Focused Passage

Psalms 51:7-12

Create in Me a Pure Heart Through Mercy and Confession

Psalm 51 begins with David's plea for mercy according to God's steadfast love and abundant compassion. It then moves through direct confession, acknowledgment of God's righteous judgment, and admission of inward corruption. The prayer intensifies into requests for cleansing, joy, a clean heart, a renewed spirit, and preservation in God's presence. Restored mercy becomes restored witness and praise, and the psalm concludes by linking broken-hearted repentance to Zion's welfare and acceptable worship.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Cross-references

Isaiah 1:18Classic cross-references 1 John 1:7Classic cross-references Hebrews 9:13Classic cross-references Ezekiel 36:25Classic cross-references Numbers 19:18Classic cross-references

Original words

Purify meתְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִיH2398Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularwith hyssopבְאֵז֣וֹבH231Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand I will be cleanוְאֶטְהָ֑רH2891Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularwash meתְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִיH3526Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularand I will be whiterאַלְבִּֽין׃H3835Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularthan snowוּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶגH7950Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 8

Cross-references

Hosea 6:1Classic cross-references Job 5:17Classic cross-references Matthew 5:4Classic cross-references Psalms 6:2Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 4:10Classic cross-references

Original words

Let me hearתַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִיH8085Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularjoyשָׂשׂ֣וֹןH8342Noun - masculine singularand gladnessוְשִׂמְחָ֑הH8057Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularlet the bonesעֲצָמ֥וֹתH6106Noun - feminine pluralYou have crushedדִּכִּֽיתָ׃H1794Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularrejoiceתָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָהH1523Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural

Verse 9

Cross-references

Isaiah 43:25Classic cross-references Psalms 51:1Classic cross-references Matthew 7:5Classic cross-references Acts 3:19Classic cross-references Jeremiah 16:17Classic cross-references

Original words

Hideהַסְתֵּ֣רH5641Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularYour faceפָּ֭נֶיךָH6440Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularfrom my sinsמֵחֲטָאָ֑יH2399Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularand blot outמְחֵֽה׃H4229Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularallוְֽכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructmy iniquitiesעֲוֺ֖נֹתַ֣יH5771Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 10

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 5:17Classic cross-references Ezekiel 11:19Classic cross-references Romans 12:2Classic cross-references Ephesians 4:22Classic cross-references Matthew 5:8Classic cross-references

Original words

Createבְּרָא־H1254Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularin meלִ֣יPreposition | first person common singulara cleanטָ֭הוֹרH2889Adjective - masculine singularheartלֵ֣בH3820Noun - masculine singularO Godאֱלֹהִ֑יםH430Noun - masculine pluraland renewחַדֵּ֥שׁH2318Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singulara rightנָ֝כ֗וֹןH3559Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularspiritוְר֥וּחַH7307Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singularwithin meבְּקִרְבִּֽי׃H7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 11

Cross-references

Ephesians 4:30Classic cross-references 2 Kings 13:23Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 5:19Classic cross-references Isaiah 63:10Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 16:14Classic cross-references

Original words

Cast me not awayתַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥נִיH7993Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular. . .אַל־H408Adverbfrom Your presenceמִלְּפָנֶ֑יךָH6440Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singulartakeתִּקַּ֥חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularnotאַל־H408AdverbYour Holyקָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗H6944Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularSpiritוְר֥וּחַH7307Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular constructfrom meמִמֶּֽנִּי׃H4480Preposition | first person common singular

Verse 12

Cross-references

Isaiah 41:10Classic cross-references Psalms 23:3Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 3:17Classic cross-references Psalms 13:5Classic cross-references Psalms 37:17Classic cross-references

Original words

Restoreהָשִׁ֣יבָהH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularto meלִּ֭יPreposition | first person common singularthe joyשְׂשׂ֣וֹןH8342Noun - masculine singular constructof Your salvationיִשְׁעֶ֑ךָH3468Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand sustain meתִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃H5564Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularwith a willingנְדִיבָ֣הH5081Noun - feminine singularspiritוְר֖וּחַH7307Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular

Read full chapter context All Psalms chapters

<- Psalms 50 Psalms 51 Psalms 52 ->