Psalms 51:13

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God after requesting the restoration of salvation’s joy and a willing spirit. This declaration follows a plea for deliverance from bloodguilt and precedes a vow to sing of God’s righteousness.

The words — The Hebrew אֲלַמְּדָה ('ala'medah) means "I will teach," and פֹשְׁעִים (po'she'im) translates to "transgressors." These terms ground the speaker's future commitment to instruct others in God's ways.

The thread — The pattern of restoring wanderers appears in Luke 22:32, where Jesus tells Peter to strengthen his brothers after turning back. James 5:19 records the practical outworking of this mandate by instructing believers to bring back those who wander from the truth.

Why it lands — The text states that personal repentance must produce active instruction for others. Readers are asked to move from receiving spiritual restoration to deliberately guiding sinners back to God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אֲלַמְּדָ֣ה'a.la.me.DahI will teach פֹשְׁעִ֣יםfo.she.'Imtransgressors דְּרָכֶ֑יךָde.ra.Khei./khaways/ your וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗יםve./cha.ta.'Imand/ sinners אֵלֶ֥יךָ'e.Lei./khato/ you יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃ya.Shu.vuthey will return

King James Version

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Cross-references

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
James 5:19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Jeremiah 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
Psalms 19:7 The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.