Psa 58:3  The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. ASV

Psa 58:3  The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from the belly, speaking lies. LITV

Psa 58:3  The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from the womb, speaking lies. MKJV
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Commentary

The LITV is closest to the Hebrew with 'womb' & 'belly'.
Does this vs include the elect before they are saved? Some say No. They base this on 2 things;
1; The fact that the Psalm describes the utter destruction of these wicked which will never happen to the elect. If that's so then we must view many vss that speak of the "wicked" as excluding the elect and meaning only the reprobate.  For example Ps 5:5. But how else then can the elect be described in their unsaved condition? If they are not wicked then what are they... righteous? People who believe that are in essence equating "wicked" with "reprobate". In so doing they unwittingly claim to know who the reprobate are.

2; The false doctrine of Eternal Justification. This  doctrine says the elect were all Justified in eternity and are therefore -born- Justified. Yet David testified he was among the company of the wicked even from conception in Ps 51:5. If the elect are not wicked from the womb then what are they;..  righteous? Those who hold eternal justification say they are but of course that view is heresy which clearly contradicts Scripture. Before salvation is applied to the elect in their life time they are no different from the reprobate.

The elect are by nature, wicked before they are saved;
2Ch 7:14  if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Isa 55:7 is a call to salvation which all the elect will hear and respond to and here they are called the wicked.

Act 2:23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Many such wicked people heard Peter & repented.

1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.  Obviously! Paul says this person was wicked yet when he repents Paul says to receive him back in!

Eph 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.
Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ...

The elect are wicked before they are saved!  They go astray from the belly, speaking lies. And then, one day, God saves them and they are no longer wicked.

Psalms

Main Index