The Meaning of Psalms 65:3 Explained

Psalms 65:3

KJV: Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

YLT: Matters of iniquities were mightier than I, Our transgressions -- Thou dost cover them.

Darby: Iniquities have prevailed against me: our transgressions, thou wilt forgive them.

ASV: Iniquities prevail against me: As for our transgressions, thou wilt forgive them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Iniquities  prevail  against me: [as for] our transgressions,  thou shalt purge them away. 

What does Psalms 65:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 65:1-13 - Abundant Favor From Our Gracious God
This joyous hymn was probably composed for use in the sanctuary at one of the great annual festivals. It deals expressly with God's bounty in the fertility of the earth.
The Temple courts, Psalms 65:1-4
God hears our prayer, purges away our transgressions, chooses us, and causes us to approach. Let us ask Him to cause us to approach and to make us dwell in the consciousness of His presence. If iniquities prevail and transgressions shame us, there is provision for these also. God shall purge them away. For such condescending love all flesh shall ultimately come to His footstool.
Terrible things, Psalms 65:5-7
Thunder tones and lightning flashes, inaccessible mountains and roaring seas-such are the darker aspects of nature. But beneath all, like a sweet refrain, we hear Him praised as the God of salvation. Make Him your confidence, by land and sea.
The beauty and order of the world, Psalms 65:8-13
Brimming rivers, soft spring showers, golden harvests, the hum of the bees in mountain pastures, the call of the ewes to their lambs-all bespeak God's goodness. Let us ask Him to visit our hearts with the throb of springtime. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 65

1  David praises God for his grace
4  The blessedness of God's chosen by reason of benefits

What do the individual words in Psalms 65:3 mean?

Act Iniquities prevail against me [As for] our transgressions You will provide atonement for them
דִּבְרֵ֣י עֲ֭וֺנֹת גָּ֣בְרוּ מֶ֑נִּי פְּ֝שָׁעֵ֗ינוּ אַתָּ֥ה תְכַפְּרֵֽם

דִּבְרֵ֣י  Act 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
עֲ֭וֺנֹת  Iniquities 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
גָּ֣בְרוּ  prevail 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: גָּבַר  
Sense: to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great.
מֶ֑נִּי  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
פְּ֝שָׁעֵ֗ינוּ  [As  for]  our  transgressions 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
תְכַפְּרֵֽם  will  provide  atonement  for  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּפַר 
Sense: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch.