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

1Godless fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. There is no one who does good things. The Lord looks down from heaven on Adam’s descendants to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God. 3Everyone has turned away. Together they have become rotten to the core. No one, not even one person, does good things. 4Are all those troublemakers, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on 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 of Adam’s descendants.
• Psalms 102:19“The Lord looked down from his holy place high above. From heaven he looked at the earth.
• Genesis 6:12God saw the world and how corrupt it was because all people on earth lived evil lives.
• Genesis 11:5The Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the descendants of Adam were building.
• Genesis 18:21I must go down and see whether these complaints are true. If not, I will know it.”
• Isaiah 63:15Look down and see from heaven, from your holy and beautiful dwelling. Where is your determination and might? Where is the longing of your heart and your compassion? Don’t hold back.
• Isaiah 64:1If only you would split open the heavens and come down! The mountains would quake at your presence.
• Lamentations 3:50until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.
• Psalms 82:5Wicked people do not know or understand anything. As they walk around in the dark, all the foundations of the earth shake.
• Psalms 107:43Let those who ⌞think⌟ they are wise pay attention to these things so that they may understand the Lord’s blessings.
• Proverbs 2:9Then you will understand what is right and just and fair— every good course ⌞in life⌟.
• Proverbs 8:5You gullible people, learn how to be sensible. You fools, get a heart that has understanding.
• Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is gullible turn in here!” She says to a person without sense,
• Isaiah 27:11When the branches are dried up, they will be broken off. Women will come and build a fire with them. These people don’t understand ⌞these things⌟. That is why their maker won’t have compassion on them, and their Creator won’t have pity on them.
• Jeremiah 4:22“My people are fools. They don’t know me. They are stupid people. They don’t understand. They are experts in doing wrong, and they don’t know how to do good.”
• Daniel 12:10Many will be purified, made white, and refined. But wicked people will do wicked things, and none of them will understand. Only wise people 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