Psalms 51:9
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Original Language Analysis
פָּ֭נֶיךָ
thy face
H6440
פָּ֭נֶיךָ
thy face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
2 of 6
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְֽכָל
H3605
וְֽכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Jeremiah 16:17For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.Isaiah 38:17Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.Colossians 2:14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;Psalms 51:1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Historical Context
Ancient records were kept on clay tablets or papyrus; 'blotting out' meant erasing or destroying the record. David asks for his sins to be removed from God's book of remembrance.
Questions for Reflection
- What is the difference between God 'hiding His face from sins' and ignoring sin?
- How does Christ's work 'blot out' our transgressions completely?
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Analysis & Commentary
The prayer for divine amnesia: 'Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.' David asks God to look away from his sins and to erase them from the record. 'Blot out' uses the imagery of wiping a slate clean or deleting a written record. Complete removal, not merely overlooking.