---
title: "Psalm 51:5"
description: "David identifies himself — the same moral self who is now repenting — as present and possessing a (sinful) human nature from conception. A moral nature belongs to a person; David locates his personal existence at conception, not birth or viability."
type: "scripture"
book: "Psalms"
chapter: 51
verses: "5"
translation: "NASB"
refutes: "Pro-choice framing"
affirms_abolition: false
themes:
  - "personhood at conception"
  - "human nature"
  - "moral identity"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/scripture/psalm-51-5.html"
---

# Psalm 51:5

Book of Psalms · Chapter 51

## The text

> Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
> — Psalm 51:5, NASB

**The claim this verse counters:** "The individual does not exist at conception."

## The argument

David identifies himself — the same moral self who is now repenting — as present and possessing a (sinful) human nature from conception. A moral nature belongs to a person; David locates his personal existence at conception, not birth or viability.

## Context & notes

Supplement. Used to argue personhood from the moment of conception: the 'me' who sins is the 'me' conceived. Theologically about original sin, but the anthropological premise — personal continuity from conception — is the abolitionist point.

## Themes

- personhood at conception
- human nature
- moral identity

## Discussion questions

1. David says 'in sin my mother conceived me.' Can a non-person have a moral nature?
2. Where does David locate the beginning of his own existence?

## Related

**Related scriptures:**

- [Psalm 139:13-16](psalm-139-13-16.md)
- [Jeremiah 1:5](jeremiah-1-5.md)
- [Luke 1:41-44](luke-1-41-44.md)

**Related arguments:**

- [The science of embryology says a new human being exists from fertilization](../arguments/arg-embryology-conception.md)
- [“The early embryo is merely a clump of cells or a 'potential' human, not an actual human…”](../arguments/def-clump-of-cells.md)
- [“The unborn is not a baby or a person until birth (or until viability); personhood is…”](../arguments/def-not-a-person-until-birth.md)

## Attribution

Verse text is quoted from the NASB. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org