Psalm 51:7

As I promised to the guys on Wednesday nights, I wanted to dig a little deeper into the Hebrew words in Psalm 51:7, when we all discussed if there was a difference between David’s ‘purify me’ vs. ‘cleanse me’.

purify is the Hebrew word chata (Strongs #2398); the meaning depending on the usage means the following: to miss, to sin, to forfeit, repent, bear the blame, cleanse, offend, offer for sin, purge, purify(self), make reconciliation.

wash is the Hebrew word kabac (Strongs #3526); primary root –> to trample, to wash (by stamping of the feet); washing.

My Scofield Bible notes say the following about the reference to ‘purify me with hyssop’:

Hyssop is the little shrub with which the blood and water of purification were applied. (Lev 14:1-7; Numbers 19:1-19)

Cleansing in scripture is twofold: (1). of a sinner from the guilt of sin – the blood (hyssop aspect), and (2). of a saint from the defilement of sin – the water (wash aspect). Under grace the sinner is purged by blood when he believes (Mt.26:28; Heb.1:3; 9:12; 10:14). Both aspects of cleansing, by blood and water, are brought out in Jn.13:10; Eph.5:25-26 “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet”; “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her [redemption by blood] that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”: answering to the ‘wash me’ of v.7.

The Life Application Study Bible says:

Hyssop branches were used by the Israelites in Egypt to place the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their homes. This would keep them safe from death (Ex.12:22)  ** from a little event known as Passover**

The MacArthur Study Bible says the following about hyssop:

Old Testament priests used hyssop, a leafy plant, to sprinkle blood or water on a person being ceremonially cleansed from defilements such as leprosy or touching a dead body. (emphasis mine)

This truth struck a chord in me and brought to mind when Paul said in Romans 7:24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death?”  Speaking of his own struggles with his flesh. The imagery hit me that we have a choice to be tied to a rotting body of our flesh (much like the ancient tribal punishment of Tarsus that Paul was alluding to – where a murderer had been joined to a decaying body, and how this punishment would slowly and eventually kill him)… or the living body of our Lord. As Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches.

I also find it really bizarre how closely the Hebrew word wash is specifically related to feet.  It makes me think of Jesus asking to wash Peter’s feet, and the whole teaching from that part of the gospel hinges on how we are already cleansed (eternally saved/sanctified), but we need to come to Christ on a regular basis for Him to cleanse us from the daily dirt of this world (the temporal), thru confession alone. (1Jn.1:9)

We have a choice, let’s draw close to Jesus, and not cater to the dead body of flesh that we are dragging around with us.

No art today, selah.