Psalm 51:13 kjv
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Psalm 51:13 nkjv
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
Psalm 51:13 niv
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
Psalm 51:13 esv
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Psalm 51:13 nlt
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
Psalm 51 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 32:8 | I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. | God instructs the forgiven. |
| Isa 2:3 | For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. | God's law goes forth to teach nations. |
| Jer 31:33-34 | "But this is the covenant that I will make... No longer shall each one teach his neighbor..." | New Covenant means internal knowledge of God. |
| Matt 28:19-20 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, teaching them... | The Great Commission to teach. |
| Acts 2:38 | Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins... | Call to repentance for forgiveness. |
| Acts 2:40 | Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." And with many other words he bore witness... | Apostles bearing witness to call for salvation. |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out... | Repentance leads to sin's blotting out. |
| Acts 11:21 | And a great number who believed turned to the Lord. | Many turned to the Lord after preaching. |
| Acts 13:38 | Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you... | Forgiveness proclaimed through Christ. |
| Acts 26:18 | ...to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light... | Gospel enables turning from sin to God. |
| Rom 1:5 | ...through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the Gentiles... | Apostleship to bring about obedience. |
| Rom 10:14-15 | How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? | Necessity of preaching for conversion. |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | For if I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting... for necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! | Compulsion to preach the Gospel. |
| 2 Cor 5:17-20 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation... and He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. | Ministry of reconciliation given to believers. |
| Gal 6:1 | Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him... | Restoration of transgressors. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood... that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. | Proclaiming God's excellencies to others. |
| Jas 5:19-20 | My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul... | Bringing back wandering sinners. |
| Ezra 10:1 | ...and a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel... for the people wept bitterly. | People repenting and gathering to God. |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. | God's enduring Word, which instructs. |
| Hos 14:1 | Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. | Prophetic call for Israel to return. |
| Luke 15:7 | Just so, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons... | Heavenly joy over a repenting sinner. |
Psalm 51 verses
Psalm 51 13 Meaning
After experiencing God's profound mercy and cleansing from sin, David expresses a solemn vow to teach others about God's righteous paths. His transformed life becomes a powerful testimony, enabling him to instruct those who have gone astray, so that they too might repent and turn back to God. It is a promise born out of renewed relationship and deep gratitude for forgiveness.
Psalm 51 13 Context
Psalm 51 is one of the seven penitential psalms, traditionally attributed to David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah (2 Sam 11-12). The psalm expresses deep contrition, a profound understanding of the gravity of his sin against God, and a heartfelt plea for cleansing and renewal. Within this context of brokenness and desire for restoration, verse 13 represents a significant shift. After acknowledging his sin, confessing it, and seeking God's mercy and cleansing (vv. 1-12), David looks beyond his personal restoration to an outward commitment. He pledges to share the transformative power of God's ways with "transgressors" and "sinners," reflecting an understanding that true repentance and renewed fellowship naturally lead to a desire to see others reconciled with God. It implies that a life profoundly touched by God's forgiveness is compelled to share that transformative grace.
Psalm 51 13 Word analysis
- Then (אַז - 'az): A conjunction signifying consequence or sequence in time. It indicates that the teaching and conversion will occur after something else happens—namely, David's personal restoration, forgiveness, and renewal of a right spirit and willing spirit as requested in prior verses (e.g., Ps 51:10-12). It underscores that this outreach is a direct result of divine grace experienced.
- will I teach (אֲלַמְּדָה - 'alammadah): A Piel imperfect verb from lamad, meaning "to teach, to instruct, to learn, to train." The Piel stem emphasizes intensity and diligence. David's intention is not casual sharing, but serious, intentional instruction in God's ways. It also carries the sense of imparting knowledge gained from personal experience.
- transgressors (פֹּשְׁעִים - posh'im): A participle from pasha', referring to those who rebel, revolt, or willfully break God's law. This term suggests deliberate and defiant rebellion against God's established order. David himself was such a transgressor in his actions.
- Thy ways (דְּרָכֶיךָ - drakekha): Literally "Your paths/roads." This refers to God's methods, commands, righteous character, and divine ordinances for living. It encompasses His revealed truth, His principles of justice, holiness, and mercy. David is promising to teach others the true path of life as laid out by God, which he himself had strayed from.
- and sinners (וְחַטָּאִים - vechatta'im): The conjunction "and" links these with "transgressors." This word, from chata', means those who "miss the mark," fall short, or err. While pasha' implies open rebellion, chata' covers a broader range of failing to meet God's standard. David addresses both deliberate and unintentional sin in the pursuit of conversion.
- shall be converted (יָשׁוּבוּ - yashuvu): A Qal imperfect verb from shuv, meaning "to turn, to return, to repent." This is a crucial theological term in the Bible, signifying a change of direction, a turning away from sin and toward God. It implies a moral and spiritual transformation, not merely a superficial adjustment. It signifies repentance leading to restoration.
- unto Thee (אֵלֶיךָ - 'eleikha): "To You," specifically referring to God. This highlights the ultimate goal of repentance and teaching: drawing individuals back into a right relationship with the Almighty. Conversion is always ultimately to God, centered on Him.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways": This phrase shows a profound motivation stemming from personal restoration. David, having experienced God's grace despite his profound rebellion (pasha') (compare his own self-identification as a "transgressor" earlier in the psalm), now desires to actively impart divine truth to others. It is an outward expression of his inward transformation and gratitude.
- "and sinners shall be converted unto Thee": This declares the desired outcome of his teaching. The goal is not merely intellectual instruction, but a heart-level change and spiritual realignment (shuv) towards God. This connection between teaching God's "ways" and genuine "conversion" underscores the truth that knowledge of God's character and commands is instrumental in drawing hearts to Him. David recognizes that this ultimate conversion is a work of God, even as he commits to the human role of teaching.
Psalm 51 13 Bonus section
- The sequence in Psalm 51 is crucial: first cleansing and renewal (vv. 1-12), then the ability to minister (v. 13). One must be restored by God before effectively ministering for God.
- David's willingness to teach transgressors and sinners implies a profound empathy born of his own failure. He speaks from experience, not from a position of detached superiority. This authentic witness gives weight to his teaching.
- The passive voice ("shall be converted") for the sinners' turning indicates that while David will teach, the actual transformation, the turning of the heart, is ultimately a sovereign act of God. His role is to plant and water, but God gives the increase.
- This verse can be seen as an Old Testament foreshadowing of the New Testament Great Commission, where those who have experienced redemption are called to go and make disciples, teaching others to turn to Christ.
Psalm 51 13 Commentary
Psalm 51:13 reveals a vital principle: true repentance and the experience of God's grace propel the forgiven soul into mission. David's vow to "teach transgressors Your ways" and enable "sinners...to be converted to You" is not an act of self-justification, but an overflow of a cleansed heart. He understands that having tasted the profound freedom of divine forgiveness, he now possesses a credible message for those still caught in sin. His personal brokenness becomes a platform for compassionate evangelism. This verse highlights that genuine transformation by God's Spirit leads to a desire to participate in God's redemptive work, demonstrating that salvation is never a static experience but a dynamic force for spiritual outreach. It moves from deeply personal cleansing to publicly inviting others to the same reconciliation, emphasizing that the pathway to conversion for others is rooted in a clear understanding of God's righteous standards and merciful character.