How does Psalm 58:3 address the concept of original sin in humanity? Text of Psalm 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.” Immediate Literary Context Psalm 58 is an imprecatory psalm addressed “To the Chief Musician,” attributed to David. The psalm indicts corrupt earthly judges (vv. 1–2), exposes the pervasive depravity of mankind (v. 3), describes the destructive outworking of that depravity (vv. 4–5), and calls upon God as the righteous Judge to intervene (vv. 6–11). Verse 3 functions as the doctrinal hinge, stating the innate condition that explains the outward injustice rebuked in the opening verses. Exegetical Analysis 1. “Estranged” (zōr, “to turn aside, be a stranger”) pictures alienation—an objective separation from God and His moral order. 2. “From the womb” (min-reḥem) introduces the time‐marker; the estrangement is not gradual but congenital. 3. The parallel clause, “the liars go astray from birth,” employs the verb tāʿah (“to wander, stagger”) plus the prepositional phrase mi-beten (“out of the belly”), reinforcing the inborn nature of the problem. 4. The plural nouns “wicked” (rĕšāʿîm) and “liars” (dōbrê-kāzāb) are generic and comprehensive; no subset of humanity is exempt. The Doctrine of Original Sin Articulated Psalm 58:3 states positively what Psalm 51:5 confesses personally (“Surely I was brought forth in iniquity…”). Humanity inherits Adam’s guilt (Romans 5:12–19), corruption (Ephesians 2:1–3), and resulting alienation (Colossians 1:21). Original sin comprises: a. Judicial imputation—Adam’s federal headship results in condemnation for all (Genesis 3; Romans 5). b. Inherited corruption—the bent toward evil embedded in human nature (Jeremiah 17:9). c. Universal manifestation—every child’s earliest self‐assertion testifies experientially (Psalm 58:3). Harmony with the Whole Canon • Genesis 8:21—“the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” • Job 14:4—“Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!” • Ecclesiastes 7:20—universal unrighteousness. • New Testament affirmation—Romans 3:10–12; Ephesians 2:1–3. The canonical chorus depicts sin as congenital, not merely environmental. Psalm 58:3 therefore fits seamlessly, supporting Scripture’s unified anthropology. Anthropological and Behavioral Corroboration Developmental psychology observes self‐centeredness, deceit, and aggression in preverbal toddlers independent of modeling. Twin studies (e.g., University of Virginia longitudinal data) show concordance of antisocial traits even when twins are reared apart, indicating an intrinsic moral defect consistent with Psalm 58:3’s assertion. Scientific and Philosophical Considerations The universality of moral failure points to an objective moral law, which in turn necessitates a moral Lawgiver. Evolutionary accounts that reduce morality to survival advantage cannot explain the pervasive sense of guilt or why humans hold moral ideals they perpetually violate. Psalm 58:3, harmonizing with Romans 2:14–15, explains this tension: humanity retains the imago Dei yet is warped by inherited sin. Historical and Manuscript Witness Psalm 58 appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QPs^a, 11QPs^a), matching the Masoretic Text almost verbatim, underscoring textual stability. Septuagint and Syriac versions echo the same conception of innate wickedness. The coherence of the manuscript tradition refutes claims of later doctrinal interpolation. Christological Resolution Original sin renders humanity helpless; Psalm 58 sets the stage for the necessity of the incarnation. Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), bypasses Adamic corruption. His resurrection—attested by multiple early independent sources (1 Corinthians 15:3–8 creed; empty‐tomb narratives; enemy attestation in Matthew 28:11–15)—reverses the death introduced by Adam, offering life (Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22). Psalm 58’s cry for divine judgment finds its ultimate answer in the cross where justice and mercy meet (Romans 3:24–26). Pastoral and Evangelistic Implications Acknowledging innate sin confronts denial and self‐justification. It explains why moral reform fails and why regeneration (John 3:3) is essential. Evangelistically, one can appeal to the conscience (Proverbs 20:27) and life experience that corroborate Psalm 58:3—none had to be taught to sin. The gospel offers the only coherent remedy. Conclusion Psalm 58:3 explicitly teaches that sinfulness is congenital, universal, and active from birth. This verse, corroborated by the whole of Scripture, human experience, and consistent manuscript evidence, undergirds the doctrine of original sin and magnifies the necessity of Christ’s redemptive work. |
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