Psalm 51 14

Psalm 51:14 kjv

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Psalm 51:14 nkjv

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

Psalm 51:14 niv

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 51:14 esv

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

Psalm 51:14 nlt

Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.

Psalm 51 verses

Psalm 51 14 Meaning

Psalm 51:14 is a heartfelt plea from King David, requesting God's deliverance from the profound guilt of shedding innocent blood, specifically that of Uriah the Hittite. It demonstrates his recognition of the gravity of his sin, which involved not just adultery but also deceit and murder. David appeals to God as his personal source of salvation, acknowledging that only divine intervention can rescue him from such a deep spiritual and moral culpability. In return for this deliverance, he vows that his tongue will joyfully and loudly proclaim God's righteousness, emphasizing that any good that comes from his life, even after such heinous sin, is solely due to God's just and merciful character.

Psalm 51 14 Context

Psalm 51 is one of the seven penitential Psalms (along with 6, 32, 38, 102, 130, 143), attributed to King David in its superscription: "A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba." This places the Psalm's origin squarely after the events described in 2 Samuel 11-12, where David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then arranged for her husband, Uriah the Hittite, to be killed in battle to cover up his sin.

The entire chapter is a profound expression of deep repentance, a plea for divine mercy, and a longing for spiritual renewal. It begins with an appeal for cleansing from sin and blotting out transgression (vv. 1-2), a full confession of guilt (vv. 3-6), and a desire for inward purification and a right spirit (vv. 7-12). Verse 14 builds upon this, moving from an individual's deep sorrow and plea for personal restoration to a public declaration. Having sought the renewal of a clean heart and a steadfast spirit, David then desires to be freed from the specific legal and moral culpability of murder. This deliverance would then enable him to fulfill a subsequent vow: to teach transgressors God's ways and for his tongue to declare God's righteousness, emphasizing that forgiveness and restoration lead to joyful public witness.

Psalm 51 14 Word analysis

• Deliver me: (Hebrew: Hatsileni - הַצִּילֵנִי) This is an imperative verb, "rescue me," "pull me out," "save me from harm." It denotes a fervent, urgent plea for a deliverer to actively extricate one from a dangerous or crushing situation. David is not merely asking for forgiveness but for liberation from the pervasive weight and consequences of his sin.
• from bloodguiltiness: (Hebrew: midammim - מִדָּמִים) The word damim is a plural form of dam (blood), often used in contexts referring to the shedding of innocent blood or a capital offense. The preposition min (מִ) means "from" or "out of." This refers specifically to the legal and moral culpability and defilement associated with murder. David’s specific plea highlights the weight of Uriah’s death on his conscience, acknowledging the severe nature of his crime—a capital offense under Mosaic Law—and its profound spiritual ramifications, polluting both himself and the land.
• O God: (Hebrew: Elohim - אֱלֹהִים) This common Hebrew name for God emphasizes His transcendence, power, and role as the ultimate judge. David addresses the Sovereign One who has the authority to condemn but also the power to pardon and deliver.
• thou God of my salvation: (Hebrew: yeshuati - יְשׁוּעָתִי) This phrase uniquely identifies God as David's personal deliverer and source of rescue. It’s a deep recognition that only God, by His mighty power, can provide true, ultimate deliverance from the legal and spiritual bonds of bloodguilt. It speaks of God as the sole one capable of bringing genuine restoration and deliverance to David's soul, which had been in a state of spiritual death due to his sin.
• and my tongue: The tongue is the instrument of speech, here representing David’s renewed capacity for vocal praise and public declaration. It signifies a tangible and active expression of a heart transformed by forgiveness, not merely internal gratitude but outward proclamation.
• shall sing aloud: (Hebrew: taranen - תְּרַנֵּן) From the verb ranan, meaning "to give a ringing cry," "to shout for joy," or "to utter a ringing sound." This indicates a vibrant, joyful, and public exclamation, a full-throated, unashamed praise, contrasting with the silence or lament typical of deep conviction or judgment. It conveys jubilation over God's mercy.
• of thy righteousness: (Hebrew: tsidkateka - צִדְקָתֶךָ) This refers to God's attribute of moral rightness, justice, faithfulness, and saving action. David promises to proclaim God's righteousness, meaning how God acts in perfect accordance with His holy nature. This includes His justice in judging sin, but also His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises of mercy and His redemptive justice in delivering the repentant sinner, thus revealing Himself as both just and the justifier.

Words-group analysis:

• "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness": This specific phrase underscores the magnitude of David's sin, going beyond general transgression to confess a grave crime that merited capital punishment. It reveals the acute moral and spiritual burden that was suffocating his soul, recognizing that shedding innocent blood brings profound defilement.
• "O God, thou God of my salvation": This double invocation intensifies the plea, showing profound desperation and a singular focus on God as the only one capable of offering salvation from such a severe predicament. It signifies David's complete reliance on divine grace, appealing to God's covenant relationship and His attribute as the ultimate rescuer.
• "and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness": This phrase beautifully expresses the reciprocal nature of divine grace and human response. The deliverance from deep guilt does not lead to quiet relief but to exuberant, public testimony. The praise is directed at God's righteousness, affirming that His character, marked by both justice and saving mercy, is the true foundation of salvation and the object of all proper adoration. It transforms the instrument of potential deceit (David's previous actions) into one of praise.

Psalm 51 14 Bonus section

• The concept of "bloodguiltiness" (`damim`) in the Old Testament carried immense weight, not only legally (as a capital offense) but also ritually and cosmically. Unpunished or unforgiven bloodshed was believed to pollute the land, incurring divine wrath (Num 35:33-34). David’s recognition of this reflects a deep understanding of the spiritual gravity of his actions beyond mere personal wrongdoing.
• This verse illustrates the theological point that true spiritual cleansing is not just about guilt removal but also about restored purpose. The delivered sinner becomes a witness to God's grace, proclaiming God's attributes to others. It transitions from introspection to extrospection.
• David's desire to sing aloud reflects a shift from lament (implied by the confession) to jubilant praise, demonstrating a complete turnaround facilitated by God’s anticipated mercy. The loud declaration is an intentional contrast to silence often associated with guilt or punishment.
• The focus on "God's righteousness" being proclaimed signifies that David’s salvation would not compromise God’s just character, but rather highlight it. God is righteous in forgiving sin, because He provided a way, ultimately fulfilled through Christ's atoning sacrifice, to justly forgive the ungodly.

Psalm 51 14 Commentary

Psalm 51:14 stands as a profound testament to the transformative power of divine forgiveness. David, having plunged to the depths of moral depravity through adultery and murder, confronts his gravest sin—bloodguiltiness—a transgression so severe it polluted the land and deserved the death penalty. His plea for deliverance acknowledges God as the sole "God of my salvation," recognizing that only through divine intervention can such a deep stain be removed and legal culpability resolved. This verse captures a critical spiritual transition: from a desperate longing for inner cleansing (vv. 7-12) to an ardent desire for outward exoneration from specific, grievous sin. The promise that his "tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness" reveals the fruits of true repentance: a life rescued from guilt does not merely find private peace but is compelled to publicly proclaim the just and merciful character of God who provided that salvation. David's experience anticipates the broader New Testament truth that salvation, by God's righteous grace, equips and impels the redeemed to declare His praises.