Psalms 51:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist fears separation from God and asks to retain the Holy Spirit.
The Context of Psalms 51:11
The deepest fear is not punishment but separation from God's presence and spirit.
What Does Psalms 51:11 Mean?
Withdrawal of God's presence is the deepest judgment in this psalm's worldview. To be 'cast away from thy presence' would mean separation from the source of all blessing. This fear reveals that the psalmist's greatest concern is not punishment in the abstract but relational rupture—to be severed from God would be the loss that encompasses all others.
The second clause, 'take not thy holy spirit from me,' suggests the presence of God's spirit as an active, sustaining reality. Its removal would be experienced as abandonment, as if the inward animating force were withdrawn. The parallel structure emphasizes that divine presence and divine spirit are the fundamental goods being protected, and loss of them would be loss of everything.
Psalms 51:11 in the Original Language
holy spirit (רוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ) — God's transforming presence and power; the term encompasses both the divine breath/wind and the spirit given to those in covenant relationship with God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 51:11
What does Psalms 51:11 mean?
The psalmist fears separation from God and asks to retain the Holy Spirit.
What is the context of Psalms 51:11?
The deepest fear is not punishment but separation from God's presence and spirit.