Psalm 51 4

Psalm 51:4 kjv

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Psalm 51:4 nkjv

Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight? That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

Psalm 51:4 niv

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

Psalm 51:4 esv

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Psalm 51:4 nlt

Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.

Psalm 51 verses

Psalm 51 4 Meaning

Psalm 51:4 encapsulates King David's profound understanding of his sin. He declares that his transgressions, specifically those against Bathsheba and Uriah, are primarily, ultimately, and most grievously an offense directly against God. This confession is not a denial of the human harm caused but a prioritization of the spiritual offense against the Holy Lawgiver. David fully acknowledges God's perfect justice and integrity, asserting that any judgment or condemnation God would pronounce upon him for his actions would be entirely righteous and blameless, validating God's unblemished character in the face of human wickedness.

Psalm 51 4 Context

Psalm 51 is a powerful and deeply personal prayer of repentance attributed to King David. The superscription explicitly links it to David's grievous sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of Uriah, following the prophetic rebuke of Nathan (2 Sam 11-12). In this penitential psalm, David lays bare his soul before God. Verse 4 follows David's desperate plea for mercy (v. 1-2) and his immediate acknowledgment of his internal guilt (v. 3, "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me."). It serves as the profound theological center of his confession, defining the nature and ultimate object of his sin, thereby laying the groundwork for his appeal for spiritual cleansing and restoration in the verses that follow.

Psalm 51 4 Word analysis

• "Against You, You only": לְךָ לְבַדֶּךָ (lĕkā lĕbaDdeḵā). "Lĕḵā" means "to You" or "against You." "LĕbaDdeḵā" means "alone" or "only," often implying exclusiveness. This powerful doubling of the direct address emphasizes that while David's actions had severe consequences for Bathsheba, Uriah, his family, and the nation, his gravest and most foundational offense was against God Himself. It reveals a spiritual clarity where he sees his sin primarily as a violation of God's holy character, law, and covenant relationship, elevating it above any human consequences or societal norms.
• "have I sinned": חָטָא (ḥāṭāʾ). Meaning "to miss the mark," "to fall short of a standard," "to go astray," or "to err." Biblically, it refers to violating God's revealed will or command. David isn't admitting a simple error but a deliberate act of transgression and rebellion, acknowledging moral culpability and the breaking of God's divine standard.
• "and done what is evil": וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי (wĕhārāʿ bĕʿêyneḵā ʿāśîṯî). "Hārāʿ" (הָרָע) refers to "the evil thing" or "wickedness," denoting that which is morally reprehensible or destructive. This phrase complements "sinned," moving from the general concept of falling short to the specific, active execution of a wicked deed. It signifies an intentional choice of what is wrong.
• "in Your sight": בְּעֵינֶיךָ (bĕʿêyneḵā). Literally "in Your eyes." This signifies God's omnipresence and omniscience, highlighting His perfect awareness and complete understanding of David's actions and heart motives. It means there is no hidden sin; God sees and knows all, rendering all attempts at concealment futile and all justifications moot.
• "so that You may be justified in Your words": לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ (ləmaʿan tiṣdaḳ bĕḏoḇreḵā). "Ləmaʿan" means "in order that," indicating purpose or result. "Tiṣdaḳ" (צָדַק) means "You may be righteous," "justified," "acquitted," or "declared to be in the right." "Bĕḏoḇreḵā" means "in Your speaking" or "in Your words." By confessing his profound guilt, David affirms that any pronouncement, judgment, or declaration God makes concerning his sin would be entirely just, true, and righteous. David acknowledges God's perfect moral standing and truthfulness, validating God even if it means his own condemnation.
• "and blameless in Your judgment": תִּזְכֶּה בְּשָׁפְטֶךָ (tizkeᙲ bĕšap̄ṭeḵā). "Tizkeᙲ" (זָכָה) means "You may be pure," "clear," "innocent," or "blameless." "Bĕšap̄ṭeḵā" means "in Your judging" or "when You judge." This reiterates and reinforces the previous phrase, emphasizing God's absolute purity and lack of fault when He renders a verdict. David is essentially stating that if God judges him, God will be perfectly fair and untainted by any accusation of injustice.

• "Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight": This complete first clause captures the essence of genuine biblical repentance. It redefines the nature of sin, shifting the primary focus from its horizontal impact on humans to its vertical transgression against the holy and just God. This declaration is paramount because it identifies God as the ultimate offended party, whose authority and holiness have been directly assaulted. This deep realization is the beginning of true reconciliation.
• "so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment": This second clause expresses profound humility and absolute submission to divine justice. Instead of appealing for clemency based on human pity or excusing his actions, David explicitly endorses God's righteousness and purity. He acknowledges that God's every word and judgment regarding sin is impeccably true and just, implicitly accepting whatever consequence God deems fitting for his actions. It's a surrender that validates God's character above all else.

Psalm 51 4 Bonus section

• The phrase "You only" (לְבַדֶּךָ) is particularly emphatic, stressing the unique and supreme nature of the offense against the Most High. It does not negate David's offenses against Bathsheba and Uriah (cf. 2 Sam 12:9), but establishes God as the supreme target of the transgression, from whom all ethical norms originate.
• This verse establishes a foundational theological principle for all sin, teaching that ultimately all lawlessness is a violation of God's standards and therefore an offense against Him, regardless of how many human parties are directly affected.
• The structure of the verse mirrors the two great commandments: love for God and love for neighbor. David here shows that failure in the second flows from and fundamentally impacts the first.
• The passive construction for "justified" (תִּצְדַּק) and "blameless" (תִּזְכֶּה) implies that God is the one acted upon, whose righteousness is upheld by the sinner's acknowledgment of guilt. This is not about God becoming righteous, but about His existing righteousness being demonstrated and validated by human confession.
• The passage profoundly illustrates the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10). David expresses a godly sorrow, grieving not just the consequences of his sin (exposure, death of child) but the core reality of having offended God Himself.
• Paul's quoting of this verse in Rom 3:4 demonstrates its enduring theological significance across testaments, underscoring the absolute truthfulness and righteousness of God, which stands inviolable even amidst human sinfulness.

Psalm 51 4 Commentary

Psalm 51:4 is a pivotal confession in David's prayer of repentance. His assertion, "Against You, You only, have I sinned," fundamentally reveals that sin's deepest offense is not against humanity, but against the holy character and commands of God. This profound understanding elevates sin beyond mere human transgression to a direct affront against the Divine Lawgiver, who alone holds ultimate authority and sets the standard for good and evil. David's statement acknowledges the ultimate sovereignty and perfect judgment of God. By stating that God is "justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment," David declares that even if God were to bring the harshest condemnation upon him, God's actions would be entirely righteous and unimpeachable. This demonstrates the sincerity of David's repentance: he's not seeking to mitigate his guilt but to vindicate God's unblemished holiness and unwavering justice. It shows that true confession acknowledges God's complete right to judge and glorifies Him regardless of personal consequence.