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 has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind To see if there are any who understand, Who seek God. 3They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. 4Do all the workers of injustice not know, Who devour 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

• The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• lookedשָׁקַףshâqaph · to lookH8259
• from heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• upon the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of mankindאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• To seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• if thereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• understandשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Psalms 14:2

• