Psalms 51:5 (GNV)

Passage

Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me.

Nearby Context

Psalms 51:3 For I know mine iniquities, and my sinne is euer before me.

Psalms 51:4 Against thee, against thee onely haue I sinned, and done euill in thy sight, that thou mayest be iust when thou speakest, and pure when thou iudgest.

Psalms 51:5 Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me.

Psalms 51:6 Beholde, thou louest trueth in the inwarde affections: therefore hast thou taught mee wisedome in the secret of mine heart.

Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssope, and I shalbe cleane: wash me, and I shalbe whiter then snowe.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "beholde", "borne", "iniquitie", "sinne", "hath", "mother", and "conceiued". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "beholde" and "borne", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "Against thee against thee onely haue I..." into verse 6's "Beholde thou louest trueth in the inwarde...", so "beholde" and "borne" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "beholde" and "borne" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.