Psalms 51:5

Was man brought forth in iniquity or made upright?

PROBLEM: David said he was “brought forth in iniquity,” but Solomon taught that “God made man upright” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Which is true?

SOLUTION: Both are correct, but each is speaking about something different. Solomon is referring to man’s original creation before he “sought out many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). David is alluding to how humans have been “brought forth” from actual “conception”in their mother’s womb since the Fall.

Psalms 51:5 — Does this verse support the position that an unborn fetus is only a potential human being?

PROBLEM: David claimed that he was “conceived” in sin in his mother’s womb. However, he could not have actually sinned at the moment of conception, since he had no moral consciousness or free will which are necessary for moral acts (see Isaiah 7:15; John 9:41).

SOLUTION: This text does not support the view that a human embryo is merely a potential human being, as opposed to an actual human being. This is evident for several reasons. First, even if it were teaching that humans are potential sinners from conception, it does not follow that they are potential humans.

Second, in whatever sense the unborn are declared sinners from the point of conception, it reveals, nevertheless, that they are human, that is, they are part of the fallen human race. For it is only by virtue of being part of the Adamic human race that we are conceived in sin (see comments on Romans 5:12).