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Psalm 32 · a question people ask

Is Psalm 32 about David's sin with Bathsheba?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. Its title says only "By David. A contemplative psalm" (32:1), and the psalm names no sin, no person and no occasion. Paul names David as the one who speaks its first words: "David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works" (Romans 4:6). Another psalm's title does name that occasion: "A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba" (Psalm 51:1). Psalm 32's title doesn't. The text of Psalm 32 gives no occasion, and these notes don't supply one.

The verses

“By David. A contemplative psalm. Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
Psalm 32:1 · World English Bible
“Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:”
Romans 4:6 · World English Bible
“For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.”
Psalm 51:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 32

Psalm 32: Whose sin is covered

In Hebrew, covered in "whose sin is covered" (32:1) and hide in "I didn’t hide my iniquity" (32:5) are one verb. The psalm calls blessed the one whose sin is covered, and tells of when the psalmist stopped covering it himself: "you forgave the iniquity of my sin" (32:5).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions