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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 51:2 Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/51-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/19_Psa_051_002.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 51:2 - Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/51-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/51-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/51.htm">Chapter 51</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/51-1.htm" title="Psalm 51:1">◄</a> Psalm 51:2 <a href="/psalms/51-3.htm" title="Psalm 51:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/51.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/51.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/51.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/51.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/51.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/51.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/51.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/51.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my guilt And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/51.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/51.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/51.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/51.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness <i>and</i> guilt And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/51.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/51.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/51.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/51.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Wash me clean from all of my sin and guilt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/51.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/51.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/51.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/51.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Wash me from my iniquity, cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/51.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/51.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/51.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/51.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/51.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/51.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Thoroughly wash me from my iniquity, "" And cleanse me from my sin,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/51.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/51.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Multiply to wash me from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/51.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/51.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 50:4>Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/51.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/51.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/51.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/51.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Wash me completely from my evil, and purge me from my sins.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/51.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/51.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/51-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=6047" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/51.htm">Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7235.htm" title="7235: har·bēh (V-Hifil-InfAbs) -- To be or become much, many or great. A primitive root; to increase.">Wash me clean</a> <a href="/hebrew/3526.htm" title="3526: kab·bə·sê·nî (V-Piel-Imp-ms:: 1cs) -- To wash. A primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash, whether literal or figurative."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: mê·‘ă·wō·nî (Prep-m:: N-csc:: 1cs) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">of my iniquity</a> <a href="/hebrew/2891.htm" title="2891: ṭa·hă·rê·nî (V-Piel-Imp-ms:: 1cs) -- To be clean or pure. A primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. to be pure.">and cleanse me</a> <a href="/hebrew/2403.htm" title="2403: ū·mê·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî (Conj-w, Prep-m:: N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Or chattacth; from chata'; an offence, and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also an offender.">from my sin.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-16.htm">Isaiah 1:16</a></span><br />Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/1-9.htm">1 John 1:9</a></span><br />If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/36-25.htm">Ezekiel 36:25</a></span><br />I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/33-8.htm">Jeremiah 33:8</a></span><br />And I will cleanse them from all the iniquity they have committed against Me, and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/3-5.htm">Titus 3:5</a></span><br />He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-14.htm">Hebrews 9:14</a></span><br />how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/22-16.htm">Acts 22:16</a></span><br />And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-26.htm">Ephesians 5:26</a></span><br />to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/13-1.htm">Zechariah 13:1</a></span><br />“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-11.htm">1 Corinthians 6:11</a></span><br />And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/4-4.htm">Isaiah 4:4</a></span><br />when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/1-5.htm">Revelation 1:5</a></span><br />and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/19-9.htm">Numbers 19:9</a></span><br />Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-8.htm">John 13:8-10</a></span><br />“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” / “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” / Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/10-22.htm">Hebrews 10:22</a></span><br />let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.</p><p class="hdg">Wash</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Psalm 51:7</a></b></br> Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/36-25.htm">Ezekiel 36:25</a></b></br> Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zechariah/13-1.htm">Zechariah 13:1</a></b></br> In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.</p><p class="hdg">cleanse</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Psalm 51:7</a></b></br> Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/19-12.htm">Psalm 19:12</a></b></br> Who can understand <i>his</i> errors? cleanse thou me from secret <i>faults</i>.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/26-6.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/psalms/19-12.htm">Cleanse</a> <a href="/psalms/50-20.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/psalms/31-23.htm">Fully</a> <a href="/psalms/49-5.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/psalms/41-4.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/job/6-2.htm">Thoroughly</a> <a href="/job/6-2.htm">Throughly</a> <a href="/psalms/26-6.htm">Wash</a> <a href="/job/33-9.htm">Washed</a> <a href="/psalms/38-18.htm">Wrongdoing</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Cleanse</a> <a href="/psalms/51-4.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/psalms/62-4.htm">Fully</a> <a href="/psalms/51-5.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/psalms/51-3.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/psalms/119-140.htm">Thoroughly</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-9.htm">Throughly</a> <a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Wash</a> <a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Washed</a> <a href="/psalms/51-9.htm">Wrongdoing</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 51</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/51-1.htm">David prays for remission of sins, whereof he makes a deep confession</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/51-6.htm">He prays for sanctification</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/51-16.htm">God delights not in sacrifice, but in sincerity</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/51-18.htm">He prays for the church</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/51.