Psalm 51 19

Psalm 51:19 kjv

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 51:19 nkjv

Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Psalm 51:19 niv

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Psalm 51:19 esv

then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Psalm 51:19 nlt

Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit ?
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

Psalm 51 verses

Psalm 51 19 Meaning

Psalm 51:19 declares that once a truly contrite and righteous heart is present, God will then delight in the sacrifices offered. It speaks of a restored relationship where external acts of worship, such as various types of sacrifices, particularly significant burnt offerings (those offered whole), become acceptable and pleasing to God, thereby allowing the full functionality of the altar for legitimate worship.

Psalm 51 19 Context

Psalm 51 is a heartfelt plea of repentance from King David after Nathan confronted him regarding his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah (as recounted in 2 Sam 11-12). Throughout the psalm, David expresses deep conviction, confesses his sin, and appeals for God's mercy and cleansing. He recognizes that outward rituals are insufficient without inner truth (v. 6) and a contrite spirit (v. 16-17). Verse 19 stands as a consequence or outcome following the transformation described in preceding verses. David implies that once his heart is truly right with God – cleansed, forgiven, and restored – then the formal sacrifices prescribed by the Mosaic Law, which had been rendered meaningless by his unrighteousness, will once again be acceptable to the Lord. It anticipates the full restoration of right relationship, both personally and communally, with the return of God's favor upon their worship.

Psalm 51 19 Word analysis

• Then (אָז, 'az): This adverb marks a significant temporal shift and a consequential outcome. It implies "after" the spiritual renewal and cleansing sought in the preceding verses (especially 7-17) has occurred. It underscores that the acceptability of sacrifice is conditional upon the worshiper's heart being right with God.
• you will delight (תַּחְפֹּץ, taḥpots): From the Hebrew root חָפֵץ (chaphets), meaning to take pleasure in, to desire, to be pleased with. This term signifies God's divine favor and acceptance. It sharply contrasts with the earlier statement in Ps 51:16, "You do not delight in sacrifice." This verse envisions a state where God's pleasure is once again found in the acts of worship.
• in righteous sacrifices (בְּזִבְחֵי־צֶדֶק, b'zivḥei-tsedeq):
  • zivḥei (from זֶבַח, zevach): Refers to a general class of sacrifices, often implying slaughter offerings.
  • tsedeq (צֶדֶק): Signifies righteousness, justice, and moral rectitude. The sacrifices themselves are not inherently "righteous"; rather, they become "righteous" because they are offered from a heart that has been made right with God, or in accordance with God's just requirements. This links internal integrity to external religious acts.
• in burnt offerings (עוֹלָה, ʿolah): An olah is a type of sacrifice entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication to God, and often serving as an act of atonement or propitiation. Its complete consumption signifies ascent to God.
• offered whole (כָּלִיל, kalil): This adverb modifies "burnt offerings" and means "whole," "complete," or "perfect." It emphasizes that the offering is utterly and entirely consumed, leaving no part behind. This implies not only a physical completeness but also perhaps a spiritual sincerity – an unreserved dedication in the offering.
• then bulls (אָז פָּרִים, 'az parim):
  • 'az (אָז): Again, the emphatic "then," reinforcing the consequence and highlighting the significance of the offerings that follow.
  • parim (פָּרִים): Plural of פּר (par), meaning bullocks or young bulls. These were large, costly animals, typically reserved for major sin offerings (e.g., for priests or the entire community) or for substantial votive offerings. Their mention indicates a restoration of significant, communal worship and perhaps David's readiness to offer the most precious sacrifices.
• will be offered on your altar (יַעֲלוּ עַל־מִזְבְּחֶךָ, ya'alu 'al-mizbechekha):
  • ya'alu (from עָלָה, alah): To go up, ascend. This connects semantically with ʿolah (burnt offering), underscoring the upward movement of the smoke to God as a symbol of the offering's acceptance.
  • mizbechekha (מִזְבְּחֶךָ): "Your altar." This refers to God's designated place for sacrifice, the legitimate and sacred site of worship, implying the full resumption of authorized and accepted covenantal worship practices.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices": This phrase marks the turning point from a displeased God (who has no delight in external sacrifices without a contrite heart) to a delighted God. It clarifies that true delight is not in the mere act but in the righteousness of the heart behind the act. This aligns with prophetic themes throughout the Old Testament emphasizing the supremacy of internal morality over ritual.
• "in burnt offerings offered whole": This specification of a particular, complete type of sacrifice underscores the depth of dedication expected. The olah (whole burnt offering) symbolizes total surrender and consecration, which becomes truly meaningful only when stemming from a truly righteous and reconciled heart. It shows a complete devotion accepted by God.
• "then bulls will be offered on your altar": This concluding phrase solidifies the imagery of complete restoration. The offering of "bulls" – a most significant and valuable sacrifice – on "Your altar" indicates the full, public, and costly re-establishment of worship that is not only acceptable but delightful to God. It signals the reconciliation of the community, enabling their sacred rites to resume their intended purpose.

Psalm 51 19 Bonus section

• New Covenant Fulfillment: This psalm finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant. The "righteous sacrifices" foreshadow the singular, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which makes perfect reconciliation possible. Believers are now called to offer themselves as "living sacrifices" (Rom 12:1) and to offer "spiritual sacrifices" of praise, generosity, and good deeds (Heb 13:15-16; 1 Pet 2:5), which are accepted through Christ’s perfect righteousness, not our own.
• Eschatological Hope: Some biblical scholars interpret this verse, particularly with its mention of rebuilding Jerusalem in Ps 51:18, as having an eschatological layer. It looks forward not only to David’s personal restoration but potentially to a future era of perfected worship, perhaps even aligning with prophecies of a renewed temple and priesthood (e.g., in Ezekiel) or the eternal worship described in Revelation.
• Costly Devotion: The choice of "bulls" as a specific type of sacrifice emphasizes the costly and substantial nature of offerings that flow from a genuinely repentant and restored heart. True worship, both in the Old Testament temple system and in New Testament spiritual practice, often involves giving of one's best, physically or spiritually, as an act of sincere devotion.

Psalm 51 19 Commentary

Psalm 51:19 articulates a future state of reconciliation and restored worship, contingent upon genuine repentance and spiritual renewal. David’s acknowledgment in preceding verses that God desires a broken and contrite heart more than material sacrifice does not dismiss external acts of worship entirely. Instead, this verse highlights that when the heart is rightly oriented towards God, then and only then do these outward rituals gain their efficacy and become pleasing to Him. The phrase "righteous sacrifices" signifies offerings presented from a place of right standing, which is the result of God's cleansing and restoration. The mention of "whole burnt offerings" and "bulls" underscores a complete and costly dedication that will again be acceptable. This points to the Christian understanding that through Christ, the ultimate "righteous sacrifice," believers are enabled to offer spiritual sacrifices (like praise, good deeds, and dedicated lives) that are truly pleasing to God because they flow from a renewed heart. It demonstrates God’s consistent requirement: true worship always stems from a right relationship with the divine.