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Selected Verse: Psalms 51:7 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 51:7	Strong Concordance	Purge [02398] me with hyssop [0231], and I shall be clean [02891]: wash [03526] me, and I shall be whiter [03835] than snow [07950].
	King James	Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
A series of prayers for forgiveness and purifying. Purge . . . hyssop--The use of this plant in the ritual (Exo 12:22; Num 19:6, Num 19:18) suggests the idea of atonement as prominent here; "purge" refers to vicarious satisfaction (Num 19:17-20).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

A series of prayers for forgiveness and purifying.

Purge . . . hyssop--The use of this plant in the ritual (Exo 12:22; Num 19:6, Num 19:18) suggests the idea of atonement as prominent here; "purge" refers to vicarious satisfaction (Num 19:17-20).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean - On the word hyssop, see the notes at Joh 19:29; notes at Heb 9:19. The plant or herb was much used by the Hebrews in their sacred purifications and sprinklings: Exo 12:22; Lev 14:4, Lev 14:6,Lev 14:49, Lev 14:51; Kg1 4:33. Under this name the Hebrews seem to have comprised not only the common "hyssop" of the shops, but also other aromatic plants, as mint, wild marjoram, etc. - Gesenius, "Lexicon" The idea of the psalmist here evidently is not that the mere sprinkling with hyssop would make him clean; but he prays for that cleansing of which the sprinkling with hyssop was an emblem, or which was designed to be represented by that. The whole structure of the psalm implies that he was seeking an "internal" change, and that he did not depend on any mere outward ordinance or rite. The word rendered "purge" is from the word חטא châṭâ' - which means "to sin." In the Piel form it means to bear the blame (or "loss") for anything; and then to "atone for, to make atonement, to expiate:" Gen 31:39; Lev 6:26; Num 19:19. Here it conveys the notion of cleansing from sin "by" a sacred rite, or by that which was signified by a sacred rite. The idea was that the sin was to be removed or taken away, so that he might be free from it, or that "that" might be accomplished which was represented by the sprinkling with hyssop, and that the soul might be made pure. Luther has rendered it with great force - Entsundige mich mit Ysop - "Unsin me with hyssop." Wash me - That is, cleanse me. Sin is represented as "defiling," and the idea of "washing" it away is often employed in the Scriptures. See the notes at Isa 1:16. And I shall be whiter than snow - See the notes at Isa 1:18. The prayer is, that he might be made "entirely" clean; that there might be no remaining pollution in his soul.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Hyssop Hyssop was the little shrub (Kg1 4:33) with which the blood and water of purification were applied. (Lev 14:1-7); (Num 19:1-19). Cleansing in Scripture is twofold: (1) Of a sinner from the guilt of sin; the blood ("hyssop") aspect; (2) of a saint from the defilement of sin -- the water ("wash me") aspect; (3) Under grace the sinner is purged by blood when he believes (Mat 26:28); (Heb 1:3); (Heb 9:12); (Heb 10:14). Both aspects of cleansing, by blood and by water, are brought out in; (Joh 13:10); (Eph 5:25); (Eph 5:26). "He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet"; "Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it redemption by "blood, "hyssop," the "bath"] that He might sanctify and cleanse "it with the washing by the word": answering to the "wash me" of verse 7 (Psa 51:7).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The possession of all possessions, however, most needed by him, the foundation of all other possessions, is the assurance of the forgiveness of his sins. The second futures in Psa 51:9 are consequents of the first, which are used as optatives. Psa 51:9 recalls to mind the sprinkling of the leper, and of one unclean by reason of his contact with a dead body, by means of the bunch of hyssop (Lev. 14, Num. 19), the βοτάνη καθαρτική (Bhr, Symbol. ii. 503); and Psa 51:9 recalls the washings which, according to priestly directions, the unclean person in all cases of uncleanness had to undergo. Purification and washing which the Law enjoins, are regarded in connection with the idea implied in them, and with a setting aside of their symbolic and carnal outward side, inasmuch as the performance of both acts, which in other cases takes place through priestly mediation, is here supplicated directly from God Himself. Manifestly בּאזוב (not כבאזוב) is intended to be understood in a spiritual sense. It is a spiritual medium of purification without the medium itself being stated. The New Testament believer confesses, with Petrarch in the second of his seven penitential Psalms: omnes sordes meas una gutta, vel tenuis, sacri sanguinis absterget. But there is here no mention made of atonement by blood; for the antitype of the atoning blood was still hidden