The Meaning of Psalms 51:18 Explained

Psalms 51:18

KJV: Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

YLT: Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.

Darby: Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.

ASV: Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Do good  in thy good pleasure  unto Zion:  build  thou the walls  of Jerusalem. 

What does Psalms 51:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David extended his request for personal blessing to the nation under his authority. God had promised to protect David from death. He now asked the Lord to protect His people as well.

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 51:18 mean?

Do good in Your good pleasure - to Zion Build the walls of Jerusalem
הֵיטִ֣יבָה בִ֭רְצוֹנְךָ אֶת־ צִיּ֑וֹן תִּ֝בְנֶ֗ה חוֹמ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

הֵיטִ֣יבָה  Do  good 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָטַב  
Sense: to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad.
בִ֭רְצוֹנְךָ  in  Your  good  pleasure 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
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.
צִיּ֑וֹן  to  Zion 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
תִּ֝בְנֶ֗ה  Build 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
חוֹמ֥וֹת  the  walls 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.