Home/Topics/Depravity of Man

What the Bible Says About Depravity of Man

Overview

The Bible addresses depravity of man across 94 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Romans, Job and Psalms. Closely related themes include Wicked, Man, Sin and Sin (1). Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Noah, Adam and Moses.

Key Bible verses about depravity of man

Old Testament

Genesis

Genesis 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. every: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires continually: Heb. every day

Genesis 6:6

And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Genesis 6:7

And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. both: Heb. from man unto beast

Genesis 6:11

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Genesis 6:12

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Genesis 6:13

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. with the earth: or, from the earth

Job

Job 4:17

Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Job 4:18

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: and his: or, nor in his angels, in whom he put light

Job 4:19

How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

Job 9:2

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? with God: or, before God?

Job 9:3

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Job 9:29

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Job 9:30

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Job 9:31

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. abhor: or, make me to be abhorred

Job 15:14

What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

Job 15:15

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

Job 15:16

How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Job 25:4

How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Job 25:5

Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.

Job 25:6

How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

Psalms

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.

Psalms 14:2

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

Psalms 14:3

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

Psalms 53:1

To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Psalms 53:2

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

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 58:1

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Altaschith: or, Destroy not, A golden Psalm of David

Psalms 58:2

Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

Psalms 58:3

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

Psalms 58:4

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; like the poison: Heb. according to the likeness, etc adder: or, asp

Psalms 58:5

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. charming: or, be the charmer never so cunning

New Testament

Romans

Romans 3:9

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; proved: Gr. charged

Romans 3:10

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

Romans 3:11

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

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.

Romans 3:13

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Romans 3:14

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Romans 3:15

Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Romans 3:16

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

Romans 3:17

And the way of peace have they not known:

Romans 3:18

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:19

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. guilty: or, subject to the judgment of God

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: for that: or, in whom

Romans 5:13

(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 5:14

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Romans 6:19

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Romans 6:20

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. from: Gr. to righteousness

Romans 7:13

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Romans 7:14

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 7:15

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. allow: Gr. know

Romans 7:18

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Romans 7:19

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Romans 7:20

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Romans 7:21

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Romans 8:5

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. to be carnally: Gr. the minding of the flesh to be spiritually: Gr. the minding of the Spirit

Romans 8:7

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. the carnal: Gr. the minding of the flesh

Romans 8:8

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Ephesians

Ephesians 2:1

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 2:2

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 2:3

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. desires: Gr. wills

Ephesians 2:11

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Ephesians 2:12

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Ephesians 4:17

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Ephesians 4:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: blindness: or, hardness

Ephesians 4:19

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

People in the Bible and depravity of man

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying depravity of man for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 6:5, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Romans, Job and Psalms each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of David, Noah and Adam and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Wicked, Man, Sin and Sin (1).

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about depravity of man?

The Bible addresses depravity of man across 94 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Romans, Job and Psalms. Closely related themes include Wicked, Man, Sin and Sin (1). Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Noah, Adam and Moses.

How many Bible verses are about depravity of man?

The Bible references depravity of man in 94 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention depravity of man?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 6:5: “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. every: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires continually: Heb. every day”

Which people in the Bible are associated with depravity of man?

David, Noah, Adam and Moses.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on depravity of man.

Preach a series on Depravity of Man