All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The original language suggests that "unprofitable" here carries a stronger sense of being spoiled or rotten, like fruit gone bad. This means humanity isn't just passively useless; we're actively corrupted and unfit for God's purposes.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is building a case against humanity, systematically showing how both Jews and Gentiles are under the power of sin. He's just argued that having God's law or covenants doesn't automatically make one righteous. Now, he pulls out Old Testament Scripture to prove that everyone universally falls short, describing a deep-seated corruption that makes genuine goodness impossible apart from God.
The Bible doesn't pull punches when describing the human condition. It paints a stark picture of our departure from God's intended path.
The verse begins with a powerful statement: 'All have turned aside.' This isn't a minor detour; it signifies a deliberate and universal deviation from righteousness. The original language emphasizes a turning away from the correct path, a conscious (though perhaps unacknowledged) rejection of God's ways. This departure isn't limited to a few; the word 'all' leaves no room for exceptions. It means every single person, regardless of background or belief, has strayed from the divine standard.
What happens when everyone turns aside? The Bible uses strong imagery to describe the consequence: becoming 'unprofitable' and 'worthless.'
The phrase 'together they have become worthless' points to a state of moral corruption and utter uselessness for true good. Some ancient interpretations describe this 'worthlessness' as becoming 'putrid' or 'spoiled,' like fruit that has gone bad. It means humanity, in its fallen state, is no longer fit for its intended purpose of glorifying God. We can no longer produce genuine good works that meet God's perfect standard. We are, in essence, morally bankrupt, incapable of redeeming ourselves or achieving righteousness on our own.
The verse concludes with an absolute statement about goodness. It's not just rare; it's non-existent in any one individual.
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The final declaration, 'no one does good, not even one,' is profound. It's a universal negation of human goodness when measured against God's perfect righteousness. This isn't to say people never do acts that appear kind or helpful on a human level. However, in the context of divine judgment, 'doing good' means perfectly aligning with God's will in motive, action, and outcome. The Apostle is drawing from Old Testament texts that emphasize this absolute lack of inherent righteousness in fallen humanity. This points to our desperate need for God's intervention and grace, as we are utterly incapable of achieving righteousness on our own.
Understand the original words
exeklinan · Greek Verb
A state of moral depravity and spiritual apostasy, characterized by a deviation from God’s revealed path and commandments. It denotes a deliberate departure from the way of life and truth.
ēchreōthēsan · Greek Verb
That which is useless, unprofitable, or corrupt. It describes humanity as having lost its intended purpose and value in the sight of God due to the corruption of sin.
agathōsynēn · Greek Noun
Moral uprightness or virtuous action that conforms to God’s holy standards. In the context of total depravity, it signifies that no human action possesses the purity required to satisfy a holy God.
Paul's declaration that 'all have turned aside' draws on ancient prophetic judgments against Israel and the nations, framing human sin not just as isolated acts, but as a deep-seated corruption that historically led to exile and divine judgment, a reality he sees in both Jews and Gentiles.
c. 1000 BC - 500 BC
Composition of Old Testament Psalms and Isaiah
These passages, quoted by Paul in Romans 3, were written and compiled over centuries, reflecting the ongoing struggles and pronouncements concerning Israel's relationship with God.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel served as a stark warning of the consequences of disobedience and turning away from God.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Judeans to Babylon demonstrated the severe judgment that comes from widespread sin and rejection of God's law.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
The return of some Judeans from exile allowed for the rebuilding of the Temple and the re-establishment of community life, but the underlying human tendency to stray remained.
c. 30 BC - AD 1
Roman Domination of Judea
The political reality of Roman occupation intensified the sense of a people yearning for liberation and a righteous king, while also highlighting the corruption present within their own leadership and society.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, powerfully underscore the problem of human sin and God's solution, which Paul is articulating.
c. AD 57-59— this verse
Paul's Writing of Romans in Corinth or Cenchreae
Paul penned his letter to the Roman believers during a period when he was deeply engaged in ministry and theological reflection, solidifying his understanding of the Gospel's implications for all people.
This Old Testament passage is directly quoted by Paul in Romans 3:10-12, establishing the pervasive nature of human sinfulness and the absence of righteousness in all people, both Jew and Gentile.
Jeremiah 17:9This verse describes the deceitfulness and corruption of the human heart, a concept that powerfully underscores Paul's point in Romans 3:12 about the inherent unprofitableness and depravity of mankind.
Isaiah 53:6This prophetic passage about the suffering Servant states, 'All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.' This vividly echoes Paul's declaration in Romans 3:12 that all have turned aside.
Ecclesiastes 7:20The preacher wisely observes, 'Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.' This aligns with Paul's declaration in Romans 3:12, emphasizing that no one consistently does good.
barnesRomans 3:12: "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
They have all gone out of the way - They have "declined" from the true path of piety and virtue. They are together - They have at the same time; or they have equally become unprofitable. They are as one; they are joined, or united in this declension. The expression denotes union, or similarity. Become unprofitable - This word in Hebrew means to become "putrid" and…
ellicottRomans 3:12: "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
(12) They are together become unprofitable. —Here the adjective is used to express a state of moral corruption and depravity. “Together” means “altogether;” “the whole mass of mankind, with one consent, has fallen to ruin.”
The original language suggests that "unprofitable" here carries a stronger sense of being spoiled or rotten, like fruit gone bad. This means humanity isn't just passively useless; we're actively corrupted and unfit for God's purposes.
Paul is building a case against humanity, systematically showing how both Jews and Gentiles are under the power of sin. He's just argued that having God's law or covenants doesn't automatically make one righteous. Now, he pulls out Old Testament Scripture to prove that everyone universally falls short, describing a deep-seated corruption that makes genuine goodness impossible apart from God.
Paul is building a case against humanity, systematically showing how both Jews and Gentiles are under the power of sin. He's just argued that having God's law or covenants doesn't automatically make one righteous. Now, he pulls out Old Testament Scripture to prove that everyone universally falls short, describing a deep-seated corruption that makes genuine goodness impossible apart from God.
"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”" — The original language suggests that "unprofitable" here carries a stronger sense of being spoiled or rotten, like fruit gone bad. This means humanity isn't just passively useless; we're actively corr…
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Last reviewed October 2026