Psalm 51:4-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 51:1-6

The title has reference to a very sad story, that of David's fall. But, though he fell, he was not utterly cast down, for God graciously upheld him and raised him up. 1. The sin which, in this psalm, he laments, was the folly and wickedness he committed with his neighbour's wife, a sin not to be spoken of, nor thought of, without detestation. His debauching of Bathsheba was the inlet to all the other sins that followed; it was as the letting forth of water. This sin of David's is recorded for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:4

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned ,.... All sin, though committed against a fellow creature, being a transgression of the law, is against the lawgiver; and, indeed, begins at the neglect or contempt of his commandment, as David's sin did, 2 Samuel 12:9 ; and being committed against God, that had bestowed so many favours upon him, was a cutting consideration to him, which made his sorrow appear to be of a godly sort; wherefore he makes his humble and hearty confession to the Lord, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:5

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ,.... This cannot be understood of any personal iniquity of his immediate parents; since this respects his wonderful formation in the womb, in which both he and they were wholly passive, as the word here used is of that form; and is the amazing work of God himself, so much admired by the psalmist, Psalm 139:13 ; and cannot design any sinfulness then infused into him by his Maker, seeing God cannot be the author of sin; but of original sin and corruption,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:4

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned - This verse is supposed to show the impropriety of affixing the above title to this Psalm. It could not have been composed on account of the matter with Bath-sheba and the murder of Uriah; for, surely, these sins could not be said to have been committed against God Only, if we take the words of this verse in their common acceptation. That was a public sin, grievous, and against society at large, as well as against the peace, honor, comfort, and life of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:5

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity - A genuine penitent will hide nothing of his state; he sees and bewails, not only the acts of sin which he has committed, but the disposition that led to those acts. He deplores, not only the transgression, but the carnal mind which is enmity against God. The light that shines into his soul shows him the very source whence transgression proceeds; he sees his fallen nature, as well as his sinful life; he asks pardon for his transgressions, and he asks washing... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:4

Verse 4 4.Against thee, thee only, have I sinned (260) It is the opinion of some that he here adverts to the circumstance of his sin, although it was committed against man, being concealed from every eye but that of God. None was aware of the double wrong which he had inflicted upon Uriah, nor of the wanton manner in which he had exposed his army to danger; and his crime being thus unknown to men, might be said to have been committed exclusively against God. According to others, David here... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:5

Verse 5 5Behold, I was born in iniquity, etc He now proceeds further than the mere acknowledgement of one or of many sins, confessing that he brought nothing but sin with him into the world, and that his nature was entirely depraved. He is thus led by the consideration of one offense of peculiar atrocity to the conclusion that he was born in iniquity, and was absolutely destitute of all spiritual good. Indeed, every sin should convince us of the general truth of the corruption of our nature.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:1-8

Repentance and forgiveness. Some deny the Davidic origin of this psalm; but most refer it to the time when Nathan charged David with the sins of adultery and murder. In these verses we have set forth the nature of forgiveness , and the nature of repentance. I. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS . 1 . Forgiveness is the inward and outward cleansing from sin. It is blotting out a record or a debt that is against us—that is, the outward cleansing. And it is a washing , or ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:1-19

The psalm consists of an opening strophe, extending to four verses, which is an earnest prayer for mercy and forgiveness ( Psalms 51:1-4 ); a second strophe, of eight verses, which is an entreaty for restoration and renewal ( Psalms 51:5-12 ); a third strophe, of five verses, setting forth the return which the psalmist will make, if he is forgiven and restored ( Psalms 51:13-17 ); and a conclusion, in two verses, praying for God's blessing on the people, and promising an ample return... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:1-19

This might be called The minister's psalm. We may imagine the servant of the Lord engaged in devout meditation. He looks before and after. He communes with himself as to his life and work. The deepest thoughts of his heart are revealed. I. EVER - GROWING SENSE OF THE EVIL OF SIN . Sin is thought of in the abstract, and its badness is seen. It is looked at in the world, in society, in the Church, and more and more its evils are discerned. But worst of all, it is felt... read more

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