The Meaning of Psalms 32:5 Explained

Psalms 32:5

KJV: I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

YLT: My sin I cause Thee to know, And mine iniquity I have not covered. I have said, 'I confess concerning My transgressions to Jehovah,' And Thou -- Thou hast taken away, The iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Darby: I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity I covered not; I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

ASV: I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I acknowledged  my sin  unto thee, and mine iniquity  have I not hid.  I said,  I will confess  my transgressions  unto the LORD;  and thou forgavest  the iniquity  of my sin.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 32:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David finally confessed his sin to God rather than refusing to admit it. Confessing involves acknowledging that what one has done violates the will of God (cf. 1 John 1:9). The Old Testament saint had the same responsibility to confess his sins to God that we do, and he also enjoyed the same promise of forgiveness we do (cf. Leviticus 5:5; Leviticus 5:10; Leviticus 16:21-22; Leviticus 26:40-42). However, God punished more sins with execution under the Old Covenant than He does under the New. If the background of this psalm is David"s sins against Bathsheba and Uriah, he evidently refused to acknowledge these sins for about a year after he had committed them ( 2 Samuel 12:13-15).

Context Summary

Psalm 32:1-11 - The Song Of The Forgiven
David wrote this psalm, Romans 4:6-8. Maschil means "to give instruction." We are deeply instructed as to the working of conscience. Compare with Psalms 51:1-19. This was one of Luther's favorites.
For some time after his sin, David withheld confession and suffered terribly. But when the wound was opened and the poison pressed from it, he burst out in the words with which the psalm opens: Oh, the blessedness! Sin means missing the mark; iniquity is that which is turned aside from its course. Forgiven, covered, not imputed-each of these is true in Jesus.
The presence of God is always appreciably nearer when floods are running high. Note those three precious promises of instruction, teaching, and guidance, Psalms 32:8. Throw on God the responsibility of indicating your path. Don't wait for the sharp jerk of bit or bridle; let love prompt and inspire your every movement. Haydn said: "When I think on God, the notes dance from my pen." Remember the music and dancing that welcomed the prodigal! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 32

1  Blessedness consists in remission of sins
3  Confession of sins gives ease to the conscience
8  God's promises bring joy

What do the individual words in Psalms 32:5 mean?

My sin I acknowledged to You and my iniquity not I have hidden I said I will confess on my transgressions to Yahweh and You forgave the iniquity of my sin Selah
חַטָּאתִ֨י אוֹדִ֪יעֲךָ֡ וַעֲוֺ֘נִ֤י לֹֽא־ כִסִּ֗יתִי אָמַ֗רְתִּי אוֹדֶ֤ה עֲלֵ֣י פְ֭שָׁעַי לַיהוָ֑ה וְאַתָּ֨ה נָ֘שָׂ֤אתָ עֲוֺ֖ן חַטָּאתִ֣י סֶֽלָה

חַטָּאתִ֨י  My  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
אוֹדִ֪יעֲךָ֡  I  acknowledged  to  You 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וַעֲוֺ֘נִ֤י  and  my  iniquity 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
כִסִּ֗יתִי  I  have  hidden 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.
אָמַ֗רְתִּי  I  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אוֹדֶ֤ה  I  will  confess 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
פְ֭שָׁעַי  my  transgressions 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
לַיהוָ֑ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְאַתָּ֨ה  and  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
נָ֘שָׂ֤אתָ  forgave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עֲוֺ֖ן  the  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
חַטָּאתִ֣י  of  my  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.