Psalm 19 13

Psalm 19:13 kjv

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalm 19:13 nkjv

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Psalm 19:13 niv

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

Psalm 19:13 esv

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Psalm 19:13 nlt

Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don't let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.

Psalm 19 verses

Psalm 19 13 Meaning

Psalm 19:13 is a fervent prayer asking God to protect the psalmist from intentional, defiant sins, referred to as "presumptuous sins." The desire is that these grievous sins would not control or enslave him. The verse then expresses the hopeful outcome: if kept from such rebellion, he would achieve a state of moral integrity and be free from the guilt of serious transgression. It encapsulates a plea for divine enablement to walk in purity and righteousness.

Psalm 19 13 Context

Psalm 19 progresses from declaring God's glory through the natural world (vv. 1-6), highlighting the majesty of His creation, to exalting God's perfection as revealed in His written Law, the Torah (vv. 7-11). The Law is described as perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true, bringing wisdom, joy, light, and being more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. It serves to warn and reward. Building on this profound appreciation for God's clear revelation and righteous standards, the psalmist turns inward in verses 12-14. Recognizing the comprehensive nature of God's perfect law, he is confronted with his own imperfections. Verse 12 confesses hidden faults, acknowledging human fallibility even in unwitting ways. Verse 13 then takes this deeper, addressing "presumptuous sins," which are not just unknown or accidental transgressions but deliberate acts of defiance against known commands. It reveals a profound spiritual struggle and a deep desire to align oneself completely with God's perfect will, not merely to avoid unintentional mistakes, but to actively resist conscious rebellion. This intense plea underscores the grave spiritual danger of willful sin and the need for divine intervention to maintain a blameless life.

Psalm 19 13 Word analysis

• Keep back: (Hebrew: חָשַׂךְ chasak) - To restrain, withhold, hold back. This is an active prayer for divine intervention. It's not a self-reliant vow but a plea for God to act preventatively. It acknowledges human weakness and the power of sin, requiring God's hand to hold back the individual from committing deliberate transgression.
• Your servant: (Hebrew: עַבְדֶּךָ 'avdeka) - Signifies a relationship of allegiance, submission, and dependence upon God. David, as king and psalmist, humbly identifies himself as one utterly subservient to the Almighty. This identity frames the prayer as a request made from a posture of willing service, seeking purity for God's glory.
• also: (Hebrew: גַּם gam) - Functions as an intensifying or inclusive particle. It extends the prayer from "hidden faults" mentioned in verse 12 to a more grievous category of sin – presumptuous ones. It means "even these," emphasizing the depth and comprehensiveness of the desire for purity.
• presumptuous sins: (Hebrew: זֵדִים zedim) - Derived from the root זוּד (zud), meaning "to act proudly," "insolently," or "arrogantly." These are not sins of ignorance or weakness but willful, deliberate acts of defiance against God's known commands. In the Old Testament, presumptuous sins were considered rebellion against God Himself (e.g., Num 15:30-31), often carrying severe consequences including being "cut off" from the community, as no specific sin offering was prescribed for them under the Law, unlike unintentional sins.
• Let them not have dominion over me: (Hebrew: יִמְשְׁלוּ-בִי yimshəlu-vi) - From מָשַׁל (mashal), meaning "to rule," "govern," or "have power over." This expresses a desire not merely to avoid committing these sins but to prevent them from becoming an enslaving master. It speaks to the insidious nature of sin to entrap and control. The prayer is for freedom from sin's tyrannical power.
• Then I shall be blameless: (Hebrew: אֵתָּם 'ettam) - From תָּמַם (tamam), meaning "to be complete," "whole," "perfect," or "without blemish." This indicates a desired state of moral integrity, purity, and soundness of character, free from defects that would render one unacceptable to God. It reflects a walking in alignment with God's ways, not implying absolute sinlessness in thought or action, but integrity of heart and purpose.
• And I shall be innocent of great transgression: (Hebrew: וְנִקֵּיתִי מִפֶּשַׁע רָב vəniqqeiti mippesha' rav) -
  • innocent: (Hebrew: וְנִקֵּיתִי vəniqqeiti) - From נָקָה (naqah), "to be clean," "clear," "guiltless." It implies being absolved or acquitted from the guilt and stain of such a sin, a cleansing that makes one unburdened by its accusation.
  • great transgression: (Hebrew: מִפֶּשַׁע רָב mippesha' rav) -
    • transgression: (Hebrew: פֶּשַׁע pesha') - Stronger than chatta't (sin as "missing the mark"), this signifies rebellion, revolt, or a deliberate breach of faith or trust. It is an intentional overstepping of boundaries, a deliberate breaking of God's covenant.
    • great: (Hebrew: רָב rav) - Means large, mighty, or severe. Coupled with "transgression," it signifies a weighty, significant, or profound act of rebellion.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins": This phrase encapsulates a plea for God's preserving grace against acts of deliberate, arrogant defiance. It highlights a conscious understanding of sin's dangerous allure and the human inability to resist it fully without divine intervention. The psalmist casts himself as God's dependent, vulnerable servant.
  • "Let them not have dominion over me": This focuses on the enslaving power of sin. It's a prayer not just against committing the sin once, but against allowing it to establish control over one's life, will, and choices. It signifies a longing for true spiritual freedom and autonomy under God's righteous rule, rather than sin's oppressive reign.
  • "Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression": These two clauses express the glorious outcome and purpose of the preceding prayer. "Blameless" points to internal character, an integrity and soundness of being that is whole and uncorrupted. "Innocent of great transgression" refers to being acquitted from the severe guilt and condemnation that accompanies such profound rebellion. It portrays a life lived in spiritual freedom and moral rectitude, free from the crushing weight of intentional sin's judgment.

