Psalms 51 · Verse 5

Psalms 51:5

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalms 51:5, King James Version

Psalms 51:5 in other translations

BSB	Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
WEB	Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.
ASV	Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.
YLT	Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.
DARBY	Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
BBE	Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.
Webster	Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

What does Psalms 51:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 51:5-6

5-6. His guilt was aggravated by his essential, native sinfulness, which is as contrary to God's requisitions of inward purity as are outward sins to those for right conduct.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 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 and cleansing for his inward defilement. Notwithstanding all that Grotius and others have said to the contrary, I believe David to speak here of what is commonly called original sin; the propensity to evil which every man brings into the world with him, and which is the fruitful source whence all transgression proceeds. The word חוללתי cholalti, which we translate shaped, means more properly, I was brought forth from the womb; and יחמתני yechemathni rather signifies made me warm, alluding to the whole process of the formation of the fetus in utero, the formative heat which is necessary to develope the parts of all embryo animals; to incubate the ova in the female, after having been impregnated by the male; and to bring the whole into such a state of maturity and perfection as to render it capable of subsisting and growing up by aliment received from without. "As my parts were developed in the womb, the sinful principle diffused itself through the whole, so that body and mind grew up in a state of corruption and moral imperfection."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 51:1-6

Chapter Outline The psalmist prays for mercy, humbly confessing and lamenting his sins. (1-6) He pleads for pardon, that he may promote the glory of God and the conversion of sinners. (7-15) God is pleased with a contrite heart, A prayer for the prosperity of Zion. (16-19) Verses 1-6 David, being convinced of his sin, poured out his soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace. Whither should backsliding children…

Read the full comment on Psalms 51:1-6 →

Psalms 51:5 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.

הֵן\־hen-here!H2005

בְּעָו֥וֹןbe.'a.Vonin iniquityH5771

חוֹלָ֑לְתִּיcho.Lal.tiI was brought forthH2342

וּ֝בְחֵ֗טְאu.ve.Chet'and in sinH2399

יֶֽחֱמַ֥תְנִיye.che.Mat.nishe conceived meH3179

אִמִּֽי\׃'i.Mimother myH517

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

Cross references for Psalms 51:5

Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Job 14:4
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Psalms 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Job 15:14-16
What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Genesis 5:3
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
Genesis 8:21
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

shapen.
58:3; Ge 5:3; 8:21; Job 14:4; 15:14-16; Joh 3:6; Ro 5:12; Eph 2:3
conceive. Heb. warm.

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

Context

Psalms 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psalms 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 51:6
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Read all of Psalms 51

Psalms 51:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	He aquí, en maldad he sido formado, y en pecado me concibió mi madre.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car je connais mes transgressions, et mon péché est continuellement devant moi.
German Elberfelder 1871	Siehe, in Ungerechtigkeit bin ich geboren, und in Sünde hat mich empfangen meine Mutter.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Dilexisti malitiam super benignitatem; iniquitatem magis quam loqui æquitatem.