Psalms 58:3-5
The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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{ "themes": [ "Innate human corruption", "Early inclination to sin", "Destructive nature of deceit" ] }
The psalmist is addressing unjust judges and, seeing their hardened corruption, shifts to a broader description of the inherently wicked. He asserts that their deep-seated depravity isn't a recent development but a fundamental condition, present from birth and evident in their lies. This reveals the deep roots of their injustice, suggesting they are beyond simple correction.
Ever wonder why some people seem predisposed to do wrong, even from a young age? This verse points to a profound spiritual alienation that begins much earlier than we might think.
A Nature Inclined to Stray
The psalmist declares, 'The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.' This isn't just about bad habits; it speaks to a fundamental condition of humanity. The word 'estranged' suggests a deep alienation, a being out of sync with God and His ways. This separation isn't something acquired later in life; the psalm suggests it's present from the very beginning, from conception and birth.
Why does lying come so easily? This verse links a deep-seated corruption to a specific, destructive behavior: speaking lies.
Lies: A Mark of Alienation
The psalm doesn't just state that the wicked 'go astray'; it specifies a primary way this 'going astray' manifests: 'speaking lies.' This isn't accidental; it's presented as a core characteristic of those estranged from God.
Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who act in opposition to God's law and moral order. They are characterized by a settled rejection of God's authority and a life marked by sinful deeds.
zur · Hebrew Verb (participle)
To be alienated, removed, or separated from a standard, a relationship, or an intended state. Biblically, it describes a fundamental distance between man and God.
ta'ah · Hebrew Verb
To wander away from a path, moral standard, or truth. It implies a deviation from the way God has commanded one to walk.
chemah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to venomous or poisonous substances. Metaphorically, it represents the destructive and deadly nature of evil speech or malicious behavior.
This verse directly states that the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, a profound echo of the deep-seated corruption described in Psalms 58:3, highlighting the innate tendency toward sin.
Romans 3:23Paul explains that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, reinforcing the idea presented in Psalms 58:3 that this fallen state is a universal condition, not an exception.
Ephesians 4:18This passage describes those alienated from the life of God due to ignorance and hardness of heart, a spiritual 'estrangement' that aligns with the Psalmist's description of the wicked being cut off from divine truth from birth.
Genesis 8:21God Himself declares that the inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood, providing a foundational understanding for why the wicked are described as going astray from birth, as seen in Psalms 58:3.
gillPsalms 58:3: "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."
The wicked are estranged from the womb,.... Which original corruption of nature accounts for all the wickedness done by men: they are conceived in sin, shapen in iniquity, and are transgressors from the womb; they are alienated from God, and from that godly life which is agreeable to him, and he requires; and from the knowledge and fear of him, and love to him; and they desire not the k…
poolePsalms 58:3: "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."
Estranged, to wit, from God, Ephesians 4:18 , and from all goodness. From the womb; either, 1. Hyperbolically; even from their tender years. Or, 2. Strictly and properly. So the sense is, No wonder they act so unrighteously, for their very natures and principles are corrupt, even from their birth; they are the wicked offspring of sinful parents. And this hereditary and native corruption…
{ "themes": [ "Innate human corruption", "Early inclination to sin", "Destructive nature of deceit" ] }
The psalmist is addressing unjust judges and, seeing their hardened corruption, shifts to a broader description of the inherently wicked. He asserts that their deep-seated depravity isn't a recent development but a fundamental condition, present from birth and evident in their lies. This reveals the deep roots of their injustice, suggesting they are beyond simple correction.
The psalmist is addressing unjust judges and, seeing their hardened corruption, shifts to a broader description of the inherently wicked. He asserts that their deep-seated depravity isn't a recent development but a fundamental condition, present from birth and evident in their lies. This reveals the deep roots of their injustice, suggesting they are beyond simple correction.
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nachash · Hebrew Noun
An animal representing danger, craftiness, and, in a broader biblical sense, often associated with temptation, deception, and the adversary.
chabar · Hebrew Noun/Participle
Refers to someone who uses incantations, magical arts, or persuasive speech to manipulate or control. In a negative light, it suggests deceitful and manipulative persuasion.
"The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, so that it does not hear the voice of charmers o…" — { "themes": [ "Innate human corruption", "Early inclination to sin", "Destructive nature of deceit" ] }
