Psalms 51 · Verse 16

Psalms 51:16

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Psalms 51:16, King James Version

Psalms 51:16 in other translations

BSBFor You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.
WEBFor you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
ASVFor thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
YLTFor Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give it, Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.
DARBYFor thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
BBEYou have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.
WebsterFor thou desirest not sacrifice: else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt-offering.

What does Psalms 51:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. Praise is better than sacrifice (Psa 50:14), and implying faith, penitence, and love, glorifies God. In true penitents the joys of pardon mingle with sorrow for sin.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice - This is the same sentiment which he delivers in Psa 40:6 (note), etc., where see the notes. There may be here, however, a farther meaning: Crimes, like mine, are not to be expiated by any sacrifices that the law requires; nor hast thou appointed in the law any sacrifices to atone for deliberate murder and adultery: if thou hadst, I would cheerfully have given them to thee. The matter is before thee as Judge.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 51:16-19
Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that there were such a heart in every one of us! God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it; though it makes God no satisfaction for the wrong done to him by sin. Those who have been in spiritual troubles, know how to pity and pray for others afflicted in like manner. David was afraid lest his sin should bring judgements upon the city and kingdom. No personal fears or troubles of conscience can make the soul, which has received grace, careless about the interests of the church of God. And let this be the continued joy of all the redeemed, that they have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 51:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤י\׀kiforH3588
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
תַחְפֹּ֣ץtach.Potzyou desireH2654
זֶ֣בַחZe.vachsacrificeH2077
וְאֶתֵּ֑נָהve.'e.Te.nahand I will give [it]H5414
ע֝וֹלָ֗הo.Lahburnt offeringH5930
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
תִרְצֶֽה\׃tir.Tzehyou are pleased withH7521

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 51:16

  • Hosea 6:6

    For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

  • Psalms 40:6

    Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

  • Hebrews 10:5-6

    Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

  • 1 Samuel 15:22

    And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

  • Psalms 51:6

    Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

  • Isaiah 1:11-15

    To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. …

  • Proverbs 21:27

    The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

  • Jeremiah 7:22-23

    For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

  • Proverbs 15:8

    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

  • Amos 5:21-23

    I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

  • Psalms 50:8

    I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.

  • Exodus 21:14

    But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
desirest.
6; Ex 21:14; Nu 15:27,30,31; 35:31; De 22:22; Ho 6:6
else would I. or, that I should. delightest.
40:6; 50:8; Pr 15:8; 21:27; Isa 1:11-15; Jer 7:22,23,27; Am 5:21-23
Heb 10:5,6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 51:15

    O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

  • Psalms 51:16

    For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

  • Psalms 51:17

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Read all of Psalms 51

Psalms 51:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque no quieres tú sacrificio, que yo daría; no quieres holocausto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Délivre-moi de la coulpe du sang, ô Dieu, Dieu de mon salut! Ma langue chantera hautement ta justice.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn du hast keine Lust an Schlachtopfern, sonst gäbe ich sie; an Brandopfern hast du kein Wohlgefallen.