The Meaning of Psalms 51:8 Explained

Psalms 51:8

KJV: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

YLT: Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

Darby: Make me to hear gladness and joy; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

ASV: Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Make me to hear  joy  and gladness;  [that] the bones  [which] thou hast broken  may rejoice. 

What does Psalms 51:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse is a request for renewed joy. "Joy and gladness" indicates deep joy. David"s fractured relationship with God pained him as much as a broken bone (cf. Psalm 6:2).

Context Summary

Psalm 51:1-10 - The Prayer Of The Contrite Heart
This psalm is a ladder which climbs from the horrible pit, with its miry clay, into the heights of sunny joy, where the song breaks from the forgiven penitent. Here is the cry of the lost sheep which has been torn by briers, harried by wild dogs, drenched in the morass, but which the shepherd has found and brought home rejoicing. This path has been worn by myriads of penitents. 2 Samuel 11:1-27 was written on the wall of St. Augustine's cell.
There is no doubt as to the occasion or the authorship of this psalm. It abounds in references to Psalms 51:17; 2 Samuel 12:1-31. It is remarkable that such a confession should have been handed to the chief musician; but the publicity thus given has made it a means of grace to myriads. Note the epithets for sin: transgression, "the violation of law;" iniquity, "crookedness from the straight line of rectitude;" sin, "missing the mark." However much God longs to forgive, He cannot, until confession is made. We must acknowledge our lapse from virtue! Blot out, as from a record; wash, as foul stains from linen; cleanse, as a leper by the touch of Christ. Our only plea is the multitude of God's tender mercies. [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 51:8 mean?

Make me hear joy and gladness [That] may rejoice the bones You have broken
תַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂ֣וֹן וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה תָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָה עֲצָמ֥וֹת דִּכִּֽיתָ

תַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִי  Make  me  hear 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
שָׂשׂ֣וֹן  joy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂשֹׂון  
Sense: gladness, joy, exultation, rejoicing.
וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה  and  gladness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
תָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָה  [That]  may  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: גִּיל  
Sense: to rejoice, exult, be glad.
עֲצָמ֥וֹת  the  bones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֶצֶם 
Sense: bone, essence, substance.
דִּכִּֽיתָ  You  have  broken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּכָה  
Sense: to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken.