This verse from the Prayer of Manasseh is a powerful expression of deep remorse and overwhelming guilt. Let's break it down:
"For I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea." This is a hyperbolic statement (exaggeration for effect). It doesn't literally mean the speaker committed a specific, quantifiable number of sins equal to the grains of sand in the ocean. Instead, it conveys the immense and innumerable quantity of sins committed. The speaker feels completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of their wrongdoing.
"My transgressions are multiplied, O Lord: my transgressions are multiplied..." The repetition emphasizes the ever-increasing nature of the speaker's sins. They haven't just committed a few errors; their sins have compounded and grown, making their burden heavier. The phrase "O Lord" indicates this is a direct address to God, a plea for recognition of the speaker's sinfulness.
"...and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of my iniquities." This expresses the speaker's profound sense of unworthiness. Because of the "multitude of my iniquities," they feel undeserving of even looking up to heaven, to see God's glory. The speaker's sins have created a barrier between them and God, making them feel separated and ashamed.
In summary, the verse conveys:
Overwhelming guilt: The speaker feels burdened by the sheer number and magnitude of their sins.
Unworthiness: They feel they have forfeited their right to a relationship with God because of their actions.
Humility and repentance: The speaker acknowledges their sinfulness and implicitly expresses a desire for forgiveness.
Separation from God: The speaker believes their sins have created a chasm between them and the divine.
The verse paints a picture of someone who is deeply contrite and recognizes the gravity of their offenses against God. It is a cry from the heart, expressing a profound sense of unworthiness and a desperate need for mercy. This kind of intense remorse is a key element of repentance in many religious traditions.
This verse from the Prayer of Manasseh is a powerful expression of deep remorse and overwhelming guilt. Let's break it down:
"For I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea." This is a hyperbolic statement (exaggeration for effect). It doesn't literally mean the speaker committed a specific, quantifiable number of sins equal to the grains of sand in the ocean. Instead, it conveys the immense and innumerable quantity of sins committed. The speaker feels completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of their wrongdoing.
"My transgressions are multiplied, O Lord: my transgressions are multiplied..." The repetition emphasizes the ever-increasing nature of the speaker's sins. They haven't just committed a few errors; their sins have compounded and grown, making their burden heavier. The phrase "O Lord" indicates this is a direct address to God, a plea for recognition of the speaker's sinfulness.
"...and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of my iniquities." This expresses the speaker's profound sense of unworthiness. Because of the "multitude of my iniquities," they feel undeserving of even looking up to heaven, to see God's glory. The speaker's sins have created a barrier between them and God, making them feel separated and ashamed.
In summary, the verse conveys:
Overwhelming guilt: The speaker feels burdened by the sheer number and magnitude of their sins.
Unworthiness: They feel they have forfeited their right to a relationship with God because of their actions.
Humility and repentance: The speaker acknowledges their sinfulness and implicitly expresses a desire for forgiveness.
Separation from God: The speaker believes their sins have created a chasm between them and the divine.
The verse paints a picture of someone who is deeply contrite and recognizes the gravity of their offenses against God. It is a cry from the heart, expressing a profound sense of unworthiness and a desperate need for mercy. This kind of intense remorse is a key element of repentance in many religious traditions.