1035 BC · AM 2969 · United Kingdom

David confesses his sin in Psalm 51

Psalm 51 says David wrote it after Nathan came to him. David asks God for mercy and cleansing. He confesses his sin and asks for a clean heart (Psalm 51:1-19).

regnal dating

The psalm heading places this prayer after Nathan came to David

📖 Psalms 51:1–3

1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

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Connections

Quotation

David's confession quoted in Romans

David confessed his sin in Psalm 51 after Nathan confronted him. Paul later quoted part of that prayer in Romans 3:4.

Romans 3:3–4

What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

Psalm 51 says David wrote it after Nathan came to him. In verse 4, David says God is right when He speaks and blameless when He judges. Romans 3:4 quotes these words to show that God is always true.

Read Romans 3:3–4 (BSB) →Go there on the timeline →
Sources: BradyStephenson/bible-data
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