Psalms 51:19 Meaning and Explanation
“Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Once restoration is complete, God will accept sacrificial offerings of righteousness and praise.
The Context of Psalms 51:19
Sacrificial worship is restored once the community is restored and righteousness is established.
What Does Psalms 51:19 Mean?
The final verse returns to sacrifice but in an entirely transformed context. 'Sacrifices of righteousness' are not empty rituals but the offerings of a restored people—expressions of right relationship, not attempts to establish it. The phrase 'then shalt thou be pleased' indicates that God's pleasure depends not on the sacrifice itself but on the righteousness that precedes it.
The restored community will present 'burnt offering and whole burnt offering,' and 'bullocks upon thine altar'—specific sacrifices returned to their proper use. The logic reverses the earlier subordination of sacrifice: once the heart is contrite and the community restored, the external offerings resume their place as fitting expressions of inner devotion. This is not permission for empty ritual but the celebration of ritual rightly ordered by a transformed heart.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 51:19
What does Psalms 51:19 mean?
Once restoration is complete, God will accept sacrificial offerings of righteousness and praise.
What is the context of Psalms 51:19?
Sacrificial worship is restored once the community is restored and righteousness is established.