What Does the Bible Say About Humanity Being Evil?

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Romans 3:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Psalm 51:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Genesis 8:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

Ephesians 2:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

John 8:44 ESV / 5 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

James 4:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Matthew 15:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Genesis 6:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

1 John 3:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Colossians 1:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Ephesians 2:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Romans 3:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

John 14:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 1:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Revelation 12:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

1 John 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 3:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Titus 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Colossians 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

Colossians 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Romans 2:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Acts 10:38 ESV / 2 helpful votes

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

John 10:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Matthew 7:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 1:1-25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ...

Isaiah 14:12-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Ecclesiastes 9:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Psalm 139:13-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Genesis 6:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Genesis 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 2:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 1:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

52 Bible Verses about Humanity Being Evil

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 51:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 8:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:44 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 6:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 12:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 2:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 10:38 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 10:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 1:1-25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 14:12-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 9:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 139:13-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 6:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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