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/51.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Wash me clean of my iniquity</b><br>This phrase reflects a deep desire for purification and forgiveness. In the biblical context, washing is often associated with ritual purification, as seen in the Levitical laws where priests and individuals had to wash to be ceremonially clean (<a href="/leviticus/16-4.htm">Leviticus 16:4, 24</a>). The plea for washing indicates an acknowledgment of personal impurity and a need for divine intervention. The term "iniquity" refers to moral corruption and guilt, suggesting a recognition of wrongdoing that separates one from God. This plea is a precursor to the New Testament understanding of spiritual cleansing through the blood of Christ (1 <a href="/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7</a>), highlighting the need for a savior to remove the stain of sin.<p><b>and cleanse me from my sin</b><br>The request for cleansing goes beyond physical washing to a spiritual renewal. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, cleansing was not only about physical purity but also about restoring one's relationship with God and the community. The word "sin" here encompasses both the act of wrongdoing and its consequences. This plea for cleansing is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to be washed and renewed through the Holy Spirit (<a href="/titus/3-5.htm">Titus 3:5</a>). The concept of cleansing is also prophetic, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who provides the means for true and complete purification from sin (<a href="/hebrews/9-14.htm">Hebrews 9:14</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/51.htm">Psalm 51</a>, King David, wrote this psalm as a heartfelt plea for mercy and forgiveness after his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent confrontation by the prophet Nathan.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/bathsheba.htm">Bathsheba</a></b><br>The woman with whom David committed adultery, leading to a series of sins including deceit and murder.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/n/nathan_the_prophet.htm">Nathan the Prophet</a></b><br>The prophet who confronted David about his sin, prompting David's repentance and the writing of this psalm.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where David reigned as king and where these events took place.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The ultimate judge and source of forgiveness to whom David directs his plea for cleansing and mercy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_cleansing.htm">The Need for Cleansing</a></b><br>Recognize that sin creates a barrier between us and God, necessitating a sincere plea for cleansing and forgiveness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_willingness_to_forgive.htm">God's Willingness to Forgive</a></b><br>Understand that God is always ready to forgive and cleanse us when we come to Him with a contrite heart, as demonstrated by David.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_depth_of_repentance.htm">The Depth of Repentance</a></b><br>True repentance involves acknowledging our sins and seeking God's mercy, not just for forgiveness but for a transformation of heart and spirit.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_confession.htm">The Role of Confession</a></b><br>Confession is a crucial step in the process of repentance, as it opens the way for God's cleansing power to work in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_a_life_of_purity.htm">Living a Life of Purity</a></b><br>After receiving God's forgiveness, strive to live a life that reflects His holiness, continually seeking His guidance to avoid future sin.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_51.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 51</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_achieve_spiritual_purity_biblically.htm">How does one achieve spiritual purification according to scripture?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_centrism_or_a_centrist.htm">How does one achieve spiritual purification according to scripture?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_confession_heal_and_forgive.htm">How does confession lead to forgiveness and healing?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/psalm_51_vs._other_bible_justice_views.htm">Psalm 51 - How does this psalm reconcile with other Bible passages that depict God's justice differently, especially regarding the punishment of sinners?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/51.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">Wash me thoroughly.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">Wash me much, </span>whether we follow the Hebrew text or the Hebrew margin. The two clauses of the verse are not merely antithetic. The terms <span class= "ital">wash </span>and <span class= "ital">cleanse </span>seem to imply respectively the <span class= "ital">actual </span>and the <span class= "ital">ceremonial </span>purification, the former meaning literally <span class= "ital">to tread, </span>describing the process of washing clothes (as blankets are washed to this day in Scotland) by trampling them with the feet, the latter used of the formal declaration of cleanliness by the priest in the case of leprosy (<a href="/context/leviticus/13-6.htm" title="And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.">Leviticus 13:6-34</a>). (For the <span class= "ital">iniquity </span>and <span class= "ital">sin, </span>see <a href="/psalms/32-1.htm" title="Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.">Psalm 32:1</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/51.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Wash me throughly from mine iniquity</span>. Wash me, as a fuller washes a fouled garment (<span class="greek">πλῦνον</span>, LXX., not <span class="greek">υίψον</span>), not as a man washes his skin. <span class="cmt_word">And cleanse me from my sin</span>. "Transgressions," "iniquity," "sin," cover every form of moral evil, and, united together, imply the deepest guilt (comp. vers. 3, 5, 9, 14). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/51-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Wash me clean</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶ֭רֶב</span> <span class="translit">(he·reḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7235.htm">Strong's 7235: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become much, many or great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of my iniquity</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעֲוֺנִ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘ă·wō·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5771.htm">Strong's 5771: </a> </span><span class="str2">Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and cleanse me</span><br /><span class="heb">טַהֲרֵֽנִי׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṭa·hă·rê·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2891.htm">Strong's 2891: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be clean or pure</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from my sin.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּֽמֵחַטָּאתִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mê·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2403.htm">Strong's 2403: </a> </span><span class="str2">An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/51-2.htm">Psalm 51:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/51-2.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/51-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 51:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 51:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/51-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 51:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 51:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>