Psalm 51:2 kjv
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2 nkjv
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2 niv
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2 esv
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Psalm 51:2 nlt
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
Psalm 51 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes..." | Call for repentance and active cleansing. |
| Ezek 36:25 | "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses..." | God's promise to purify His people. |
| Zech 13:1 | "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness." | Prophetic promise of a source of spiritual cleansing. |
| Heb 9:14 | "...how much more will the blood of Christ... purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." | Cleansing through Christ's sacrifice. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | "...the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." | Continuous cleansing through Christ's blood. |
| Titus 3:5 | "...he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit..." | Washing of regeneration by the Spirit. |
| Eph 5:26 | "...that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word..." | Christ cleanses the church by the Word. |
| Rev 1:5 | "...To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood..." | Liberation and cleansing by Christ's blood. |
| Ps 32:1-2 | "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity..." | Blessing of forgiveness and covered sin. |
| Ps 19:12 | "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults." | Plea for cleansing from unknown or hidden sins. |
| Lev 16:30 | "For on this day atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins." | Annual Day of Atonement for cleansing. |
| Num 8:21 | "And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron presented them before the LORD..." | Ritual cleansing for service. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." | God's faithfulness to cleanse upon confession. |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out..." | Call to repentance for sin blotting out. |
| Isa 43:25 | "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." | God's sovereign act of blotting out sin. |
| Micah 7:18-19 | "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression...? He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot; you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." | God's complete removal and pardoning of sin. |
| Jer 33:8 | "I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me." | God's comprehensive forgiveness and cleansing. |
| 2 Cor 7:1 | "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." | Exhortation to pursue holiness and purity. |
| Jn 13:8 | Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” | Symbol of spiritual cleansing for fellowship. |
| Rom 6:6 | "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." | Dying to sin for liberation. |
| Ps 103:12 | "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." | God's complete removal of sin. |
| Ps 130:4 | "But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared." | God's nature to forgive and instill reverence. |
Psalm 51 verses
Psalm 51 2 Meaning
Psalm 51:2 is a profound plea from a penitent heart for complete and thorough purification from sin. The psalmist, identifying deeply with the pervasive nature of his wrongdoing, cries out to God to actively remove the defiling effects of his transgression, addressing both the twisted nature of his sinfulness ("iniquity") and the specific acts ("sin"). It signifies a desire not merely for pardon, but for a profound spiritual cleansing that reaches the depths of his being, demonstrating a recognition that only divine power can truly remove the stains of sin.
Psalm 51 2 Context
Psalm 51 is one of the most prominent penitential psalms, traditionally attributed to King David after his severe sins involving Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah (recorded in 2 Samuel 11-12). Confronted by the prophet Nathan, David enters a period of deep contrition. This psalm encapsulates his heartfelt confession, his profound understanding of the gravity of his offenses against God, and his earnest desire for spiritual restoration and a renewed relationship with his Creator. Verse 2 immediately follows David's opening plea for mercy, indicating an immediate shift to the core of his distress: the pervasive defilement of his sin. He is not merely seeking escape from consequence, but cleansing from the inner corruption and outer manifestation of his transgressions.
Psalm 51 2 Word analysis
- Wash away: The Hebrew word is kabbĕsēni (כַּבְּסֵ֕נִי), derived from the root kabas (כָּבַס), meaning "to wash, to full, to tread." This term is used specifically for the thorough cleaning of clothes by treading or beating them, not a mere rinse. It implies a vigorous, forceful action to remove deep-seated stains and impurities. David is asking God to perform a radical cleansing, like a laundress working painstakingly on soiled garments, indicating a desire for a comprehensive purification of his soul, removing all defilement and moral contamination. This metaphor points to the deep-seated nature of his sin.
