O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

PSALMS 51:15KJV
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Psalms 51:15 (KJV)

What does Psalms 51:15 mean?

Psalms 51:15 is a prayer asking God to enable the speaker to speak again so that he can praise God openly. The verse shows a desire for restored relationship with God, where praise flows naturally from the mouth once God has helped.

King David is speaking to God after being confronted about his sin. David feels unable to praise God as he should because of guilt and spiritual brokenness. He asks God to "open" his lips, showing that he believes only God can restore his ability to worship and speak of God's goodness.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 51:15

  • "Lord" (אֲדֹנָי, 'adonay') is a respectful title for God, emphasizing David’s humility as he approaches God directly.
  • "Open" (פָּתַח, patach) means to physically or figuratively open something that is closed. Here, it suggests David feels spiritually shut down and needs God to unlock his ability to praise.
  • "Lips" (שָׂפָה, saphah) and "mouth" (פֶּה, peh) both point to speech, but using both highlights the totality of David’s desire to praise with all his words.
  • "Shew forth" (נָגַד, nagad) means to declare or announce, not just to mention. David wants to make God’s praise known, not keep it private.
  • "Praise" (תְּהִלָּה, tehillah) refers to vocal, public praise, often in song or proclamation, not just silent gratitude.

Why Psalms 51:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that genuine praise comes from God’s help, not just human effort, especially after failure or guilt.
  • It shows that David’s main concern is not just forgiveness, but being able to honor God openly again.
  • The verse ties into the whole psalm, which is about repentance and restoration, showing that true restoration leads to renewed worship.

Where else these words appear

“praise” Hebrew H8416 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
  • Psalms 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
  • Isaiah 42:10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

“open” Hebrew H6605 · used in 133 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • Nehemiah 1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
  • Isaiah 14:17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?