The Meaning of Psalms 51:5 Explained

Psalms 51:5

KJV: Behold, I was shapen 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.

ASV: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 51:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The king went on to confess the depth of his sinfulness. He had been a sinner from the time he came into existence as a human being, namely, at his conception. This is one of the strongest indications in the Bible that human life begins at conception rather than at birth (cf. Psalm 139:13-16). He viewed sinful acts as the fruit of a sinful nature, not as the product of his environment or the situation that had triggered his acts. This verse does not mean David felt free of personal responsibility for his actions. He felt responsible, as is clear from his statements in the context.

Context Summary

Psalms 51:1-10 - The Prayer Of The Contrite Heart
This psalm is a ladder which climbs from the horrible pit, with its miry clay, into the heights of sunny joy, where the song breaks from the forgiven penitent. Here is the cry of the lost sheep which has been torn by briers, harried by wild dogs, drenched in the morass, but which the shepherd has found and brought home rejoicing. This path has been worn by myriads of penitents. Psalms 51:17 was written on the wall of St. Augustine's cell.
There is no doubt as to the occasion or the authorship of this psalm. It abounds in references to 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 2 Samuel 12:1-31. It is remarkable that such a confession should have been handed to the chief musician; but the publicity thus given has made it a means of grace to myriads. Note the epithets for sin: transgression, "the violation of law;" iniquity, "crookedness from the straight line of rectitude;" sin, "missing the mark." However much God longs to forgive, He cannot, until confession is made. We must acknowledge our lapse from virtue! Blot out, as from a record; wash, as foul stains from linen; cleanse, as a leper by the touch of Christ. Our only plea is the multitude of God's tender mercies. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 51

1  David prays for remission of sins, whereof he makes a deep confession
6  He prays for sanctification
16  God delights not in sacrifice, but in sincerity
18  He prays for the church

What do the individual words in Psalms 51:5 mean?

Behold in iniquity I was brought forth and in sin conceived me my mother
הֵן־ בְּעָו֥וֹן חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי וּ֝בְחֵ֗טְא יֶֽחֱמַ֥תְנִי אִמִּֽי

הֵן־  Behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
בְּעָו֥וֹן  in  iniquity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי  I  was  brought  forth 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
וּ֝בְחֵ֗טְא  and  in  sin 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵטְא  
Sense: sin.
יֶֽחֱמַ֥תְנִי  conceived  me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person feminine singular, first person common singular
Root: יָחַם  
Sense: to be hot, conceive.
אִמִּֽי  my  mother 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.