Psalms 14:2

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 fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. 3All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.

Psalms 14:2 word by word

יְֽהוָ֗ה מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵי־אָ֫דָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵשׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• The LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• looks downשָׁקַףshâqaph · to lookH8259
• from heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• uponעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• to seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• if anyיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• understandשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• if any seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Psalms 14:2

• Psalms 33:13The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
• Psalms 102:19For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
• Genesis 6:12And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.
• Genesis 11:5Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.
• Genesis 18:21I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”
• Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.
• Isaiah 64:1If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence,
• Lamentations 3:50until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.
• Psalms 82:5They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
• Psalms 107:43Let him who is wise pay heed to these things and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.
• Proverbs 2:9Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.
• Proverbs 8:5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
• Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
• Isaiah 27:11When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
• Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
• Daniel 12:10Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the 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

• Depravity of Man
• Godlessness
• Quotations and Allusions
• Seekers

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Aside
• Corrupt
• Eat
• Fool
• None
• Shame
• Anthropology
• Belly

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