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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.

Context of Psalms 14:2

1The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not 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

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 children of man;
• Psalms 102:19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
• Genesis 6:12And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
• Genesis 11:5And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.
• Genesis 18:21I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know."
• Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.
• Isaiah 64:1Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
• Lamentations 3:50until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees;
• Psalms 82:5They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
• Psalms 107:43Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
• Proverbs 2:9Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
• Proverbs 8:5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
• Proverbs 9:4"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says,
• Isaiah 27:11When its boughs are dry, they are broken; women come and make a fire of them. For this is a people without discernment; therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them; he who formed them will show them no favor.
• Jeremiah 4:22"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise'—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."
• Daniel 12:10Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall 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