Psalms 19:13
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Original Language Analysis
גַּ֤ם
H1571
גַּ֤ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 12
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ
Keep back
H2820
חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ
Keep back
Strong's:
H2820
Word #:
3 of 12
to restrain or (reflexive) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe
אַֽל
H408
אַֽל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
5 of 12
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
אָ֣ז
H227
אֵיתָ֑ם
over me then shall I be upright
H8552
אֵיתָ֑ם
over me then shall I be upright
Strong's:
H8552
Word #:
9 of 12
to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי
and I shall be innocent
H5352
וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי
and I shall be innocent
Strong's:
H5352
Word #:
10 of 12
to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e., extirpated
Cross References
Psalms 119:133Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.1 Samuel 25:39And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.Psalms 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.Psalms 7:10My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.Genesis 20:6And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.Psalms 11:7For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.Psalms 18:23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.2 Peter 2:10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.Exodus 21:14But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
Historical Context
Old Testament law distinguished between unintentional sin (with atonement provision) and presumptuous sin (deliberate rebellion with severe consequences).
Questions for Reflection
- How do you guard against presumptuous, willful sin versus weakness?
- What does it mean for sin to have 'dominion' versus struggling with temptation?
Analysis & Commentary
David prays to be kept from 'presumptuous sins' that they not have dominion. The Hebrew 'zed' (presumptuous) indicates willful, arrogant rebellion. Then he would be 'blameless' and 'innocent of great transgression.' This distinguishes between weakness sins and defiant sins. Numbers 15:30-31 prescribed cutting off for presumptuous sins. This anticipates the New Testament distinction between struggling with sin and living in unrepentant rebellion (1 John 3:6-9).