- all my iniquity: The Hebrew word ʿăwōnî (עֲוֹנִי), from ʿāwōn (עָווֹן), signifies "iniquity," "guilt," "perversion," or "crookedness." It often refers to sin as a deviation from God's path, a bending or twisting of moral truth. It carries the sense of the culpability or burden that comes with wrongdoing, often highlighting the innate distortion or inherent corruption. David acknowledges the full extent and pervasive nature of his perverted actions and inner state, pleading for the complete removal of both the sinful tendency and the guilt it incurs.
- and cleanse me: The Hebrew term ûmiḥaṭṭĕʾēnî (וּמִֽחַטְּאֵ֬נִי), derived from the verb ḥāṭāʾ (חָטָא), often meaning "to sin" or "miss the mark." However, in this particular Pi'el stem and context, it means "to purify," "to de-sin," or "to purge." This usage is common in the Old Testament for ritual purification, such as cleansing a person or object from defilement caused by sin (e.g., in sin offerings). Here, David is requesting divine action to remove the spiritual impurity and defilement that his specific sins have left upon him.
- from my sin: The Hebrew noun miḥaṭṭāʾṯî (מֵחַטָּאתִי), from ḥaṭṭāʾt (חַטָּאת), means "sin," "offense," "guilt," or "sin-offering." While often referring to the act of "missing the mark" or failing to meet God's standard, it also frequently signifies the actual state of impurity or defilement that results from such an act. It contrasts with ʿāwōn (iniquity) by emphasizing the specific transgression itself and its polluting effects, complementing the broader term to convey a desire for comprehensive spiritual detoxification.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- Wash away all my iniquity: This phrase expresses David's intense desire for a complete and profound removal of the inherent twistedness of his moral nature and the pervasive guilt resulting from his sin. It suggests a longing for liberation from sin's power at its root, acknowledging that its corrupting influence affects his entire being. The choice of "wash away" indicates an act of divine power needed for such a deep purification, as if his very fabric has been stained.
- and cleanse me from my sin: This second part amplifies the first, focusing specifically on the removal of the active defilement caused by his transgressions. "Cleansing" here has a sacrificial and purifying connotation, demonstrating that David understood the pollution that comes from specific wrongdoings. Together, these two parallel requests ("wash away...iniquity" and "cleanse...sin") illustrate a cry for holistic restoration—from both the underlying perversion and the overt actions that flowed from it, showcasing a profound and desperate plea for total spiritual renewal through God's power.
Psalm 51 2 Bonus section
The linguistic richness of Psalm 51:2, specifically the deliberate choice of ʿāwōn and ḥaṭṭāʾt to describe sin, is noteworthy. While often translated interchangeably as "sin," they each carry nuances. ʿĀwōn tends to focus on the twisted nature of the moral condition, the deviation, and often the guilt and penal consequences. Ḥaṭṭāʾt emphasizes the act itself as "missing the mark," a failure to meet God's standard, and the defilement that results from such acts. By requesting cleansing from both, David acknowledges sin's multi-faceted grip: both its intrinsic perversion within him and its outward, polluting manifestation through his actions. This profound plea implicitly points to the future provision of God's complete and final purification through Christ, whose sacrifice would not only forgive specific acts but also cleanse the very nature of sin, making reconciliation with God truly holistic and eternal. It serves as a reminder that the Old Testament saints understood the need for a thorough, internal work of grace, far beyond the external rituals of the law.
Psalm 51 2 Commentary
Psalm 51:2 stands as a testament to the comprehensive and defiling nature of sin, and simultaneously, the infinite capacity of God to purify. David's use of two distinct terms for sin (ʿāwōn and ḥaṭṭāʾt) along with two vigorous verbs of cleansing (kabas and ḥāṭāʾ), underscores his deep awareness that sin affects both the inward state (iniquity, perversion) and the outward action (sin, transgression). He understands that true cleansing requires more than a simple act of forgiveness; it demands a thorough, divine work that removes the deep stains and defilement that sin leaves on the soul. This verse beautifully conveys humility, full confession, and an absolute reliance on God's initiative to make a sinner clean and fit for divine fellowship once more. It sets the stage for a heart that not only desires forgiveness but also genuine inner transformation.