Psalms 53:2

Psalms 53:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
• New International Version (NIV)God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)God 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)God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

Context of Psalms 53:2

1The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and evil, and have committed repulsive injustice; There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the children of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God [who requires Him, who longs for Him as essential to life]. 3Every one of them has turned aside and fallen away; Together they have become filthy and corrupt; There is no one who does good, no, not even one. 4Have workers of wickedness no knowledge or no understanding? They eat up My people as though they ate bread And have not called upon God.

Psalms 53:2 word by word

אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵ֫י אָדָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• looked downשָׁקַףshâqaph · to lookH8259
• from heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• upon the childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• to seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• if there wereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• that did understandשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• that did seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875

Cross-references for Psalms 53:2

• Psalms 11:4The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of men.
• 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,
• Jeremiah 16:17For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their wickedness concealed from My eyes.
• Jeremiah 23:24“Can anyone hide himself in secret places So that I cannot see him?” says the Lord. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.
• Psalms 111:10The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord; His praise endures forever.
• Deuteronomy 4:6So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
• Job 28:28But to man He said, ‘Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
• Psalms 10:4The wicked, in the haughtiness of his face, will not seek nor inquire for Him; All his thoughts are, “There is no God [so there is no accountability or punishment].”
• Psalms 27:8When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever.
• 2 Chronicles 15:2and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him, as your soul’s first necessity], He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will abandon (turn away from) you.
• 2 Chronicles 19:3But there are some good things found in you, for you have removed the Asherim (idols) from the land and you have set your heart to seek God [with all your soul’s desire].”
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.

Commentaries on Psalms 53:2

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2God looked down from heaven … - See the notes at Psalm 14:2. The only change which occurs in this verse is the substitution of the word אלהים 'Elohiym rendered “God,” for “Yahweh,” rendered Lord, in Psalm 14:2. The same change occurs also in Psalm 14:4, Psalm 14:6. It is to be observed, also, that the word “Yahweh” does not occur in this psalm, but that the term used is uniformly. אלהים 'Elohiym God. In Psalm 14:1-7 both terms are found - the word אלהים…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3Paul uses the Greek translation of this passage to describe the moral corruption of all people (Romans 3:10–12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-61-4. with few verbal changes, correspond with Psa 14:1-4.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 53:2

• Depravity of Man
• Godlessness
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Mahalath Maschil
• Music, Instrumental
• Psalms
• Mahalath
• Psalms, Book of
• Song
• Maschil

Commentaries on Psalms 53

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings