Psalm 58 3

Psalm 58:3

ESV: The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

KJV: The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

NIV: Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.

NKJV: The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

NLT: These wicked people are born sinners;
even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.

Meaning

Psalm 58:3 describes the profound and innate depravity of the wicked. It asserts that their departure from what is right and truthful is not merely acquired behavior but is present from their very inception or birth. This inherent alienation from righteousness immediately manifests in their characteristic practice of speaking lies and deception.

Cross References

Context

Psalm 58 is a Michtam, a "golden psalm" of David, and an imprecatory psalm. It addresses a group of unjust and corrupt rulers or judges who twist justice and rule wickedly. The psalm begins by confronting their unrighteous decrees and acts of violence (vv. 1-2). Verse 3 serves as a foundational declaration about the very nature of these wicked individuals. It portrays their depravity as not an aberration or something learned late in life, but as an intrinsic characteristic present from their earliest moments of existence. This deep-seated corruption forms the basis for the strong imprecations that follow, where the psalmist calls upon God to execute swift and severe judgment against them because of their fundamental opposition to truth and righteousness. The cultural context reflects a time when justice systems could be corrupted, and powerful individuals could act with impunity, leading the righteous to appeal to God as the ultimate arbiter.

Word analysis

• The wicked (רְשָׁעִים - rəshāʿîm): The plural form of rasha’, referring to those who are morally guilty, unrighteous, and hostile towards God and His ways. It denotes a person whose conduct is contrary to God’s law, often implying oppression and a rebellious attitude against divine authority.
• are estranged (זֹרוּ - zôrû): From the root זוּר (zur), meaning "to turn aside," "to be alienated," or "to become foreign." It signifies a fundamental separation or deviation from what is right, natural, or in proper relationship with God's design. This alienation is deep-seated, implying a turning away rather than an external event.
• from the womb (מֵרָחֶם - mērāḥem): Literally "from a womb." This phrase signifies from their earliest origin, either from conception or birth. It highlights the inherent or immediately manifest nature of their spiritual condition, not merely acquired behavior. It points to a deep-seated spiritual condition or inherited moral bent.
• they go astray (תָּעוּ - tāʿû): From the root תָּעָה (ta’ah), meaning "to wander," "to err," or "to stray." Like a sheep wandering from the path, this describes a consistent deviation from the proper or true way, reinforcing the idea of a fundamental ungodly inclination.
• as soon as they be born (מִבֶּטֶן - mibbeṭen): Literally "from the belly/womb." This is a strong parallel to "from the womb," emphasizing the immediate onset and inherent quality of their deviation. It underscores that this straying is not a result of external influences encountered later in life but is present from the very beginning.
• speaking lies (דֹּבְרֵי כָזָב - dōvərê kāzāḇ):
  • speaking (דֹּבְרֵי - dōvərê): An active participle, indicating a habitual action or a defining characteristic. Their speech is fundamentally given to a certain behavior.
  • lies (כָזָב - kāzāḇ): Falsehood, deception, fraud. This is not just occasional misstatements, but a characteristic state where their words are unreliable and designed to mislead or deceive. This is a primary manifestation of their internal depravity.

• Words-group Analysis:
• "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born": This powerful parallelism underscores the radical, inherent, and early nature of the wicked's moral corruption. It conveys that their turning away from righteousness is not merely a consequence of external temptation but stems from an intrinsic disposition present from the beginning of their lives. This speaks to a deeply ingrained fallen nature.
• "speaking lies": This phrase defines the concrete, tangible outcome and characteristic expression of their inherent straying. Their deception is not just an occasional act, but a fundamental mode of communication and action, reflecting a profound departure from divine truth and honesty.

Commentary

Psalm 58:3 paints a stark and profound picture of human depravity. It does not suggest a pristine state at birth from which wickedness later emerges, but rather declares an inherent moral condition. The wicked, here particularly referring to corrupt authorities, are described as alienated from truth and goodness from the earliest moment of existence. Their default inclination is not towards God or righteousness, but away from them, directly resulting in speech characterized by deceit. This challenges the notion of human innocence a priori, asserting a pervasive moral brokenness that leads humanity to immediately stray and embrace falsehood. This deep-seated corruption clarifies why divine intervention and judgment against such individuals are portrayed as necessary and just within the psalm's context, as their fundamental nature stands in opposition to God's order. It shows that evil is not merely a choice for some, but a pervasive condition manifesting immediately upon entry into the world.

Bonus section

This verse stands as a key biblical text that contributes to the doctrine of original sin and the pervasive nature of human depravity. While it focuses on the wicked, its language suggests a more universal principle about the inclination of humanity's heart from its earliest stages, as affirmed elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Ps 51:5, Gen 8:21, Rom 3). The parallelism emphasizes the complete and early departure: not only are they estranged, but they also go astray. Their actions (speaking lies) flow directly from this inherent disposition. This verse does not imply that infants are actively malicious but describes a fundamental predisposition or inherited nature that, unchecked, inevitably leads to ungodly thoughts, words, and actions, often culminating in oppression and injustice, as seen in the rest of Psalm 58. While describing a fallen state, the Bible also presents God's gracious provision for redemption and transformation from this natural inclination, through the New Birth.

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