Paul's Citation of Psalm 14 in Romans 3:10

In Romans 3:10, Paul writes, "There is none righteous, no, not one," drawing from Psalm 14:1-3 (and its parallel, Psalm 53:1-3) ^{[1, 5]}. This quotation anchors a catena of Old Testament texts that Paul assembles to demonstrate universal human sinfulness before God. The citation appears at a pivotal moment in Romans, where Paul transitions from indicting both Jews and Gentiles separately (Romans 1:18–3:8) to declaring that "all the world" stands "guilty before God" (Romans 3:19).

The Psalm in Its Original Context

Psalm 14 is a wisdom psalm that describes the fool who "says in his heart, 'There is no God'" and proceeds to catalog the corruption that follows from such practical atheism ^[7]. Matthew Henry observes that while the occasion for David's composition remains uncertain—some suggesting Saul's persecution or Absalom's rebellion—the psalm functions as "a description of the depravity" of humanity in general ^[4]. The psalmist surveys humanity from God's vantage point: "The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God" (Psalm 14:2). The verdict is bleak: "They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one" (Psalm 14:3) ^[8].

Psalm 53 parallels Psalm 14 almost verbatim, differing substantively only in verse 5 ^{[6, 7]}. This repetition within the Psalter itself underscores the theme's importance in Israel's theological reflection on human moral failure.

Paul's Rhetorical Strategy

Paul employs what rabbinic tradition called "pearl-stringing"—gathering Old Testament texts on similar themes into a composite argument ^[5]. Romans 3:10-18 strings together six quotations from Psalms, Isaiah, and Proverbs, creating a comprehensive indictment that moves from general depravity (3:10-12) to specific sins of speech (3:13-14) and violence (3:15-17), concluding with the root cause: "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (3:18) ^[5]. The opening citation from Psalm 14 establishes the thesis for this entire chain.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note that while the psalmist's statements "were indeed suggested by particular manifestations of human depravity occurring under his own eye," these observations revealed "what man, when unrestrained, is in his present condition," making them "quite pertinent to the apostle's purpose" ^[8]. Paul reads the psalm not as commentary on a specific historical crisis but as theological diagnosis of the human condition itself.

The Argument of Romans 3

Paul's use of Psalm 14 serves his larger argument that "Jews and Gentiles are all under sin" (Romans 3:9) ^[4]. He has already demonstrated Gentile guilt through their suppression of natural revelation (Romans 1:18-32) and Jewish guilt through their violation of the law they possess (Romans 2:1–3:8). Now he marshals Scripture itself—the Jewish Scriptures—to prove that even Israel's own sacred texts testify to universal sinfulness ^[1].

The citation connects to Paul's subsequent claim that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) ^[1]. This universal diagnosis prepares for the universal remedy: justification by faith in Christ, available to all without distinction (Romans 3:21-26). The law's function, Paul argues, is not to save but to bring "knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20), placing all humanity "under the law" in the sense of being accountable to God's verdict ^[3].

Cross-References and Theological Implications

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge links Romans 3:10 to multiple texts affirming human depravity: Job's questions about human cleanness (Job 14:4, 15:14-16, 25:4), prophetic indictments (Isaiah 8:20, Jeremiah 17:9), and Jesus' teaching on the evil that proceeds from the human heart (Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21) ^[1]. These connections situate Paul's argument within a broad biblical consensus on the depth of human moral corruption.

Paul's citation also anticipates his later discussion of renewal. If none are righteous by nature, righteousness must come from outside—through Christ, who enables believers to "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator" (Colossians 3:10) ^[2]. The diagnosis of Romans 3:10 makes the gospel of Romans 3:21-26 not merely good news but necessary news.

Sources

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Romans 3:10 cross-references: Job 14:4, Job 15:14, Job 15:16, Job 25:4, Psalms 14:1, Psalms 53:1, Isaiah 8:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Mark 10:18, Romans 3:4, Romans 3:23, Romans 11:8, Romans 15:3, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, 1 Timothy 1:9, 2 Timothy 3:2, Titus 3:3, 1 Peter 1:16, 1 John 1:8, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Colossians 3:10 cross-references: Genesis 1:26, Job 29:14, Psalms 51:10, Isaiah 52:1, Isaiah 59:17, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 18:31, Ezekiel 36:26, John 17:3, Romans 8:29, Romans 12:2, Romans 13:12, Romans 13:14, 1 Corinthians 15:53, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:27, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 2:15, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:14, Hebrews 6:6, 1 Peter 1:14, 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:5, Revelation 21:5”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Romans 6:14 cross-references: Leviticus 25:41, Psalms 130:7, Micah 7:19, Matthew 1:21, John 1:17, John 8:36, Romans 3:19, Romans 4:16, Romans 5:20, Romans 6:12, Romans 6:15, Romans 7:4, Romans 8:2, Romans 8:12, Romans 11:6, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Galatians 3:23, Galatians 4:4, Galatians 4:21, Galatians 5:18, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 8:10”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 14 (introduction): It does not appear upon what occasion this psalm was penned nor whether upon any particular occasion. Some say David penned it when Saul persecuted him; others, when Absalom rebelled against him. But they are mere conjectures, which have not certainty enough to warrant us to expound the psalm by them. The apostle, in quoting part of this psalm (Rom 3:10, etc.) to prove that Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (Rom 3:9) and that all the world is guilty before God (Rom 3:19), leads us to understand it, in general, as a description of the depravity of hu”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 3:10: 3:10-18 The six quotations in these verses, drawn from various parts of the Old Testament, all address human sinfulness. Paul follows the practice of rabbis who gathered together Old Testament texts on similar themes in a practice called pearl-stringing. 3:10-12 This quotation from Pss 14:1-3; 53:1-3 directly supports the argument that all people are under the power of sin.”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 53:1: Ps 53 This psalm parallels Ps 14, differing only in verse 5. 53:1-3 Paul uses the Greek translation of this passage in his description of the depravity of all people (Rom 3:10-12).”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 14:1: Ps 14 This wisdom psalm contains some characteristics of lament and prophetic speech. The ideals of Ps 8 have run aground on the reality of foolish human attitudes and sinful actions. With the exception of vv 5-6, this psalm parallels Ps 53. 14:1-3 Paul uses phrases from the Greek translation of this passage in his description of the depravity of all people (Rom 3:10-12). 14:1 Also known as fools, the wicked speak to themselves, think, scheme (10:4, 6, 11), and make claims; however, because they do not heed God’s revelation, they possess no understanding (14:1; 39”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 3:10: As it is written, &c.-- (Psa 14:1-3; Psa 53:1-3). These statements of the Psalmist were indeed suggested by particular manifestations of human depravity occurring under his own eye; but as this only showed what man, when unrestrained, is in his present condition, they were quite pertinent to the apostle's purpose.”

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