הַרְבֵּ֣ה כַּבְּסֵ֣נִי מֵעֲוֹנִ֑י וּֽמֵחַטָּאתִ֥י טַהֲרֵֽנִי׃
Multiply, wash me from my iniquity, and from my sin purify me.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַרְבֵּה | harbeh | “multiply” | Hiphil imperative 2ms |
| 2 | כַּבְּסֵנִי | kabbesenī | “wash me” | Piel imperative 2ms + suff 1cs |
| 3 | מֵעֲוֹנִי | me-ʿavonī | “from my iniquity” | Prep מִן + N(ms) + suff 1cs |
| 4 | וּמֵחַטָּאתִי | u-me-ḥaṭṭāʾtī | “and from my sin” | Conj וְ + Prep מִן + N(fs) + suff 1cs |
| 5 | טַהֲרֵנִי | ṭaharenī | “purify me” | Piel imperative 2ms + suff 1cs |
Morphology
- הַרְבֵּה (harbeh) – Root: רבה (r-b-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Multiply”; Notes: Functions adverbially to intensify the following action, meaning “greatly” or “abundantly.” In Hebrew, an imperative such as “multiply” can function adverbially, modifying the verb that follows. Most translations render the phrase as “Wash me thoroughly.” By preserving the verbal force—“Multiply, wash me”—the command literally asks God to “multiply the washing.” This reflects the speaker’s desperation for repeated, intensive cleansing. By keeping “Multiply” as a distinct verb, the plea retains its Hebrew character, where the quantity of the action is emphasized as much as the action itself.
- כַּבְּסֵנִי (kabbesenī) – Root: כבס (k-b-s); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “Wash me”; Notes: Refers to thorough cleansing, often of garments, metaphorically applied to moral purification. The root כָּבַס specifically denotes washing clothes—by treading or kneading—as distinct from רָחַץ, which refers to washing the body. “Wash” is the standard gloss, but the Piel stem conveys intensity, suggesting scrubbing or beating a garment to remove a deep stain. In the context of “iniquity,” this becomes a powerful metaphor for deep‑seated guilt.
- מֵעֲוֹנִי (me-ʿavonī) – Root: עון (ʿ-w-n); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “from my iniquity”; Notes: Indicates separation from guilt or moral distortion.
- וּמֵחַטָּאתִי (u-me-ḥaṭṭāʾtī) – Root: חטא (ḥ-ṭ-ʾ); Root Type: III-Aleph (weak); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition מִן + noun feminine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “and from my sin”; Notes: Emphasizes the need for removal from both guilt and sinful condition. The distinction of sin terminology is clear: עָוֹן (avon) signifies iniquity or perversity—an internal crookedness—while חַטָּאת (ḥatat) denotes sin as missing the mark or committing an offense. Preserving this distinction is essential for a strictly literal study of the penitential Psalms.
- טַהֲרֵנִי (ṭaharenī) – Root: טהר (ṭ-h-r); Root Type: II-Guttural (ה) (weak); Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “Purify me”; Notes: Refers to ritual and moral purification, often used in cultic contexts. This is also a Piel imperative. While “wash” refers to removing dirt, טָהֵר (taher) conveys ritual or moral purity. The from‑preposition (מֵ) links to both nouns, creating a parallel structure:
From iniquity → wash;
From sin → purify.