The Meaning of Psalms 51:12 Explained

Psalms 51:12

KJV: Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

YLT: Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

Darby: Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.

ASV: Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Restore  unto me the joy  of thy salvation;  and uphold  me [with thy] free  spirit. 

What does Psalms 51:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Again David asked for renewed joy (cf. Psalm 51:8). He had not lost his salvation as a result of his sin, but he had lost the joy of it. The Lord was apparently not delivering him from his present distresses as He had done previously. He also requested a cooperative spirit, one that would cooperate with God and thereby sustain him.

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 51:12 mean?

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and [by Your] Spirit generous uphold me
הָשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֭י שְׂשׂ֣וֹן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וְר֖וּחַ נְדִיבָ֣ה תִסְמְכֵֽנִי

הָשִׁ֣יבָה  Restore 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
לִּ֭י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
שְׂשׂ֣וֹן  the  joy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׂשֹׂון  
Sense: gladness, joy, exultation, rejoicing.
יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ  of  Your  salvation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יֵשַׁע  
Sense: deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare.
וְר֖וּחַ  and  [by  Your]  Spirit 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
נְדִיבָ֣ה  generous 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נָדִיב  
Sense: inclined, willing, noble, generous.
תִסְמְכֵֽנִי  uphold  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: סָמַךְ  
Sense: to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon.