Amplified Bible
Psalms 14:2
2The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the children of men To see if there are any who understand (act wisely), Who [truly] seek after God, [longing for His wisdom and guidance].
Psalms 14:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
Context of Psalms 14:2
1The [spiritually ignorant] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed repulsive and unspeakable deeds; There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the children of men To see if there are any who understand (act wisely), Who [truly] seek after God, [longing for His wisdom and guidance]. 3They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. 4Have all the workers of wickedness and injustice no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the Lord?
Read all of Psalms 14Psalms 14:2 word by word
יְֽהוָ֗ה מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵי־אָ֫דָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵשׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- looked downשָׁקַףshâqaph · to lookH8259
- from heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- upon the childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- to seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- if thereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
- were any that did understandשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
- seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
Cross-references for Psalms 14:2
- Psalms 33:13The Lord looks [down] from heaven; He sees all the sons of man;
- Psalms 102:19For He looked down from His holy height [of His sanctuary], From heaven the Lord gazed on the earth,
- Genesis 6:12God looked on the earth and saw how debased and degenerate it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way on the earth and lost their true direction.
- Genesis 11:5Now the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
- Genesis 18:21I will go down now, and see whether they have acted [as vilely and wickedly] as the outcry which has come to Me [indicates]; and if not, I will know.”
- Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven and see from Your lofty dwelling place, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your mighty acts [Your miracles which you did for Your people]? The stirring of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained and withheld from me.
- Isaiah 64:1Oh, that You would tear open the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Your presence—
- Lamentations 3:50Until the Lord looks down And sees from heaven.
- Psalms 82:5The rulers do not know nor do they understand; They walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; All the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles of the administration of justice] are shaken.
- Psalms 107:43Who is wise? Let him observe and heed these things; And [thoughtfully] consider the lovingkindness of the Lord.
- Proverbs 2:9Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance] And integrity and every good path.
- Proverbs 8:5O you naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], understand prudence and seek astute common sense; And, O you [closed-minded, self-confident] fools, understand wisdom [seek the insight and self-discipline that leads to godly living].
- Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says,
- Isaiah 27:11When its branches are dry, they are broken off; The women come and make a fire with them. For they are not a people of understanding, Therefore He who made them will not have compassion on them, And He who created them will not be gracious to them.
- Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are stupid and foolish,” [says the Lord to Jeremiah]; “They do not know Me; They are foolish children And have no understanding. They are shrewd [enough] to do evil, But they do not know [how] to do good.”
- Daniel 12:10Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand.
Commentaries on Psalms 14:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The Lord looked down from heaven - Words spoken after the manner of men. From this glorious eminence God is represented as looking down upon the habitable globe, to see if there were any that did understand that there was a Supreme Being, the governor and judge of men; and, in consequence, seek God for his mercy, support, and defense.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The Lord looked down from heaven - The original word here - שׁקף shâqaph - conveys the idea of “bending forward,” and hence, of an intense and anxious looking, as we bend forward when we wish to examine anything with attention, or when we look out for one who is expected to come. The idea is that God looked intently, or so as to secure a close examination, upon the children of men, for the express purpose of ascertaining whether there were any that were…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3From heaven (Psalms 33:13; 80:14; 102:19), the Lord sees the wicked, who are clearly evil (Psalm 11:3–5). All humans lack wisdom and do not live in the way God originally intended for them (Psalm 10:4–11; see Romans 1–3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. looked--in earnest enquiry. understand--as opposed to "fool" [Psa 14:1].Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 14:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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