The Meaning of Psalms 14:3 Explained

Psalms 14:3

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

YLT: The whole have turned aside, Together they have been filthy: There is not a doer of good, not even one.

Darby: They have all gone aside, they are together become corrupt: there is none that doeth good, not even one.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 14:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

All human beings have turned aside from the wise way of fearing the Lord (cf. Genesis 6:5-6; Genesis 11:1-9). The result is that they have become corrupt (Heb. alah, lit. sour, like milk) morally. Not one solitary individual does good in the sight of God on his own initiative and in his own strength (cf. Romans 3:23). It is for this reason that no one can be acceptable to God on the merit of his own works. All need the goodness (righteousness) that only God can provide for us.

Context Summary

Psalm 14:1-7 - The Bounty Of God And The Folly Of Men
The first of these psalms evidently dates from the Sauline persecutions, 1 Samuel 19:1. Four times the persecuted soul cries, How long! The psalm begins in deepest dejection, but clears as it proceeds. Prayer often proves to be the ladder from the deepest dungeon to the more radiant day. We find here depression, Psalms 13:1-2; supplication, Psalms 13:3-4; assurance, Psalms 13:5-6. Do not carry your anxieties in your heart. Remember that Christ is by your side, and leading you through all to the Kingdom. Faith begins praise for victory before the fight has reached its worst.
The creed, character, and doom of the atheist are set forth in the next psalm, and the psalm is so important as to demand repetition. See Psalms 53:1-6. The root of atheism is in the heart, Romans 1:21. Its effect on character, speech, and action is disastrous, and it ends in great fear, Psalms 14:5. The best answer to atheism is the light and liberty of the children of God, Psalms 14:7; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 14

1  David describes a natural man
4  He convinces the wicked by the light of their conscience
7  He glories in the salvation of God

What do the individual words in Psalms 14:3 mean?

All they have turned aside together they have become corrupt [There is] none who does good No not one
הַכֹּ֥ל סָר֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה־ ט֑וֹב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם־ אֶחָֽד

סָר֮  they  have  turned  aside 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
יַחְדָּ֪ו  together 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַחַד 
Sense: union, unitedness adv.
נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ  they  have  become  corrupt 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָלַח  
Sense: (Niphal) to be corrupt morally, tainted.
אֵ֤ין  [There  is]  none 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
עֹֽשֵׂה־  who  does 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
ט֑וֹב  good 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
אֵ֝֗ין  No 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
אֶחָֽד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).