from David. The operation of justifying grace on a man stained by the blood-red guilt of sin could not, however, be more forcibly denoted than by the expression that it makes him whiter than snow (cf. the dependent passage Isa 1:18). And history scarcely records a grander instance of the change of blood-red sin into dazzling whiteness than this, that out of the subsequent marriage of David and Bathsheba sprang Solomon, the most richly blessed of all kings. At the present time David's very bones are still shaken, and as it were crushed, with the sense of sin. דּכּית is an attributive clause like יפעל in Psa 7:16. Into what rejoicing will this smitten condition be changed, when he only realizes within his soul the comforting and joyous assuring utterance of the God who is once more gracious to him! For this he yearns, viz., that God would hide His face from the sin which He is now visiting upon him, so that it may as it were be no longer present to Him; that He would blot out all his iniquities, so that they may no longer testify against him. Here the first part of the Psalm closes; the close recurs to the language of the opening (Psa 51:3).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The possession of all possessions, however, most needed by him, the foundation of all other possessions, is the assurance of the forgiveness of his sins. The second futures in Psa 51:9 are consequents of the first, which are used as optatives. Psa 51:9 recalls to mind the sprinkling of the leper, and of one unclean by reason of his contact with a dead body, by means of the bunch of hyssop (Lev. 14, Num. 19), the βοτάνη καθαρτική (Bhr, Symbol. ii. 503); and Psa 51:9 recalls the washings which, according to priestly directions, the unclean person in all cases of uncleanness had to undergo. Purification and washing which the Law enjoins, are regarded in connection with the idea implied in them, and with a setting aside of their symbolic and carnal outward side, inasmuch as the performance of both acts, which in other cases takes place through priestly mediation, is here supplicated directly from God Himself. Manifestly בּאזוב (not כבאזוב) is intended to be understood in a spiritual sense. It is a spiritual medium of purification without the medium itself being stated. The New Testament believer confesses, with Petrarch in the second of his seven penitential Psalms: omnes sordes meas una gutta, vel tenuis, sacri sanguinis absterget. But there is here no mention made of atonement by blood; for the antitype of the atoning blood was still hidden from David. The operation of justifying grace on a man stained by the blood-red guilt of sin could not, however, be more forcibly denoted than by the expression that it makes him whiter than snow (cf. the dependent passage Isa 1:18). And history scarcely records a grander instance of the change of blood-red sin into dazzling whiteness than this, that out of the subsequent marriage of David and Bathsheba sprang Solomon, the most richly blessed of all kings. At the present time David's very bones are still shaken, and as it were crushed, with the sense of sin. דּכּית is an attributive clause like יפעל in Psa 7:16. Into what rejoicing will this smitten condition be changed, when he only realizes within his soul the comforting and joyous assuring utterance of the God who is once more gracious to him! For this he yearns, viz., that God would hide His face from the sin which He is now visiting upon him, so that it may as it were be no longer present to Him; that He would blot out all his iniquities, so that they may no longer testify against him. Here the first part of the Psalm closes; the close recurs to the language of the opening (Psa 51:3).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Hyssop - As lepers, are by thy appointment purified by the use of hyssop and other things, so do thou cleanse me a leprous and polluted creature, by thy grace, and by that blood of Christ, which is signified by those ceremonial usages.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Purge me with hyssop - תחטאני techatteeni, "thou shalt make a sin-offering for me;" probably alluding to the cleansing of the leper: Lev 14:1, etc. The priest took two clean birds, cedar-wood, scarlet, and hyssop; one of the birds was killed; and the living bird, with the scarlet, cedar, and hyssop, dipped in the blood of the bird that had been killed, and then sprinkled over the person who had been infected. But it is worthy of remark that this ceremony was not performed till the plague of the leprosy had been healed in the leper; (Lev 14:3); and the ceremony above mentioned was for the purpose of declaring to the people that the man was healed, that he might be restored to his place in society, having been healed of a disease that the finger of God alone could remove. This David seems to have full in view; hence he requests the Lord to make the sin-offering for him, and to show to the people that he had accepted him, and cleansed him from his sin.

