Breakdown of Psalms 19:13

"Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression." — The phrase "presumptuous sins" doesn't just mean sins we commit carelessly; it points to sins committed with a proud or arrogant heart, sins that arise from self-confidence rather than reliance o…

Psalms 19:13 Meaning Explained

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Psalms 19:13

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The phrase "presumptuous sins" doesn't just mean sins we commit carelessly; it points to sins committed with a proud or arrogant heart, sins that arise from self-confidence rather than reliance on God. This prayer is a plea to be kept from these defiant acts, ensuring they don't gain mastery and lead to a "great transgression."

What Psalms 19:13 means

Having just marveled at God's perfect law and recognized the multitude of hidden sins, the psalmist now specifically asks for protection from intentional, willful transgressions. He fears these "presumptuous" sins, driven by pride and rebellion, could take control and lead him away from God's path. If God grants this restraint, the psalmist believes he will remain blameless and "innocent from the great transgression."

The Danger of 'Presumptuous Sins'

Ever felt like you're sliding into a sin you know is wrong, even as you do it? The Psalmist calls these 'presumptuous sins,' and they're more than just mistakes.

More Than Just Mistakes

The Hebrew word for 'presumptuous sins' (often translated as 'proud' or 'arrogant' in other contexts) points to sins committed with a high hand, a deliberate defiance. These aren't accidental stumbles but actions taken with knowledge and often with pride.

Against Knowledge: They are sins committed with eyes wide open, against the clear commands of God and the voice of conscience.
Dominion Seekers: The Psalmist's plea, 'let them not have dominion over me,' reveals a critical truth: these sins don't just happen; they seek to rule us, to enslave us. They aim to take control, turning us into their willing subjects.
The 'Great Transgression': This isn't necessarily one specific sin, but the state of being dominated by sin, potentially leading to hardened rebellion or apostasy.

God's Grace as a 'Bridle'

We know we're prone to wander, but what keeps us from going too far? David points to God's active, restraining grace.

The Necessity of Divine Restraint

David’s prayer isn't just a passive wish; it's a recognition of human weakness and a dependence on God's power. He asks God to act as a 'bridle' or a 'restraint.'

Natural Proneness: The ancient commentators emphasize that apart from God's intervention, our natural inclination is to 'rush upon' sin, especially the more willful kind.
Active Preservation: The request 'Keep back your servant' isn't just about avoiding punishment, but about God actively holding us back from the brink. It's a plea for divine protection against our own desires and the temptations around us.

Understand the original words

Original language

presumptuous sinsזֵדִים

zedim · Hebrew Noun

Deliberate, willful acts of rebellion or defiant sins committed with pride and conscious intent, in contrast to unintentional sins.

dominionמָשַׁל

mashal · Hebrew Verb

The concept of ruling power or control; the state of being mastered or enslaved by an influence or action. The psalmist prays that sin would not gain the upper hand or master his life.

blamelessתָּמִים

tamim · Hebrew Adjective

Characterized by integrity, wholeness, and spiritual completeness before God. It describes one who is sincere and whose life is aligned with God's requirements, not implying absolute sinlessness but total devotion.

great transgressionפֶּשַׁע

pesha · Hebrew Noun

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the United Monarchy (c. 1000-930 BC), though collected over centuries.
Author: Traditionally attributed to David, though scholarly opinion varies on the exact authorship and date of compilation for the Psalms.
Location: Written from the perspective of the Kingdom of Israel, likely during the monarchy.
Genre: Poetry; features parallelism, where lines often echo or expand upon each other, and uses vivid imagery to express deep emotion and theological truth.

Key themes

01Divine restraint from sin
02Sin's dominion over the will
03The danger of pride
04Seeking blamelessness before God

Cross-references

Numbers 15:30

This passage describes the severe consequences for 'presumptuous sins,' which directly parallels the Psalmist's plea in Psalm 19:13 to be kept from such acts, highlighting their gravity.

Romans 6:14

Paul's teaching that believers should not let sin 'reign in their mortal bodies' directly echoes the Psalmist's prayer in Psalm 19:13, 'let them not have dominion over me.'

1 Samuel 25:39

The account of David being restrained from rashly avenging himself against Nabal reflects a practical instance of divine intervention keeping someone from a 'presumptuous' act, mirroring the prayer in Psalm 19:13.

Psalm 119:133

This verse is a near parallel, asking God to 'direct my steps according to your word' and prevent iniquity from 'having dominion over me,' reinforcing the theme of seeking God's control over one's actions found in Psalm 19:13.

Proverbs 1:10

This verse warns against sinners who entice, illustrating the 'presumptuous' path the Psalmist prays to avoid in Psalm 19:13; it shows how such company can lead to dominion by sin.

Scholarly commentary

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."

Keep back, or restrain, or withdraw; which word is emphatical, and signifies man’s natural and great proneness even to the worst of sins, and the necessity of God’s grace, as a bridle, to keep men from rushing upon them. Having begged pardon for his former errors, he now begs grace to keep him from relapses for the…
poole

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."

Verse 13. - Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins (comp. Exodus 21:14; Numbers 15:30; Deuteronomy 17:12). Wilful, intentional, deliberate sins are intended - such as cut off from grace. They are called "presumptuous ones," being "personified as tyrants who strive to bring the servant of God into unbecomi…
pulpit

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