Psalm 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” (Ecc. 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” (Ecc. 7:29). David is alluding to how humans have been “brought forth” from actual “conception” in their mother’s womb since the Fall.

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.