Psalm 51 16

Psalm 51:16 kjv

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Psalm 51:16 nkjv

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

Psalm 51:16 niv

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

Psalm 51:16 esv

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

Psalm 51:16 nlt

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.

Psalm 51 verses

Psalm 51 16 Meaning

Psalm 51:16 expresses a profound spiritual truth from King David's penitential heart. It articulates that God does not primarily desire external animal sacrifices, nor is He merely pleased by burnt offerings in and of themselves. Instead, what truly delights Him is a contrite spirit and a broken heart (as further stated in the following verse). David understood that despite the legal requirement for sacrifices in the Law, an unrepentant heart rendered such rituals meaningless in God's eyes. He states that if outward sacrifices were what God truly desired for forgiveness of his specific sin, he would readily provide them, but he recognizes God's deeper preference for a transformed inward disposition.

Psalm 51 16 Context

Psalm 51 is a penitential psalm, believed to have been written by King David after he was confronted by the prophet Nathan regarding his grievous sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Sam 11-12). The entire psalm is a desperate cry for cleansing, renewal, and restoration. David's profound understanding in this verse stems from his deep spiritual brokenness. He comprehended that for a sin as profound and personal as his, the mere external performance of a temple ritual or animal sacrifice would be insufficient and hollow. He recognized that God sought true, inner repentance and a renewed heart more than ceremonial offerings. This chapter highlights David's raw confession, his acknowledgment of God's perfect justice, and his plea for mercy, emphasizing the spiritual reality behind all outward expressions of faith.

Psalm 51 16 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - kî): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding thought, particularly for David's plea for inner cleansing in the verses before this. It signals a foundational theological truth that undergirds his request for restoration.
• You do not delight (לֹא-תַחְפֹּץ - lō’ taḥpōṣ):
  • lō’ (לאֹ): Hebrew negation, clearly stating a direct opposition or rejection.
  • taḥpōṣ (תַחְפֹּץ): From the verb ḥāphēṣ (חָפֵץ), meaning "to desire, delight in, take pleasure in, be pleased with." This word indicates God's fundamental preference. It's not about inability to accept, but lack of desire or joy in an offering if the heart is not right. It speaks to God's inherent nature and priorities.
• in sacrifice (זֶבַח - zevach): A general term for an animal sacrifice, often a peace offering or communal offering where portions were eaten by the worshipers and priests. It typically pointed to fellowship and thanksgiving. Here, it encompasses the broad category of animal offerings.
• otherwise (וְאֶתֵּנָה - wĕ’ettennāh - literally "and I would give it"): This forms a conditional clause. The "and" (wĕ) often introduces a consequence or, as here, a hypothetical action based on a condition. It conveys David's readiness: if only an external sacrifice would suffice for his deep transgression, he would readily provide it. This highlights his understanding of God's character; his sin demanded something more profound.
• I would give it (אֶתֵּנָה - ettennāh): From the verb nāthan (נָתַן), "to give." This expresses David's personal willingness and capability to fulfill such a command, demonstrating that his issue isn't the cost or difficulty of a physical offering, but rather his comprehension that it's not what God genuinely requires in this spiritual state.
• You are not pleased with (לֹא תִרְצֶה - lō’ tirṣeh):
  • lō’ (לאֹ): Again, a strong negation.
  • tirṣeh (תִרְצֶה): From the verb rāṣāh (רָצָה), meaning "to be pleased with, accept, delight in." Similar to ḥāphēṣ, but often carries a nuance of accepting as agreeable or favorable. Here, it reiterates God's lack of approval or acceptance for rituals offered without the proper heart.
• burnt offering (עוֹלָה - ʿôlāh): A specific type of sacrifice, entirely consumed by fire upon the altar, signifying complete devotion, atonement, or propitiation for sin. It was a costly and whole offering, symbolizing surrender. By specifically mentioning ʿôlāh, the verse covers not just general sacrifices but also the most intense, costly form of animal offering. Even this is insufficient without genuine contrition.

Psalm 51 16 Bonus section

This verse, along with others in the Prophets, indicates that the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant was never an end in itself, but a means to draw people to God and prefigure the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. Scholars often refer to this understanding as the "prophetic critique of sacrifice." It's not an abolition of the Law's commands, but a clarification of God's enduring character—He desires relationship and spiritual sincerity above all. The concept of "God not delighting in sacrifice" when the heart is unrighteous provides a bridge to the New Covenant where animal sacrifices are fulfilled and made obsolete by Christ's offering, and believers are now called to offer "spiritual sacrifices" (e.g., praise, good deeds, a surrendered life).

Psalm 51 16 Commentary

Psalm 51:16 encapsulates a foundational biblical principle often highlighted by the prophets: God prioritizes internal righteousness and a repentant heart over external ritualistic adherence. David, a man after God's own heart, yet having fallen into grievous sin, understood that mere ceremonial acts could not cleanse a soul stained by such transgression. His lament acknowledges that while the Mosaic Law prescribed sacrifices for sin, the efficacy of those sacrifices rested upon the sincere intention and repentant heart of the worshiper. Without inner contrition, the burnt offerings and other sacrifices became hollow forms, unacceptable to a God who seeks truth in the inner being. This verse sets the stage for the following declaration that God's true sacrifice is a "broken spirit and a contrite heart." It serves as a profound warning against ritualism for ritualism's sake, redirecting the worshiper's focus from outward performance to inward transformation and genuine devotion. The ultimate sacrifice was revealed in Christ, who perfectly embodied this obedience and offered Himself once for all.