Psalms 38:18 · Bible study
Psalms 38:18 Commentary: Declaring Iniquity and True Repentance
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examining how the psalmist’s open confession and genuine sorrow function as true repentance and a plea for deliverance.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The psalmist resolves to confess his sin and experience genuine sorrow for it, as part of repentance and a plea for deliverance.
- Key words: declare (open admission), iniquity (moral fault), sorry (troubled, grieved), sin (rebellion against God).
- Main debate: Whether 'I will be sorry' is a future resolve or a present state, but most see it as a commitment to genuine grief.
- Theological theme: Repentance involves confession and contrition, leading to restoration and hope.
- Best use: Teaching the nature of genuine repentance versus remorse, and the place of confession in prayer.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
WEB World English Bible 2000
For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.
KJV King James Version 1769
For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
For mine iniquity I declare, I am sorry for my sin.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For I will declare mine iniquity, I am grieved for my sin.
Translations in other languages (9 available)
Por tanto denunciaré mi maldad; congojaréme por mi pecado.
Por isso eu te conto minha maldade; estou aflito por causa do meu pecado.
Car je suis près de tomber,
Denn ich zeige meine Missetat an und sorge wegen meiner Sünde.
Want ik ben tot hinken gereed, en mijn smart is steeds voor mij.
Io confesso la mia iniquità, e sono angosciato per il mio peccato.
Bom ja upadku bliski, a boleść moja zawżdy jest przedemną.
我要承認 我的罪孽；我要因我的罪 憂愁。
I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Psalms 38:18 captures the heart of biblical repentance: open acknowledgment of sin coupled with genuine sorrow. Barnes notes that the psalmist will not conceal his sin but admits it is the cause of his suffering. Gill adds that declaring iniquity means confessing to God with a view to pardon. Clarke describes it as confession 'with the deepest humiliation.' The psalmist's sorrow is not mere regret; as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown put it, suffering rightly received leads to confession. This verse functions as both a confession of guilt and a plea for deliverance: by owning his sin, the psalmist appeals to God's mercy. Calvin places this psalm among the Penitential Psalms, emphasizing that such confession is part of the believer's spiritual discipline. The consensus is clear: true repentance involves both declaration and sorrow, not as works but as the proper response to God's discipline.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The psalmist commits to confessing his sin and experiencing genuine sorrow for it, and this confession is part of a wider plea for God's deliverance.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Confession as Necessary | All traditions see open confession of sin as essential to repentance and restoration (cf. 1 John 1:9). | Some emphasize private confession to God alone (Gill), while others include a public dimension where the psalmist will not conceal from anyone (Barnes). |
| Nature of Sorrow | Genuine repentance involves heartfelt sorrow for sin, not just regret over consequences. | Some see this sorrow primarily as a change of behavior toward carefulness (Gill), others as emotional contrition before God (Clarke, Barnes). |
| Role of Suffering | Suffering can be a means God uses to lead a person to repentance. | Whether the suffering in this psalm is specifically disciplinary (Calvin) or a more general human frailty (some modern readings) is debated. |
| Confession as Plea | Confession of sin is part of appealing to God for mercy and deliverance. | There is no major debate; the verse is consistently read as a plea for grace. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalms 38 is one of the seven Penitential Psalms, alongside 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143. The title in many manuscripts reads 'A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.' Calvin suggests David composed this as a memorial of his chastisement, so as not to forget God's discipline. The background is a severe illness. The whole psalm describes physical and mental anguish, friends withdrawing, and enemies plotting. Confession of sin was a public act in ancient Israel, often connected with sacrifice and restoration. The psalmist's declaration 'I will declare my iniquity' follows his statement that he is ready to fall and his sorrow is continual. In the poetic structure, this confession forms the turning point toward petition. The verb 'declare' implies a public admission before God and probably before the community. 'I will be sorry' (or 'I will be troubled') indicates a heartfelt response. This language distinguishes between the remorse that leads to despair and the sorrow that leads to life (2 Corinthians 7:10). The enemies who mock him assume his suffering means divine rejection. But by confessing, the psalmist agrees with God's judgment and opens the way for grace.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalms 38:18. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. Some discussion exists about the verb form of 'I will be sorry' (possible pointing as an imperfect), but this does not affect the meaning.
