Psalms 51:2 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

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

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity - (cf. Psalms 51:7.) The Hebrew verb for "wash" is usually employed as to clothes х kaabac (H3526); but raachats of the person]: thus (Numbers 19:8) the clothes of him who burnt the heifer, in order to make the ashes for the water of separation, were to be washed (the same Hebrew), and the person bathed. Wash me as one would wash a filthy garment (Isaiah 64:6). The Hebrew for "throughly" is literally 'multiply,' and stands first as the emphatic word of the sentence, Compare Isaiah 55:7, 'multiply to pardon' - i:e., "abundantly pardon." In Psalms 51:1-2 he uses the three terms, 'transgressions iniquity, sin,' to mark the manifold character of his sin. As my sins are manifold, so 'manifoldly wash me.' The blood of Christ, applied by the grace of God, is the water which is to wash out the stain (Revelation 1:5; 1 John 1:7).

Psalms 51:2

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