Psalm 19 13 Bonus section

This prayer is highly relevant for all believers, transcending the specific historical context. In Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to resist sin's dominion (Rom 6:14, Gal 5:16). While the Mosaic Law provided no sacrifice for presumptuous sin, Christ's singular sacrifice atones for all sins—past, present, and future—allowing for restoration and cleansing even after conscious rebellion, provided there is genuine repentance (1 John 1:9). This verse also illustrates a key aspect of true discipleship: the desire for not just forgiveness, but transformative purity and a life genuinely free from the internal and external power of sin. It shifts the focus from simply avoiding punishment to cultivating a character pleasing to God. The progression from cosmic revelation to a deeply personal prayer shows that knowledge of God's greatness should always lead to profound humility and a yearning for inner holiness.

Psalm 19 13 Commentary

Psalm 19:13 is a profound confession and fervent prayer arising from a heart deeply sensitive to God's holiness and His perfect Law. Following the psalmist's meditation on the clarity of God's cosmic and legal revelations, he turns introspective, recognizing the stark contrast with his own nature. While verse 12 addresses unwitting or "hidden faults," verse 13 plunges into the more perilous territory of "presumptuous sins." These are not merely mistakes, but deliberate, arrogant acts of defiance against God's known will, offenses for which the Mosaic Law provided no automatic atonement and often resulted in being "cut off."

The core of this verse is a humble plea for divine intervention: "Keep back Your servant." The psalmist recognizes his own weakness and sin's inherent power, asking God, his sovereign Lord, to restrain him. This isn't a wish but an urgent appeal for preventative grace, for God's strong hand to prevent him from taking the first steps towards such a severe moral precipice.

Crucially, the prayer also seeks liberation from sin's enslaving grip: "Let them not have dominion over me." This reveals a deep spiritual insight that sin, especially willful sin, seeks not just an action but mastery over the individual. It transforms the one who sins into its slave. The desire is for freedom from this spiritual bondage, echoing the later New Testament theme of being released from sin's tyranny.

The envisioned outcome, "Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression," highlights the purity and integrity the psalmist longs for. "Blameless" signifies a state of completeness and wholeness in one's walk with God, a life of consistent moral uprightness, not absolute perfection, but a genuine and deep commitment to avoiding deliberate evil. To be "innocent of great transgression" means to be absolved from the grave guilt of rebellion, ensuring one's relationship with God remains unblemished by conscious defiance. This prayer demonstrates a profound understanding of holiness: it is not just the absence of external acts of wrongdoing, but freedom from the inner power of sin and a complete alignment of the heart with God's righteous character.

Examples for practical usage:

• Daily Prayer: Begin each day by asking God to guard your heart from pride and willful disobedience in specific areas of temptation.
• Self-Examination: Reflect honestly on desires or inclinations that lean towards deliberate disregard for God's commands and immediately ask for His strength to resist.
• Humility: Recognize human weakness and fully rely on God's power and grace, rather than personal will power, to maintain moral purity.