Psalm 51 (50):10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Through this, He proclaims that you will bring joy to my ears, guaranteeing a complete purification, so that joy may fill every part of the being, allowing the bones, once damaged by sorrow, to thrive once more and regain their previous vigor. Behold, He says, do not fixate on the wrongs I have committed, but rather on me, who laments them, and cleanse my transgressions. What is it that you desire, prophet? Your sins are forgiven, your punishment lifted. I am not satisfied with this: I have a loving Savior who provides beyond my asking. What do you seek? I was a prophet, and I long to be a prophet once more. I yearn for the closeness I had with God, for the spiritual gift, this abundant grace. This grace has left me, fleeing like a dove from impurity; I desire to reclaim it, like a bee returning to its hive.

"‘Sprinkle hyssop on me,’ states the prophet, ‘and I will be purified; wash me, and I will become whiter than snow. Grant joy and gladness to my ears’ (Ps. 50: 9-10). The prophet further emphasizes that hyssop symbolizes cleansing from arrogance by saying: ‘The bones of the humble shall rejoice.’"

Bring joy and delight to my ears. By the Spirit, ready me once more to experience the joy and delight that will be present in the latter days. What does this signify except the understanding of the coming resurrection, which He also taught, saying, ‘The bones of the humble shall rejoice’? When will our weary bones celebrate? Is it not at the resurrection, when, as another prophet states, our bones will wither like grass (Isaiah 66:14)? The bones of the humble shall indeed rejoice. The strength of my spirit will find joy, for it was previously feeble under the weight of sin.

Grant me joy and delight in my listening; the bones of the lowly shall exult. This means to fill my ears with such joy that it assures complete cleansing, allowing happiness to envelop all parts of my body, so that the bones, which have been weakened by tribulation, may thrive once more and regain their vigor.

Let my ears be filled with joy and gladness. Allow my spirit to hear the news of Your mercy and forgiveness; may I be filled with happiness and exultation. Joy and gladness are synonymous. The bones of the humble shall rejoice. The bones that are weighed down by sin will find relief and rejoice when they are freed by Your grace and absolution. The term "bones" signifies the entirety of one’s being. Some commentators interpret these words “let me hear joy” as referring to the incarnation of the Savior, conveying that I may receive the profound joy of Your grace specifically linked to this divine coming; in that moment, my brokenness will leap with uncontainable joy.

Dasi signifies to give. The phrase "The bones of the humble will rejoice" conveys that the transgression committed by David not only devastated his spirit but also affected his physical being. Sin afflicts and weighs down every person. However, upon receiving forgiveness, one's conscience is comforted; thus, both body and bones appear to rejoice, as if restored.

The ultimate sign of complete reconciliation with God is the affirmation of the Holy Spirit to our spirit that we are indeed God's children (Rom. 8:16). After having received this assurance previously, the Prophet now seeks it once more, pleading, 'Grant joy and gladness to my ears.' This can be understood as a heartfelt appeal: 'Lord, I have faith that my sins are entirely erased by Your grace, and my spirit cleansed of its impurities. Therefore, I humbly request this additional blessing: fill me with inward joy, a clear indication of my sins being forgiven. This joy will be like a trusted messenger, welcomed into my heart with profound delight.

Grant me the gift of joy and gladness in my ears, meaning let me once more receive the good news of Your salvation, or the forgiveness of humanity that is to come in the last days. May the bones of the humble rejoice; may the vigor of my spirit exult, for it was once weakened by sin. Let joy envelop all my physical being, and may the bones that have been brought low by suffering be restored and strengthened. As Blessed Theodoret reminds us: “Let me hear joy and gladness; and the bones which Thou hast broken shall rejoice.”

Ultimately, throughout time until the very end of the age, this psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and written by David, can serve as an expression of repentance for all who have sinned, for through repentance humanity may find relief from the severity of God's judgment. Additionally, this psalm holds a prophetic foretelling of the Incarnation of Christ, the Redeemer of sinners, who the prophet, in accordance with God’s promise, passionately implores, "Give me the joy of Thy salvation." God's original plan was for humanity to exist without the taint of marriage and sin. However, the disobedience of Adam and Eve to God's command introduced the institution of marriage, and thus all descendants of Adam are born into sin.