Psalm 51:5 (WEB)
Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Psalm 51:5 (KJV)
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Key words
- בְּעָווֹן חוֹלָלְתִּיbe'avon cholalti · Hebrew
- 'I was shapen in iniquity' — formed in sin from the start.
- וּבְחֵטְא יֶחֱמַתְנִי אִמִּיuvchet yechematni immi · Hebrew
- 'in sin did my mother conceive me' — the classic text for sin inherited from conception.
Why it matters
David confesses that he was sinful from conception. With Romans 3:23 this is the strongest biblical objection to Mary's sinlessness, and Pitre states it before answering it (p 38): Scripture teaches that all born after the fall are under sin. His reply is that being created without sin does not make one less than human — Adam and Eve before the fall were fully human — and that the New Eve is the exception by grace, not by nature.
Fathers and councils · 18
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VII.50Book VII
“They say, “I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me;” also, “They are estranged from the womb;” which is followed by the singular expression, “They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.”” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
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Jerome
“Hence David says,“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
Read the whole comment“Not he who has lived but one day upon the earth.”And in the fifty-first Psalm, “Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
Read the whole comment“David insists on the same thing when he says: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me;” and in another psalm, “in thy sight shall no man living be justified.”” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
Read the whole comment“Let Him but touch your scars and pass his hands over your eyeballs; and although you may have been born blind from the womb and although your mother may have conceived you in sin, he will purge you with hyssop and you shall be clean, he will wash you and you shall be whiter than snow.” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5, 7.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
“(Ps. 51:5) He then alone was the Lamb, who was not thus conceived; for He was not conceived in wickedness, nor in sin did His mother bear Him in her womb, Whom a virgin conceived, a virgin brought forth, because that in faith she conceived, and in faith received.” — the author cites it
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Ambrose of Milan
“For we men are all born under sin, and our very origin is in evil, as we read in the words of David: “For lo, I was conceived in wickedness, and in sin did my mother bring me forth.”” — editor's note: Ps. li. [l.] 5.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.7Conference XX
“But what you have said as to the remembrance of sins is sufficiently useful and needful to men who are still doing penance, that they may with constant smiting of the breast say: “For I acknowledge my wickedness: and my sin is ever before me;” and this too: “And I will think for my sin.”” — editor's note: Ps. l. (li.) 5; xxxvii. (xxxviii.) 19.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.8Conference XX
“Against Thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before Thee;” as He is wont to heal them without any publication which brings shame, and to forgive sins without any reproaching.” — editor's note: Ps. l. (li.) 5, 6.
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Augustine of Hippo
“But if “I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me,” where, I pray thee, O my God, where, Lord, or when was I, Thy servant, innocent?” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
Read the whole comment““For, behold, in iniquities I was conceived” (ver. 5).” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment““The dead of the world” are those who have died of their own desert, receiving the reward of iniquity, deriving death from the sin transmissed to them; according as it is said, “For I was conceived in iniquity.”…In dying, saith He, I do the will of My Father, but I am not deserving of death.” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
Read the whole comment“They are chaste: but them in sins their mothers nurtured in their wombs.” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5
Read the whole comment“…one propitiation for the offences of men, is to believe on Christ; nor can any one be cleansed at all, whether from original sin which he derived from Adam, in whom all men have sinned, and become by nature children of wrath; or from the sins which they have themselves added, by not resisting the concupiscence of…” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
Read the whole comment“And therefore the new birth would not have been appointed only that the first birth was sinful, so sinful that even one who was legitimately born in wedlock says: “I was shapen in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.”” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5 (The A.V. has the singular, “iniquity” and “sin”).
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
“(Ps. 51:5.)” — the author cites it
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“Know as Isaiah bids thee, thine Owner, like the ox, and like the ass thy Master’s crib; if thou be one of those who are pure and lawful food, and who chew the cud of the word and are fit for sacrifice.” — editor's note: I.e., original sin (Ps. li. 5).
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Cyprian of Carthage
“Also in the fiftieth Psalm: “Behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins hath my mother conceived me.”” — editor's note: Ps. li. 5.
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Cross-references · 33
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.50.
Cited together in Confessions I.7.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.7.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.7.
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.50.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.7.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.7.
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 46.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:29–31 (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:29–31 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:29–31 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Confessions I.7.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.3.
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.50.
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.50.
Cited together in Of Holy Virginity Chapter 37.
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 46.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.55.
Cited together in Gregory the Great on Luke 1:34–35 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.50.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.7.
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.50.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XX.7.
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.50.