“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
The psalmist opens with a beatitude pronouncing blessing on those whose transgression is forgiven and whose sins are hidden. The dual mention emphasizes the completeness of God's pardon: not merely that sin is dealt with but that it is put away from divine view. The term "transgression" denotes rebellion, while "sin" refers more broadly to missing God's law. The beatitude structure suggests that this psalm functions as wisdom pronouncement. The opening establishes the central theme: the restoration that comes when sin is acknowledged and forgiven.
Church Fathers on Psalms 32:1
To David himself; for understanding. 1. To David himself; for understanding; by which it is understood that not by the merits of works, but by the grace of God, man is delivered, confessing his sins. 2. “Blessed are they whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sins are covered” Psalm 31:1: and whose sins are buried in oblivion. “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin, nor is there guile in his mouth” Psalm 31:2: nor has he in his mouth boastings of…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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