Reception History
This verse has been central to the church's understanding of repentance. Augustine, according to tradition, had this psalm written on the wall above his sickbed and meditated on it as he neared death. The seven Penitential Psalms, including this one, were used liturgically; Galileo was once assigned to recite them weekly for three years as penance. Early church fathers cited this verse to illustrate the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7). In Protestant tradition, it became a key text for the necessity of confession in true conversion. Many hymnals include a metrical version of this psalm, emphasizing honest acknowledgement of sin before a merciful God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Confession Is Open and Honest, The psalmist declares his iniquity without concealment.
- Sorrow Is Genuine and Godly, He is sorry for his sin, not just its consequences.
- Hope Emerges from Acknowledging the Truth, Confession becomes the foundation for crying out for deliverance.
Five-point outline
- The Reality of Sin, Pain and suffering bring the psalmist to the point of falling (v.17).
- The Choice to Confess, He willfully decides to declare his iniquity (v.18a).
- The Depth of Sorrow, Genuine grief over sin, not mere regret (v.18b).
- The Contrast with Enemies, While he is repentant, his enemies are vigorous and numerous, hating without reason (vv.19-20).
- The Cry for Help, This confession leads to a plea for God not to forsake him (vv.21-22).
Illustration hooks
- A person finally admits a hidden addiction to a trusted friend, expecting rejection but finding support.
- An athlete admits a training mistake that cost a game, taking responsibility rather than blaming others.
- A child breaks a prized possession and confesses before being discovered, not to avoid punishment but because they are truly sorry.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if my sorrow is godly remorse or just regret that I got caught?
- Does confessing to God mean I have to confess to others?
- What if I do not feel sorry enough? Can I still confess honestly?
Leading a Discussion
This verse lays out the two movements of biblical repentance: confessing and being sorry. But how do these actions relate to each other, and what does genuine repentance look like in daily life?
Discussion questions
- What does the psalmist say he will do in verse 18? (observation)
- Look at the two verbs 'declare' and 'be sorry.' What is the difference between them? (interpretation)
- How does the psalmist's confession set him apart from his enemies in verses 19-20? (interpretation)
- Read Psalm 32:5 and Proverbs 28:13. What do these verses add about confession? (cross-reference)
- Why is it important that the psalmist says 'I will' declare? What does that say about intentionality? (interpretation)
- In your own life, what does it mean to 'be sorry for your sin' in a way that leads to change? (application)
- What role does hope play in confession? How does the psalmist move from confession to prayer in verses 21-22? (application)
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 31:33 | if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart, |
| Job 33:27 | He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. |
| Psalms 32:5 | I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. |
| Psalms 51:3 | For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. |
| Proverbs 28:13 | He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. |
| II Corinthians 7:7 | and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. |
| II Corinthians 7:11 | For behold, this same thing, that you were grieved in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vindication! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
I will declare mine iniquity - I will confess it with the deepest humiliation and self-abasement.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that the psalmist openly admits his sin as the cause of his troubles, making no attempt to hide or excuse it. The affliction has achieved its purpose by bringing him to genuine repentance, and now his only concern is that he might not fall completely and let his enemies triumph.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that David wrote this psalm as a personal and public memorial, intended to prevent himself and others from quickly forgetting the chastening hand of God. The title "to bring to remembrance" signals this deliberate purpose, not a musical cue. Human nature easily lets divine discipline slip from memory, so David fixed it in song.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the speaker openly confesses sin as the direct cause of his suffering. The phrase “I will be sorry” carries a stronger sense of being deeply troubled or anxious, not merely regretful, reflecting a genuine distress before God.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
When I declare my paine, and am sory for my sinne,
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes the Hebrew word behind "be sorry" means "be careful"—true repentance produces a watchful concern to avoid sin in the future. He reads the resolve to confess iniquity as directed primarily toward God, since only God can pardon.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that awareness of sin sharpens the pain of suffering. When suffering is accepted in the right spirit, it naturally leads to confession rather than bitterness or denial.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasize that true repentance despairs of self but never of God. David renounces all self-help and waits on the Lord alone, yet his closing cry "my salvation" shows his faith remains alive. This is what separates David's repentance from Cain's: faith within the confession itself.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists that Psalm 38 is the genuine lament of a real, historical individual, not a personification of Israel. The psalmist is truly and physically sick, and he perceives his suffering as a divine punishment for sin that drives him to confession. His enemies are opportunists who exploit his weakness, not the cause of it, leaving him silent before them and trusting only in God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that David's enemies took advantage of his physical weakness and mental distress, using his low point as their opportunity to attack. They were not merely insulting him but actively plotting against his life, showing the cruel and calculating nature of the serpent's seed against the righteous.