King James Version

What Does Psalms 51:4 Mean?

Psalms 51:4 in the King James Version says “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speak...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 51:4 · KJV

Context

2

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

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.

5

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

6

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

Read Psalms 51 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. This verse reveals the vertical dimension of all sin and vindicates God's righteous judgment. Though David wronged Bathsheba, murdered Uriah, and scandalized Israel, he recognizes his sin was ultimately against God—the supreme offense against infinite holiness.

"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned" (לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ חָטָאתִי/lekha levadekha chatati) seems to ignore human victims of David's sin. Uriah died; Bathsheba was violated; Israel was scandalized. How can David claim he sinned 'only' against God? This isn't minimizing horizontal offense but recognizing the ultimate vertical dimension: all sin, whatever its human impact, is primarily offense against God whose law is violated, whose image (in victims) is assaulted, whose holiness is affronted.

The doubling 'thee, thee only' emphasizes exclusivity and intensity. The Hebrew levadekha (to you alone) stresses that while others were harmed, the fundamental offense was against God. Sin's gravity lies not primarily in human harm (serious as that is) but in rebellion against the infinite, holy Creator. This explains why 'small' sins (by human standards) deserve eternal punishment—all sin is cosmic treason against infinite majesty.

"And done this evil in thy sight" (וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי/veha'ra be'einekha asiti) acknowledges God witnessed David's sin. Be'einekha (in your eyes, in your sight) means God saw everything—the lustful look, the adultery, the murder plot, the cover-up. Nothing was hidden; all occurred before God's omniscient gaze. This aggravates guilt: David sinned consciously knowing God watched.

"That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest" (לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ תִּזְכֶּה בְשָׁפְטֶךָ/lema'an titzdaq bedabarekha tizkkeh beshafatekha) vindicates God's righteousness. Tzadaq (be justified, be righteous) and zakah (be clear, be pure) affirm God's complete righteousness in judging sin. The purpose clause ('that thou mightest') can mean result or purpose: David's confession results in God being vindicated, and/or David's sin occurred in God's sovereignty such that God's judgment reveals His justice.

Paul quotes this verse (Romans 3:4) proving all humanity's sinfulness and God's righteous judgment. Even David—the man after God's own heart—stands guilty, validating God's declaration that 'all have sinned' (Romans 3:23). God's judgment is never unjust; His condemnation is always deserved; His mercy is always undeserved grace.

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Historical & Cultural Context

David's recognition that sin is primarily against God reflects biblical theology throughout Scripture. Joseph resisted Potiphar's wife, asking 'how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' (Genesis 39:9). The Prodigal Son confessed, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight' (Luke 15:21). All sin violates God's law, assaults His holiness, and rebels against His authority, making every sin ultimately against Him.

Nathan's confrontation exposed David's sin through a parable about a rich man stealing a poor man's lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-6). David pronounced judgment on himself, declaring the guilty man deserved death. Nathan's response—'Thou art the man'—revealed David's self-condemnation. David had violated the commandments: coveting, adultery, murder, bearing false witness. He stood condemned by God's law and his own judgment.

Paul's use of this verse (Romans 3:4) comes in his argument proving universal sin and justifying God's righteousness in judgment. Objectors might claim God is unjust to judge; Paul responds: 'God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.' Even the best humans (like David) prove God right in declaring all sinners.

The phrase 'in thy sight' emphasizes God's omniscience. Hebrews 4:13 declares, 'all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.' Nothing is hidden from God—no secret thought, no concealed action, no disguised motive. David learned this through Nathan's exposure of his 'secret' sin. God sees all, knows all, judges righteously.

Throughout church history, this verse has shaped theology of sin and judgment. Augustine's doctrine of original sin and total depravity emphasized that all humanity stands condemned before God. The Reformers insisted God's judgment is always just, human condemnation always deserved, and salvation purely gracious. Modern sentimental views minimizing sin's seriousness are corrected by this biblical realism: sin is serious because it offends infinite holiness.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can David say he sinned 'only' against God when he clearly harmed Uriah, Bathsheba, and others?
  2. What does it mean that all sin, regardless of its human impact, is ultimately and primarily against God?
  3. How does recognizing that sin occurs 'in God's sight' (under His omniscient gaze) affect our understanding of its seriousness?
  4. How does David's confession vindicate God's righteousness in judgment, and why is it important that God is 'justified' and 'clear' when He judges?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
לְךָ֤1 of 11
H0
לְבַדְּךָ֙׀2 of 11
H905

properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit

חָטָאתִי֮3 of 11

“Against thee thee only have I sinned”

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

וְהָרַ֥ע4 of 11

“this evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָ5 of 11

“in thy sight”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

עָ֫שִׂ֥יתִי6 of 11

“and done”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לְ֭מַעַן7 of 11
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

תִּצְדַּ֥ק8 of 11

“that thou mightest be justified”

H6663

to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)

בְּדָבְרֶ֗ךָ9 of 11

“when thou speakest”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

תִּזְכֶּ֥ה10 of 11

“and be clear”

H2135

to be translucent; figuratively, to be innocent

בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ׃11 of 11

“when thou judgest”

H8199

to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 51:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 51:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Samuel 12:13-14Luke 15:21Genesis 20:6Genesis 39:9Romans 3:4Acts 17:31

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