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¹⁷ And for an unclean [02931] person they shall take [03947] of the ashes [06083] of the burnt heifer [08316] of purification for sin [02403], and running [02416] water [04325] shall be put [05414] thereto in a vessel [03627]:
¹⁸ And a clean [02889] person [0376] shall take [03947] hyssop [0231], and dip [02881] it in the water [04325], and sprinkle [05137] it upon the tent [0168], and upon all the vessels [03627], and upon the persons [05315] that were there, and upon him that touched [05060] a bone [06106], or one slain [02491], or one dead [04191], or a grave [06913]:
¹⁹ And the clean [02889] person shall sprinkle [05137] upon the unclean [02931] on the third [07992] day [03117], and on the seventh [07637] day [03117]: and on the seventh [07637] day [03117] he shall purify [02398] himself, and wash [03526] his clothes [0899], and bathe [07364] himself in water [04325], and shall be clean [02891] at even [06153].
²⁰ But the man [0376] that shall be unclean [02930], and shall not purify [02398] himself, that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from among [08432] the congregation [06951], because he hath defiled [02930] the sanctuary [04720] of the LORD [03068]: the water [04325] of separation [05079] hath not been sprinkled [02236] upon him; he is unclean [02931].

¹⁸ And a clean [02889] person [0376] shall take [03947] hyssop [0231], and dip [02881] it in the water [04325], and sprinkle [05137] it upon the tent [0168], and upon all the vessels [03627], and upon the persons [05315] that were there, and upon him that touched [05060] a bone [06106], or one slain [02491], or one dead [04191], or a grave [06913]:

⁶ And the priest [03548] shall take [03947] cedar [0730] wood [06086], and hyssop [0231], and scarlet [08438] [08144], and cast [07993] it into the midst [08432] of the burning [08316] of the heifer [06510].

²² And ye shall take [03947] a bunch [092] of hyssop [0231], and dip [02881] it in the blood [01818] that is in the bason [05592], and strike [05060] the lintel [04947] and the two [08147] side posts [04201] with the blood [01818] that is in the bason [05592]; and none [0376] of you shall go out [03318] at the door [06607] of his house [01004] until the morning [01242].

¹⁸ Come now [03212], and let us reason together [03198], saith [0559] the LORD [03068]: though your sins [02399] be as scarlet [08144], they shall be as white [03835] as snow [07950]; though they be red [0119] like crimson [08438], they shall be as wool [06785].

¹⁶ Wash [07364] you, make you clean [02135]; put away [05493] the evil [07455] of your doings [04611] from before [05048] mine eyes [05869]; cease [02308] to do evil [07489];

¹⁹ And the clean [02889] person shall sprinkle [05137] upon the unclean [02931] on the third [07992] day [03117], and on the seventh [07637] day [03117]: and on the seventh [07637] day [03117] he shall purify [02398] himself, and wash [03526] his clothes [0899], and bathe [07364] himself in water [04325], and shall be clean [02891] at even [06153].

²⁶ The priest [03548] that offereth it for sin [02398] shall eat [0398] it: in the holy [06918] place [04725] shall it be eaten [0398], in the court [02691] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

³⁹ That which was torn [02966] of beasts I brought [0935] not unto thee; I bare the loss [02398] of it; of my hand [03027] didst thou require [01245] it, whether stolen [01589] by day [03117], or stolen [01589] by night [03915].

³³ And he spake [01696] of trees [06086], from the cedar tree [0730] that is in Lebanon [03844] even unto the hyssop [0231] that springeth out [03318] of the wall [07023]: he spake [01696] also of beasts [0929], and of fowl [05775], and of creeping things [07431], and of fishes [01709].

⁵¹ And he shall take [03947] the cedar [0730] wood [06086], and the hyssop [0231], and the scarlet [08144] [08438], and the living [02416] bird [06833], and dip [02881] them in the blood [01818] of the slain [07819] bird [06833], and in the running [02416] water [04325], and sprinkle [05137] the house [01004] seven [07651] times [06471]:

⁴⁹ And he shall take [03947] to cleanse [02398] the house [01004] two [08147] birds [06833], and cedar [0730] wood [06086], and scarlet [08144] [08438], and hyssop [0231]:

⁶ As for the living [02416] bird [06833], he shall take [03947] it, and the cedar [0730] wood [06086], and the scarlet [08144] [08438], and the hyssop [0231], and shall dip [02881] them and the living [02416] bird [06833] in the blood [01818] of the bird [06833] that was killed [07819] over the running [02416] water [04325]:

⁴ Then shall the priest [03548] command [06680] to take [03947] for him that is to be cleansed [02891] two [08147] birds [06833] alive [02416] and clean [02889], and cedar [0730] wood [06086], and scarlet [08144] [08438], and hyssop [0231]:

¹⁹ For [1063] when [5259] Moses [3475] had spoken [2980] every [3956] precept [1785] to all [3956] the people [2992] according [2596] to the law [3551], he took [2983] the blood [129] of calves [3448] and [2532] of goats [5131], with [3326] water [5204], and [2532] scarlet [2847] wool [2053], and [2532] hyssop [5301], and sprinkled [4472] both [5037] the book [975] [846], and [2532] all [3956] the people [2992],

²⁹ Now [3767] there was set [2749] a vessel [4632] full [3324] of vinegar [3690]: and [1161] they filled [4130] a spunge [4699] with vinegar [3690], and [2532] put it upon [4060] hyssop [5301], and put [4374] it to his [846] mouth [4750].

