Sin, Iniquity, and Transgression: A Case for Using Psalm 51 as Prayer

Abstract

In this paper, I argue that Psalm 51 is a paradigmatic penitential prayer that is uniquely fitting for prayers of repentance and spiritual reflection, especially in the context of the recent sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. I begin by giving a treatment of the tripartite concept of sin in the Old Testament that is central for the psalm through exploration of the three Hebrew root wordsḥṭ’, ʿwn and pšʿ, which are commonly translated as “sin,” “iniquity” and “transgression.” Following that, I identify five remedies for sin in the psalm and discuss them in light of other books in the Old Testament. I conclude by showing how the psalm is paradigmatic, and I offer a brief theological implication for the Catholic Church in the context of the scandal.