From the very first pages of Scripture, the Bible presents a sobering picture of humanity’s sinful nature. Following the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind became deeply corrupted by sin. The story of mankind’s wickedness runs throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, providing us with a continual reminder of the human condition apart from God‘s grace.
The Bible does not shy away from describing the inherent wickedness of humanity. It speaks plainly about the inclinations of the human heart, which are often set toward evil, and the consequences of living in rebellion to God. Scripture is clear that without divine intervention, every human being is vulnerable to sin and its destructive power. But while the Bible paints a grim picture of human wickedness, it also reveals the solution to this problem: salvation through Jesus Christ.
This article explores 20 Bible verses that address the wickedness of man. These verses serve as a mirror, showing us the depths of human sinfulness, but also pointing us toward the need for repentance, redemption, and transformation through the grace of God.
1. Genesis 6:5
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”
This verse from Genesis highlights the deep corruption of humanity before the flood. The human heart was consumed with evil, and there was no longer any good in the world apart from God’s intervention.
2. Genesis 8:21
“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.'”
Even after the flood, God acknowledges that humanity’s hearts remain inclined toward evil. This verse shows the persistent wickedness of mankind from childhood.
3. Psalm 14:1-3
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
This passage from Psalm 14 underscores the universality of sin. All of mankind is corrupt and apart from God, no one does good.
4. Psalm 53:1-3
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
A mirror to Psalm 14, this passage reinforces the wickedness of humanity and the fact that no one seeks God on their own.
5. Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
The prophet Jeremiah exposes the wickedness of the human heart, describing it as deceitful and incurable. Human nature, apart from God, is deeply flawed and prone to evil.
6. Romans 3:10-12
“As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.'”
Paul, quoting the Psalms, shows that all humanity is corrupt, turning away from God and unable to do good on their own.
7. Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Paul again makes it clear that every person has sinned and failed to meet God’s perfect standard, reinforcing the universality of mankind’s wickedness.
8. Romans 1:21-22
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.”
Humanity, despite knowing God, chooses to reject Him, and in doing so, becomes trapped in futile thinking and foolishness.
9. Romans 1:28-32
“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, they are gossips, they are god-haters, they are insolent, they are arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.”
This passage describes the downward spiral of human sin. When mankind rejects God, they fall into deeper sin, exhibiting a variety of evils and moral corruption.
10. Ephesians 4:18-19
“They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”
Paul describes those who live in wickedness as having hard hearts, leading to moral and spiritual blindness, and an indulgence in sinful desires.
11. Colossians 3:5-6
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.”
This passage warns that the pursuit of wickedness leads to the coming judgment of God. Sinful desires and actions separate us from God and invite His wrath.
12. 1 John 1:8
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
John teaches that denying our sinfulness is self-deception. Wickedness is present in all people, and we must acknowledge it in order to receive God’s grace.
13. 1 John 3:8
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
This verse makes a distinction between the wickedness of humanity and the work of Christ. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, including sin and wickedness.
14. Isaiah 64:6
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah illustrates how human efforts at righteousness are tainted by sin and are utterly insufficient to justify us before God.
15. Isaiah 59:2
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Sin separates humanity from God. Wickedness creates a barrier between us and our Creator, preventing us from experiencing His grace and favor.
16. Proverbs 6:12-14
“A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart—he always stirs up conflict.”
This passage speaks to the cunning nature of wickedness, describing how deceit and evil schemes stir up division and strife.
17. Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
This verse emphasizes the destructive nature of hidden sin. Wickedness cannot be concealed forever, but repentance brings mercy and restoration.
18. Matthew 15:18-19
“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
Jesus shows that human wickedness is not just in outward actions but in the inner thoughts of the heart. Sin begins internally before manifesting outwardly.
19. Luke 11:13
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Even though humanity is wicked, God, in His mercy, offers His Spirit to those who seek Him. This verse highlights the contrast between human sinfulness and God’s goodness.
20. John 3:19
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
John explains that the world rejected Jesus, the Light of the world, because people preferred their sinful deeds over the truth.
Conclusion
The Bible makes it clear that humanity, apart from God’s grace, is inclined to wickedness. From the first sin of Adam and Eve to the depravity described in the New Testament, human beings are portrayed as corrupted by sin. Whether in our thoughts, words, or actions, wickedness permeates the human condition.
But Scripture also offers the hope of redemption. Despite humanity’s rebellion and sin, God, in His mercy, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to offer salvation from this wickedness. Through repentance and faith in Christ, we can be freed from the power of sin and made new in Him. These verses remind us of the seriousness of sin, but also of the necessity of turning to God for mercy and transformation.
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