⁷ Purge [02398] me with hyssop [0231], and I shall be clean [02891]: wash [03526] me, and I shall be whiter [03835] than snow [07950].

²⁶ That [2443] he [846] might sanctify [37] and cleanse it [2511] with the washing [3067] of water [5204] by [1722] the word [4487],

²⁵ Husbands [435], love [25] your [1438] wives [1135], even as [2531] Christ [5547] also [2532] loved [25] the church [1577], and [2532] gave [3860] himself [1438] for [5228] it [846];

¹⁰ Jesus [2424] saith [3004] to him [846], He that is washed [3068] needeth [5532] not [3756] [2192] save [2228] to wash [3538] his feet [4228], but [235] is [2076] clean [2513] every whit [3650]: and [2532] ye [5210] are [2075] clean [2513], but [235] not [3780] all [3956].

¹⁴ For [1063] by one [3391] offering [4376] he hath perfected [5048] for [1519] ever [1336] them that are sanctified [37].

¹² Neither [3761] by [1223] the blood [129] of goats [5131] and [2532] calves [3448], but [1161] by [1223] his own [2398] blood [129] he entered in [1525] once [2178] into [1519] the holy place [39], having obtained [2147] eternal [166] redemption [3085] for us.

³ Who [3739] being [5607] the brightness [541] of his glory [1391], and [2532] the express image [5481] of his [846] person [5287], and [5037] upholding [5342] all things [3956] by the word [4487] of his [846] power [1411], when he had [4160] [2512] by [1223] himself [1438] purged [4160] [2512] our [2257] sins [266], sat down [2523] on [1722] the right hand [1188] of the Majesty [3172] on [1722] high [5308];

²⁸ For [1063] this [5124] is [2076] my [3450] blood [129] of the new [2537] testament [1242], which [3588] is shed [1632] for [4012] many [4183] for [1519] the remission [859] of sins [266].

