Psalms 14:3

They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one.

They are all gone aside {H5493}, they are all together {H3162} become filthy {H444}: there is none that doeth {H6213} good {H2896}, no, not one {H259}.

But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt; no one does what is right, not a single one.

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

They are all gone aside; they are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalms 14:3 delivers a stark and universal declaration about the moral state of humanity, echoing a profound theme found throughout Scripture concerning human depravity apart from God. The verse states: "They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one."

Context

This verse is part of Psalm 14, a lament often attributed to King David, which opens with the declaration of "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalm 14:1). The psalm describes the practical atheism of those who deny God by their actions, leading to moral corruption and oppression of the righteous. Verse 3 serves as a summary of God's assessment as He looks down from heaven, finding no one truly righteous or seeking Him.

Key Themes

  • Universal Depravity: The repeated use of "all" and "none, not one" emphasizes that this is not a condemnation of a specific group, but a sweeping statement about humanity's fallen nature. This theme is foundational to understanding the need for divine salvation.
  • Moral Deviation: To be "gone aside" means to have deviated from the path of righteousness and God's standards. It implies a willful turning away from divine truth and moral uprightness.
  • Inherent Corruption: The word "filthy" (KJV) or "corrupt" (various translations) indicates a deep-seated moral decay, like something putrid or spoiled. It suggests an internal rottenness that affects all actions and intentions.
  • Absence of True Goodness: The phrase "none that doeth good, no, not one" highlights that genuine, God-honoring goodness is not achievable by human effort alone. This sets the stage for the New Testament's emphasis on grace and the righteousness imputed through faith.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used in this verse convey strong imagery:

  • "Gone aside" comes from the Hebrew root sar (סָר), meaning "to turn aside," "to deviate," or "to depart." It implies a departure from a right or expected path.
  • "Filthy" translates the Hebrew alach (אָלַח), which means "to become foul," "to putrefy," or "to be corrupt." It vividly describes moral decay as something repulsive and putrid.
  • "Doeth good" is asah tov (עָשָׂה טוֹב), meaning "to do what is good" or "to act rightly." The emphatic "not one" underscores the complete lack of this inherent goodness in humanity.

Related Scriptures

This verse is one of the most significant Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament to establish the universal need for salvation. The Apostle Paul famously cites Psalms 14:1-3 (and other related passages) in Romans 3:10-12 to lay the groundwork for his argument that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The thought is also powerfully echoed in Psalm 53:3, which is almost identical. This state of widespread human corruption is also seen earlier in Scripture, such as in Genesis 6:5, which describes the great wickedness of man before the flood.

Practical Application

Psalms 14:3 serves several crucial purposes for believers today:

  • Humility: It reminds us of our inherent sinfulness and the need for God's grace, fostering humility and preventing self-righteousness.
  • Appreciation for Salvation: By clearly stating humanity's inability to do good on its own, it highlights the profound necessity and value of God's redemptive grace through Jesus Christ, who alone is truly good.
  • Reliance on God: It underscores that any true goodness in us comes not from our own efforts but as a result of God's transforming work through the Holy Spirit.
  • Evangelism: Understanding this universal condition helps us appreciate why the Gospel is truly "good news" for all people, offering a solution to humanity's deepest problem.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 3:10

    As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

  • Romans 3:12

    They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  • Isaiah 64:6

    ¶ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

  • Romans 3:23

    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  • Psalms 14:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.

  • Isaiah 59:13

    In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

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