Psalms 51:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist asks God to turn away from his sins and erase them completely.
The Context of Psalms 51:9
God's attention shifts from witnessing sin to erasing it completely.
What Does Psalms 51:9 Mean?
The request for God to 'hide thy face from my sins' is an inversion of the common fear that God will hide His face in judgment. Here, the psalmist asks God to avert His gaze from the sins themselves—to look away from them, in effect divorcing them from the person. This combines two images: sins that exist but from which God turns away, and sins that are 'blotted out,' utterly erased.
'Blot out all mine iniquities' carries the sense of erasure so complete that nothing remains to be read or known. This is not forgiveness with the sin still visible as a scar but forgetting so thorough that the iniquity is unmade in the divine record. The repetition of this petition throughout the psalm underscores its centrality to the prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 51:9
What does Psalms 51:9 mean?
The psalmist asks God to turn away from his sins and erase them completely.
What is the context of Psalms 51:9?
God's attention shifts from witnessing sin to erasing it completely.