Psalm 51:5

     "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."
(Psa. 51:5; ESV) At least three views have been advanced in an effort to explain
David's statement in this Psalm. (1) Some say David is saying his mother conceived
him in sin, that is, she is the one who was a sinner (adulteress?) (2) Others have said
that his declaration means that he was born into a sinful world. (3) Another group
says he was born with a sinful nature that was inherited from Adam.

     I believe neither view is correct and this is why: the first view is incorrect because
David is making a confession about his personal sinfulness, not that of his mother.
Look carefully at his words again, "Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin
did my mother conceive me." The second view is incorrect because the text does not
say he was born into a sinful world. He says, "I was brought forth in iniquity." The
third view is incorrect because sin in not genetically transferred or passed on through
the birth process. Each person is responsible for his own sin, not the sin of another.
(Ezek. 18:20) A person lives the way he chooses to live. The choices are not
made before he is born. The choice of good or evil results from post birth conduct.
(Eph. 2:1-3)

     The truth is, David is speaking figuratively. The specific figure of speech that he
uses is hyperbole. Biblical Hebrew literature abounds with hyperbolic speech.
Hyperbole is a literary exaggeration for effect, and is not to be taken literally. This
Psalm was written after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. He is
grieving. He is crushed. He has disregarded Yahweh's law and is aware of the
horrible consequences of sin. There are at least two other hyperbolic statements in
this chapter. In verse 4 David says, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done
evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your
judgment." He says he had only sinned against Yahweh, but that is not literally true,
and that is not what he meant.

     He had also sinned against Uriah, for Bathsheba was his wife, not to mention the
fact that he made Uriah drunk and had him killed! He sinned against Bathsheba, for
she was the wife of Uriah. He sinned against his family, for his actions in this matter
became the catalysts that precipitated rebellion within his house! He sinned against
God's people, for his actions gave his enemies cause for rejoicing and a "reason" to
blaspheme. It is therefore obvious that when David says that he had only sinned against
God that he is using hyperbole. In violating God's law, he sinned against God, the author
of the law. Similar to what the lost son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you." (Lk. 15:18) In verse 8 he says, "Fill me with joy and gladness; let the
bones you have broken rejoice." Yahweh had not literally broken any of David's bones.
"Broken bones" stand for the judgment on his sin, and David begs Yahweh for forgiveness
and restoration.

     When David said, "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me," his meaning is something like, "I have been morally corrupt from
day one, " or "I have never been any good," or "I am rotten to the core." Nathan's
rebuke accomplished its intended design, and David is left brokenhearted for he
has finally realized the gravity of his transgression. He is hurt in his heart. He is
troubled in his soul. He sees himself in some ways as Paul saw himself, "the
foremost sinner!" (1 Tim. 1:15)

     Psalm 51:5 does not teach that babies or anyone else are literally born in sin
due to inherited guilt that goes all the way back to Adam. It is David's confession
of his personal guilt that emanated from lust, and culminated in blatant disrespect
for the holy law of God.

                                                                                                       RD

Copyright 2011