The Meaning of Psalms 26:6 Explained

Psalms 26:6

KJV: I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

YLT: I wash in innocency my hands, And I compass Thine altar, O Jehovah.

Darby: I will wash my hands in innocency, and will encompass thine altar, O Jehovah,

ASV: I will wash my hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will wash  mine hands  in innocency:  so will I compass  thine altar,  O LORD: 

What does Psalms 26:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 26:1-12 - A Declaration Of Loyalty To God
In some respects this psalm resembles the previous one, only, instead of entreaties for forgiveness, there are protestations of innocence. It may have been composed during Absalom's rebellion, and contains a strenuous protest against the dissembling and hypocrisy upon which that revolt was based. In these avowals of conscious rectitude, it should be borne in mind that David did not mean to claim absolute sinlessness, but rather to declare his innocence of the specific charges with which he had been assailed.
We all need the laver of purification mentioned in Psalms 26:6-7. Or better, let us repair to our Lord, who still washes the feet of His disciples, as in John 13:1-38. Hatred to evil men is one side of the coin; love to God's house, the reverse. Either implies the other. However firm our foot seems to stand, we all need the redeeming mercy and grace of God. Ah, the riches of His gentle goodness! Ephesians 2:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 26

1  David resorts to God in confidence of his integrity

What do the individual words in Psalms 26:6 mean?

I will wash in innocence my hands so I will go about - Your altar Yahweh
אֶרְחַ֣ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּ֑י וַאֲסֹבְבָ֖ה אֶת־ מִזְבַּחֲךָ֣ יְהוָֽה

אֶרְחַ֣ץ  I  will  wash 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָחַץ  
Sense: to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe.
בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן  in  innocence 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נִקָּיׄון 
Sense: innocency.
כַּפָּ֑י  my  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, first person common singular
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
וַאֲסֹבְבָ֖ה  so  I  will  go  about 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִזְבַּחֲךָ֣  Your  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.