Psalm 65:3 kjv
Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
Psalm 65:3 nkjv
Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.
Psalm 65:3 niv
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
Psalm 65:3 esv
When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.
Psalm 65:3 nlt
Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
Psalm 65 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 32:1-2 | Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven... | Joy of forgiveness |
| Ps 103:12 | as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. | God's complete removal of sin |
| Isa 1:18 | “Come now, let us reason together... though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow..." | God's offer of purification |
| Isa 53:5-6 | But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities... | Christ's atoning sacrifice |
| Jer 31:34 | I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. | God's New Covenant forgiveness |
| Ezek 36:25 | I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean... | Divine cleansing and renewal |
| Mic 7:18-19 | Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity... He will again have compassion on us... He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. | God's unique forgiveness and compassion |
| Matt 1:21 | He will save His people from their sins. | Jesus' mission to deliver from sin |
| Matt 26:28 | ...for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. | Christ's blood for sin's forgiveness |
| John 1:29 | Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! | Christ as the ultimate sacrifice |
| Rom 3:23-24 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace... | Universal sin and justification by grace |
| Rom 5:8 | But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | God's love demonstrated in atonement |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. | Christ becoming sin for us |
| Eph 1:7 | In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses... | Redemption and forgiveness through Christ |
| Col 2:13 | And you, who were dead in your trespasses... God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses... | God making alive through forgiveness |
| Heb 8:12 | For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. | Forgiveness under the New Covenant |
| Heb 9:22 | Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | Necessity of blood for forgiveness |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | Limitation of Old Covenant sacrifices |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. | Christ bearing sins |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | But if we walk in the light... the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. | Continual cleansing through Christ's blood |
| 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. | Confession leading to cleansing |
| Rev 1:5 | ...to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood... | Freedom from sin through Christ's blood |
Psalm 65 verses
Psalm 65 3 Meaning
Psalm 65:3 expresses the human reality of overwhelming sinfulness and contrasts it sharply with God's divine and complete act of cleansing and atonement. It acknowledges that human iniquities and transgressions are pervasive and would justly separate humanity from God, yet proclaims God's sovereign mercy in purging these sins away, making fellowship possible.
Psalm 65 3 Context
Psalm 65 is a psalm of thanksgiving, specifically for God's answer to prayer and His bountiful provision, culminating in a celebration of a good harvest. The chapter begins by declaring praise to God in Zion for answered prayer and for receiving confession. Verse 3, therefore, acts as a foundational acknowledgment: the very possibility of worshiping and drawing near to God despite human sinfulness is attributed solely to His gracious act of purging transgressions. It sets the stage for God's subsequent blessings in nature and provision, highlighting that divine favor is not earned but flows from God's character and His solution to humanity's deepest problem – sin. Historically, such a psalm might have been sung in the Temple, perhaps during pilgrim festivals, acknowledging God's forgiveness before presenting other praises and offerings.
Psalm 65 3 Word analysis
- Iniquities: (Hebrew: עֲוֹנֹת, `avonot) – This plural form of `avon denotes crookedness, perversity, moral depravity, and guilt. It speaks of the twist or distortion of one's nature that leads to wrongdoing, as well as the resultant guilt and punishment. It often implies a deliberate departure from God's way, rooted in an inner corruption.
- prevail against me: (Hebrew: גָּבְרוּ מִמֶּנִּי, gāv'rû mimmenni) – The Hebrew gāv'rû means "they have prevailed," "they are strong," or "they are mighty." The phrase mimmenni means "from me" or "out of me," implying that the iniquities originate from or rise up against the psalmist personally, being overwhelming and insurmountable by human strength. Some English translations render it "against me" or "upon me" to convey the overwhelming nature and destructive force of sin. This expresses the individual's desperate recognition of their pervasive sin.
- as for our transgressions: (Hebrew: פְּשָׁעֵינוּ, pəšā`ênû) – The word pesha` refers to a rebellion, revolt, or breach of trust against an authority. It emphasizes the active violation of a known law or covenant, often implying willful disobedience. The shift to "our" (plural possessive suffix -einu) broadens the scope from the individual confession of the Psalmist to include the entire community, indicating that sin is a communal, as well as individual, burden.
- You will purge them away: (Hebrew: תְכַפְּרֵם, təkhaprēm) – Derived from the root kaphar (כָּפַר), this verb means "to cover," "to atone," "to pacify," "to make reconciliation." In the biblical context, it refers to the divinely prescribed means by which sin is dealt with and reconciliation with God is made possible. It doesn't merely cover up sin but effects a genuine cleansing and removal of guilt through the process of atonement. It speaks to God's sovereign initiative and power to deal decisively with sin, rather than mere human effort.
The contrast between the "me" in "prevail against me" and "our" in "our transgressions" highlights both the personal wrestling with sin and the communal recognition of humanity's sinful condition. The powerful contrast between the overwhelming nature of human sin ("iniquities prevail") and the absolute certainty of God's action ("You will purge them away") is the central theological message. This points to the complete inability of humanity to deal with sin on its own, necessitating God's active intervention and atonement.
Psalm 65 3 Bonus section
The reference to "purging" (kaphar) in this verse has strong resonances with the Old Testament sacrificial system, particularly the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). On this day, the high priest would make atonement for the sins of the people. However, the New Testament reveals that these Old Covenant sacrifices were shadows pointing to the ultimate reality of Jesus Christ, whose single sacrifice on the cross fully and permanently "purged away" (Heb 1:3; "purification for sins") and "took away" sins (Heb 9:26) in a way that animal blood could not. Thus, Psalm 65:3 looks forward to the complete and perfect redemption accomplished in Christ, where human sin is not merely covered but truly dealt with at its root, enabling eternal reconciliation between God and His people. This concept stands in direct opposition to pagan beliefs that often required appeasing capricious deities through endless human works or rituals without genuine internal cleansing. The God of Israel unilaterally acts to deal with sin.
Psalm 65 3 Commentary
Psalm 65:3 articulates a profound truth about the human condition and God's character. Humanity, even in its most devout aspirations, finds itself overwhelmed by "iniquities" and "transgressions" – an internal brokenness (`avon) and external rebellion (pesha`). These are not minor flaws but are powerful forces that prevail, asserting dominion and threatening to sever fellowship with God. Yet, in the face of this pervasive human reality, the Psalmist declares the sovereign act of God: "You will purge them away" (təkhaprēm). This declaration points to God's initiative in providing atonement, which "covers" and effectively "cleanses" the defilement and guilt of sin. This purging is not a result of human merit but God's gracious will, making it possible for sinful humanity to approach and worship a holy God. It encapsulates the core gospel message, revealing that true communion with God is contingent upon His divine, cleansing act rather than human performance.
Examples for practical usage:
- Confess your struggles with sin, recognizing its power over you.
- Rest in the assurance that God, through Christ, has already provided the complete cleansing for your iniquities.
- Live a life of thankfulness for this divine purging, which allows you to draw near to God.