¹ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872] and unto Aaron [0175], saying [0559],
² This is the ordinance [02708] of the law [08451] which the LORD [03068] hath commanded [06680], saying [0559], Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], that they bring [03947] thee a red [0122] heifer [06510] without spot [08549], wherein is no blemish [03971], and upon which never [03808] came [05927] yoke [05923]:
³ And ye shall give [05414] her unto Eleazar [0499] the priest [03548], that he may bring her forth [03318] without [02351] the camp [04264], and one shall slay [07819] her before [06440] his face:
⁴ And Eleazar [0499] the priest [03548] shall take [03947] of her blood [01818] with his finger [0676], and sprinkle [05137] of her blood [01818] directly [05227] before [06440] the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150] seven [07651] times [06471]:
⁵ And one shall burn [08313] the heifer [06510] in his sight [05869]; her skin [05785], and her flesh [01320], and her blood [01818], with her dung [06569], shall he burn [08313]:
⁶ And the priest [03548] shall take [03947] cedar [0730] wood [06086], and hyssop [0231], and scarlet [08438] [08144], and cast [07993] it into the midst [08432] of the burning [08316] of the heifer [06510].
⁷ Then the priest [03548] shall wash [03526] his clothes [0899], and he shall bathe [07364] his flesh [01320] in water [04325], and afterward [0310] he shall come [0935] into the camp [04264], and the priest [03548] shall be unclean [02930] until the even [06153].
⁸ And he that burneth [08313] her shall wash [03526] his clothes [0899] in water [04325], and bathe [07364] his flesh [01320] in water [04325], and shall be unclean [02930] until the even [06153].
⁹ And a man [0376] that is clean [02889] shall gather [0622] up the ashes [0665] of the heifer [06510], and lay them up [03240] without [02351] the camp [04264] in a clean [02889] place [04725], and it shall be kept [04931] for the congregation [05712] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] for a water [04325] of separation [05079]: it is a purification for sin [02403].
¹⁰ And he that gathereth [0622] the ashes [0665] of the heifer [06510] shall wash [03526] his clothes [0899], and be unclean [02930] until the even [06153]: and it shall be unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and unto the stranger [01616] that sojourneth [01481] among [08432] them, for a statute [02708] for ever [05769].
¹¹ He that toucheth [05060] the dead [04191] body [05315] of any man [0120] shall be unclean [02930] seven [07651] days [03117].
¹² He shall purify [02398] himself with it on the third [07992] day [03117], and on the seventh [07637] day [03117] he shall be clean [02891]: but if he purify [02398] not himself the third [07992] day [03117], then the seventh [07637] day [03117] he shall not be clean [02891].
¹³ Whosoever toucheth [05060] the dead [04191] body [05315] of any man [0120] that is dead [04191], and purifieth [02398] not himself, defileth [02930] the tabernacle [04908] of the LORD [03068]; and that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from Israel [03478]: because the water [04325] of separation [05079] was not sprinkled [02236] upon him, he shall be unclean [02931]; his uncleanness [02932] is yet upon him.
¹⁴ This is the law [08451], when a man [0120] dieth [04191] in a tent [0168]: all that come [0935] into the tent [0168], and all that is in the tent [0168], shall be unclean [02930] seven [07651] days [03117].
¹⁵ And every open [06605] vessel [03627], which hath no covering [06781] bound [06616] upon it, is unclean [02931].
¹⁶ And whosoever toucheth [05060] one that is slain [02491] with a sword [02719] in the open [06440] fields [07704], or a dead body [04191], or a bone [06106] of a man [0120], or a grave [06913], shall be unclean [02930] seven [07651] days [03117].
¹⁷ And for an unclean [02931] person they shall take [03947] of the ashes [06083] of the burnt heifer [08316] of purification for sin [02403], and running [02416] water [04325] shall be put [05414] thereto in a vessel [03627]:
¹⁸ And a clean [02889] person [0376] shall take [03947] hyssop [0231], and dip [02881] it in the water [04325], and sprinkle [05137] it upon the tent [0168], and upon all the vessels [03627], and upon the persons [05315] that were there, and upon him that touched [05060] a bone [06106], or one slain [02491], or one dead [04191], or a grave [06913]:
¹⁹ And the clean [02889] person shall sprinkle [05137] upon the unclean [02931] on the third [07992] day [03117], and on the seventh [07637] day [03117]: and on the seventh [07637] day [03117] he shall purify [02398] himself, and wash [03526] his clothes [0899], and bathe [07364] himself in water [04325], and shall be clean [02891] at even [06153].

¹ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
² This shall be the law [08451] of the leper [06879] in the day [03117] of his cleansing [02893]: He shall be brought [0935] unto the priest [03548]:
³ And the priest [03548] shall go forth [03318] out [02351] of the camp [04264]; and the priest [03548] shall look [07200], and, behold, if the plague [05061] of leprosy [06883] be healed [07495] in the leper [06879];
⁴ Then shall the priest [03548] command [06680] to take [03947] for him that is to be cleansed [02891] two [08147] birds [06833] alive [02416] and clean [02889], and cedar [0730] wood [06086], and scarlet [08144] [08438], and hyssop [0231]:
⁵ And the priest [03548] shall command [06680] that one [0259] of the birds [06833] be killed [07819] in an earthen [02789] vessel [03627] over running [02416] water [04325]:
⁶ As for the living [02416] bird [06833], he shall take [03947] it, and the cedar [0730] wood [06086], and the scarlet [08144] [08438], and the hyssop [0231], and shall dip [02881] them and the living [02416] bird [06833] in the blood [01818] of the bird [06833] that was killed [07819] over the running [02416] water [04325]:
⁷ And he shall sprinkle [05137] upon him that is to be cleansed [02891] from the leprosy [06883] seven [07651] times [06471], and shall pronounce him clean [02891], and shall let the living [02416] bird [06833] loose [07971] into the open [06440] field [07704].

³ For I acknowledge [03045] my transgressions [06588]: and my sin [02403] is ever [08548] before me.

¹⁶ His mischief [05999] shall return [07725] upon his own head [07218], and his violent [02555] dealing shall come down [03381] upon his own pate [06936].

⁹ Hide [05641] thy face [06440] from my sins [02399], and blot out [04229] all mine iniquities [05771].

³ And the priest [03548] shall go forth [03318] out [02351] of the camp [04264]; and the priest [03548] shall look [07200], and, behold, if the plague [05061] of leprosy [06883] be healed [07495] in the leper [06879];

¹ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],