Psalms 51:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist prays for restored joy after experiencing the breaking of God's discipline.
The Context of Psalms 51:8
From breaking comes the possibility of a joy that reaches even into the deepest suffering.
What Does Psalms 51:8 Mean?
The phrase 'bones which thou hast broken' acknowledges that God's judgment brings deep suffering—not merely external consequences but inward anguish. Bones represent the deepest structure of the self; their breaking suggests complete interior devastation. Yet in the same breath, the psalmist asks not for undoing that breaking but for the broken bones to rejoice, implying restoration within the broken state.
Joy and gladness are not restored through denial of the breaking but through God making the psalmist 'hear' them. This auditory image suggests the joy comes to him as something external, spoken into his situation, rather than being recovered from within. God's joy, proclaimed to the brokenhearted, becomes the context in which even broken bones find cause to rejoice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 51:8
What does Psalms 51:8 mean?
The psalmist prays for restored joy after experiencing the breaking of God's discipline.
What is the context of Psalms 51:8?
From breaking comes the possibility of a joy that reaches even into the deepest suffering.