The Meaning of Psalms 51:13 Explained

Psalms 51:13

KJV: Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

YLT: I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

Darby: I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.

ASV: Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Then] will I teach  transgressors  thy ways;  and sinners  shall be converted  unto thee. 

What does Psalms 51:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The promises David made in this section of verses gave God reasons to grant forgiveness, so they were indirect requests for pardon. If forgiven, David would show others how God deals with penitent sinners. He would do this as an example, as well as verbally. Then sinners would turn to the Lord for deliverance.

Context Summary

Psalm 51:11-19 - The Sacrifices God Accepts
It is not enough to be forgiven; the true penitent longs to be kept from breaking out into the old sins. He desires a clean heart that abhors the least taint of sin; a right or steadfast (r.v., margin) spirit, influenced by God's holy Spirit, and therefore a willing spirit as well. Then shall follow the joy of salvation, success in soul-winning, humility of soul, the blessing of Zion, and the upbuilding of the Church. What glorious results are these-like the fair colors extracted from coal-tar!
There are no sacrifices so dear to God as broken hearts; no offerings so precious as contrite spirits. It would be impossible to compute all the walls that have been built; all the Jerusalems, that have been blessed, all the congregations that have been moved, all the revivals that have resulted because sinful men and women have been loved back from the pit of corruption and reinstated into the clear shining of God's forgiveness and favor. Do not be content with forgiveness; seek restoration to the old place and then strive for a better. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 51

1  David prays for remission of sins, whereof he makes a deep confession
6  He prays for sanctification
16  God delights not in sacrifice, but in sincerity
18  He prays for the church

What do the individual words in Psalms 51:13 mean?

[Then] I will teach transgressors Your ways and the sinful to You shall be converted
אֲלַמְּדָ֣ה פֹשְׁעִ֣ים דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים אֵלֶ֥יךָ יָשֽׁוּבוּ

אֲלַמְּדָ֣ה  [Then]  I  will  teach 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: לָמַד  
Sense: to learn. teach, exercise in.
פֹשְׁעִ֣ים  transgressors 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: פָּשַׁע  
Sense: to rebel, transgress, revolt.
דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ  Your  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים  and  the  sinful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַטָּא  
Sense: sinners adj.
אֵלֶ֥יךָ  to  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יָשֽׁוּבוּ  shall  be  converted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.