Psalms 53:3
Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalms 53:3
Verse 3 states the grim verdict: “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” The stark repetition reinforces total depravity in poetic form. The “they” refers to humanity in general, illustrating a collective condition rather than isolated cases. In the psalm’s immediacy, this mirrors the failures of those who deny God or who traffic in sin, echoing the earlier image of deceitful hearts. The phrase “gone back” (shuv) carries the sense of turning away, reversing the intended direction of life. The culture of the day valued righteousness and communal harmony; here, the community is found lacking. The line sets up a need for divine intervention—hence the cry for God’s deliverance in verses 5-6. The sentiment also mirrors Paul’s diagnosis in Romans 3:10-12, highlighting the universal human condition and the necessity of God’s redemptive work.
The verse lays groundwork for the doctrine of total depravity—a recognition that sin is pervasive and affects all people. It does not absolve individuals of responsibility but confirms that human effort to achieve righteousness apart from God is futile. This emphasis prepares the ground for grace: salvation comes as God acts to restore relationship and make upright what has been corrupted. It also challenges self-righteousness; no one can claim inherent goodness apart from God’s transformative work. The verse resonates with New Testament themes that humanity is in need of redemption, justification by faith, and a new heart.
Concretely, this calls you to humility and dependence on God’s mercy rather than self-sufficiency. Acknowledge areas where you consistently revert to old patterns—anger, self-justification, envy. Invite God to uncover hidden motives and to cleanse what is “filthy.” Practical steps: confess ongoing patterns, seek accountability, and pursue practices that cultivate virtue—grace, compassion, honesty. Remember that change is a work of God’s Spirit, not mere self-discipline. Offer forgiveness to others who have harmed you, and refuse to normalize wrongdoing in your life or community. Embrace grace that reorients desires toward God, so your life can reflect the goodness you cannot conjure on your own.
Cross-References: Romans 3:10-12; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:1-5; Titus 3:3-7