in it rebellion against God the lawgiver, and a contempt of his commandments; (Nwe) , "perverseness", "crookedness", sin being a going out of the plain way of God's righteous law; and (tajx) , "a missing the mark"; going besides it or not coming up to it: and these he makes rise of to set forth the malignity of sin, and the deep sense he had of the exceeding sinfulness of it; and these are the three words used by the Lord in ( Exodus 34:7 ) ; when he declares himself to be a sin forgiving God; so that David's sin came within the reach of pardoning mercy.

Psalm 51:2 In-Context

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

4 Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5 For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

6 For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom.

7 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

8 Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.

9 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

16 For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings.

17 Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

18 Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.