Psalm 69 5

Psalm 69:5 kjv

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Psalm 69:5 nkjv

O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.

Psalm 69:5 niv

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Psalm 69:5 esv

O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

Psalm 69:5 nlt

O God, you know how foolish I am;
my sins cannot be hidden from you.

Psalm 69 verses

Psalm 69 5 Meaning

Psalm 69:5 is a profound declaration of humility and honesty before God. The psalmist acknowledges his personal sin, referring to his "folly" and "guilts," admitting that these moral failings are completely open and known to an omniscient God. This verse expresses a deep self-awareness and transparency, recognizing divine knowledge of every aspect of one's inner life and actions. It forms a crucial part of the psalmist's lament, where he appeals to God despite his own shortcomings.

Psalm 69 5 Context

Psalm 69 is a heartfelt lament attributed to David, expressing deep distress and persecution from many adversaries, symbolized by overwhelming waters. The psalmist cries out from severe suffering, feeling isolated, reviled, and misunderstood, even by his own family. He seeks God's urgent deliverance, not based on his own merit, but on God's steadfast love and mercy. Amidst these urgent pleas for rescue and justice against his tormentors, verse 5 stands out as a stark confession of his own moral shortcomings. It sets a foundation of spiritual honesty, demonstrating that even while appealing against external injustices, the psalmist is acutely aware of his own sin before God. This psalm is highly significant prophetically, containing numerous passages (like the zeal for God's house consuming Him, being given gall and vinegar, and suffering reproach) that are understood by the New Testament to speak of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 69 5 Word analysis

• O God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): This is a primary Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His powerful and sovereign nature as Creator and ultimate Ruler. The direct address acknowledges God's authority and His exclusive position as the one to whom the psalmist makes his appeal and confession.
• You know (יָדַעְתָּ - yada'ta): From the Hebrew root yada', which implies a deep, intimate, and experiential knowledge, far beyond mere intellectual understanding. It signifies full comprehension, discernment, and acquaintance. Here, it conveys God's omniscience – His perfect and exhaustive awareness of all things, including the deepest intentions and secret sins of the psalmist.
• my folly (אִוַּלְתִּי - iwwalti): Derived from ’ivveleth (אִוֶּלֶת). This term refers not merely to a mistake or lack of judgment, but often to moral perversity, sinfulness, foolishness, and wickedness in a spiritual sense. It describes actions and choices that are irrational from God's perspective, arising from a corrupt heart that ignores divine wisdom and commandments, leading to moral guilt.
• my guilts (אַשְׁמוֹתַי - ashmotay): From the root asham (אָשָׁם). This word carries the specific nuance of guilt, culpability, or trespass. It signifies a concrete act of wrong, often implying a breach of a specific law or obligation, and typically suggests the need for reparation or a guilt offering (as seen in Leviticus). It denotes actual responsibility and blameworthiness for committed sins.
• are not hidden (לֹא נִכְחֲדוּ - lo' nikhchadhu): This is a strong negative construction meaning "nothing is concealed" or "they are fully revealed." It uses the verb kachad (כָּחַד), meaning to hide, conceal, or deny. The negative form underscores the psalmist's complete transparency before God; there is no attempt to hide, justify, or obscure his wrongdoings. His sins are completely open and plain before God’s gaze.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "O God, You know my folly": This phrase immediately establishes God's all-knowing character and the psalmist's personal confession. It sets a tone of deep humility and vulnerability, acknowledging God’s absolute awareness of the psalmist's moral weaknesses and foolish actions against divine wisdom.
• "my guilts are not hidden from You": This complements the first part, intensifying the confession. It reaffirms God's perfect knowledge, extending it to the concrete, actionable transgressions (guilts). The negative construction "are not hidden" emphasizes that no sin, no matter how deeply concealed from others, can ever be hidden from God’s discerning eyes. This full admission serves as the groundwork for appealing to God's mercy rather than asserting innocence.

Psalm 69 5 Bonus section

The specific choice of "folly" (’ivveleth) and "guilts" (ashamot) is significant. "Folly" often encompasses the moral and spiritual cluelessness or perversity that underlies sinful actions, a theme extensively developed in the book of Proverbs, contrasting it sharply with divine wisdom. "Guilts," on the other hand, points to the concrete results and culpability stemming from these foolish choices, which often carried a requirement for specific "guilt offerings" in the Levitical law to achieve atonement or reconciliation. Thus, the psalmist is not merely admitting abstract error, but a tangible moral deficit with spiritual and perhaps even ritual implications for restoration. This humble, unreserved transparency is essential for receiving God's unreserved mercy.

Psalm 69 5 Commentary

Psalm 69:5 is a profound expression of spiritual integrity and humble self-awareness amidst suffering. The psalmist, David, confesses his "folly" and "guilts" at a time when he is vehemently protesting the injustice and reproach of others. This is a crucial act of humility; true repentance begins with recognizing one's own sin, even when feeling unjustly persecuted by external forces. By openly admitting that his moral failings are completely known to God, David relinquishes any pretense of self-righteousness. This confession is not offered as a reason for his suffering (as in the case of Job), but rather as an acknowledgment of his unworthiness before a holy God, setting the stage for an appeal to divine mercy rather than justice based on merit.

For a believer, this verse teaches that honest self-assessment and transparency with God are foundational to faith. There is comfort in knowing that God, who knows us completely, flaws and all, is also the one who offers grace and forgiveness. For the New Testament understanding, while this verse reflects David's personal sin, Psalm 69 as a whole has profound Messianic implications concerning Christ's suffering. When considering Jesus, who "knew no sin" (2 Cor 5:21), this specific verse would apply not to His personal sin but symbolically to His bearing the "folly" and "guilts"—the sins—of humanity (Is 53:6), as He suffered for what was not His own fault. He bore our shame and our reproaches.

• Example 1: A believer facing unjust accusations, but also wrestling with their own known shortcomings, models true piety by confessing personal sin while still seeking justice from God.
• Example 2: When praying for deliverance from a difficult situation, truly righteous prayer always includes an honest acknowledgement of personal failings before the perfectly holy God.