The Meaning of Psalms 51:17 Explained

Psalms 51:17

KJV: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

YLT: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

Darby: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

ASV: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The sacrifices  of God  [are] a broken  spirit:  a broken  and a contrite  heart,  O God,  thou wilt not despise. 

What does Psalms 51:17 Mean?

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 51:17 mean?

The sacrifices of God [are] a spirit broken heart a broken and a contrite God not these You will despise
זִֽבְחֵ֣י אֱלֹהִים֮ ר֪וּחַ נִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥ה לֵב־ נִשְׁבָּ֥ר וְנִדְכֶּ֑ה אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א תִבְזֶֽה

זִֽבְחֵ֣י  The  sacrifices 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
אֱלֹהִים֮  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
ר֪וּחַ  [are]  a  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
נִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥ה  broken 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
לֵב־  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
נִשְׁבָּ֥ר  a  broken 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
וְנִדְכֶּ֑ה  and  a  contrite 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּכָה  
Sense: to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken.
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
תִבְזֶֽה  these  You  will  despise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּזָה 
Sense: to despise, hold in contempt, disdain.