Psalm 51 (50):16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The memory of Uriah's death weighed heavily upon him, a sentiment he clearly conveys at the outset of the psalm by stating, “my sin is always before me.” He further declares, "My tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness." Symmachus offers this interpretation: my tongue shall proclaim Thy mercy. Having received forgiveness, I will not remain silent; rather, I will continually sing praises and declare Your mercies towards me.

The Latin translator has conveyed the truth of the Greek text, though not using the exact Latin terminology. It is widely recognized that the Latin does not articulate sanguinis (blood of the intermediate type); rather, the Greek translator employed the plural form intentionally, reflecting its presence in the original Hebrew. The devoted translator opted for a term that, while not Latin, remains accurate. Why, then, does he refer to it in the plural as "Of blood"? In highlighting the plurality of blood, he suggests the multitude of sins arising from the fallen nature of humanity. The apostle, alluding to the very sins stemming from the decay of flesh and blood, asserts, "Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor.

Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, my salvation. Once more, he beseeches to be freed from the impurity that arose from Uriah's death; or more appropriately, that he may be liberated from the need for bloody offerings, as shown in the subsequent lines of the Psalm which declare, If Thou hadst desired sacrifice, Thou wouldst have presented it, etc. My tongue will celebrate Thy righteousness. Simmachus rendered it as, my tongue shall rejoice in Thy grace. After I have received forgiveness for my sins, I shall not remain silent, but shall continually sing Your praises and proclaim Your mercies. Since You have nullified the sacrifices of the law, which cannot grant forgiveness of sins, I present to You the offering You cherish; this offering being one of true repentance and a contrite spirit.

"Rescue me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, my salvation." David remains acutely aware of the death of Uriah, as indicated at the outset of the psalm: "My wrongdoing is ever before me." "My tongue will proclaim Your righteousness." Symmachus rendered this as "my tongue will celebrate Your mercy." I will not remain quiet when I experience the forgiveness of my transgressions; instead, I will continually praise You, recounting Your mercies.

Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, my salvation. In this historical context, David refers to the wrongful murder he committed against Uriah; however, from a more profound scriptural perspective, this term also points to the malevolent spirits that take delight in the blood of slain beings, both human and animal. The phrase "God of my salvation" is used in place of "God my Saviour," as has been noted multiple times; the repetition of "God, God" emphasizes the deep earnestness of the soul in its plea and prayer. My tongue will rejoice in Your justice. My tongue will proclaim joy at the announcement of Your justice. Righteousness here signifies the justification bestowed upon him by God, which is deliverance from sin; for one who has been pardoned is regarded as justified.

What do we mean when we say, “Deliver me from the blood”? These words allude to the blood of Uriah, whom David unlawfully slew in order to take his wife. They articulate our plea for God to rescue us from the sins of violence. What is conveyed by the phrase, “My tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness”? This expresses our commitment to testify to and exalt the mercy of God.

Previously, David sought forgiveness for his transgressions; however, in this instance, he implores for liberation from the retribution demanded by the unjust bloodshed of Uriah. He vows to extol the righteousness of the Lord. The term "blood" appears in the plural form, reflecting the Hebrew language's nuances to indicate a significant shedding of blood. Similar to Genesis 4:10, where it states, "The voice of thy brother's blood cries unto me from the earth," (noting that the Hebrew expresses this as "the voice of blood," indicating "the voice of many bloods"), this context denotes, "Deliver me from the blood," referring to the outcry of Uriah's blood, which unjustly cries out for justice due to its wrongful shedding.

Rescue me from the stain of blood. St. Athanasius observes that he once again raises a petition to be liberated from the impurity brought on by the slaying of Uriah, or more aptly, to be freed from the blood, which refers to the sacrificial offerings, as indicated by the subsequent verses of the psalm (v. 18). My tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Symmachus rendered it as: "shall my tongue proclaim Your favor." This signifies that I will not remain silent after receiving forgiveness for my transgressions, but I will continually sing praises to You, declaring Your mercies. Blessed Theodoret and Athanasius echo this sentiment. As stated in Hebrews 5:17: "Lord, open my mouth, and my lips shall proclaim Your praise."

Ultimately, throughout all generations, this psalm, divinely inspired through the Holy Spirit to David, serves as a poignant reminder of repentance for all who have sinned, as repentance allows one to evade the harshness of God's judgment. Moreover, this psalm anticipates the Incarnation of Christ, the Redeemer of sinners, as the prophet, in accordance with God's promise, expresses a sincere longing, saying, ‘Give me the joy of Thy salvation.’ God's original design was for humanity to be born without the influence of sin and corruption. However, the disobedience of Adam and Eve led to the establishment of marriage, thereby resulting in all descendants of Adam being conceived in sin. The prophet does not condemn marriage itself; rather, he highlights the sins of the ancestors.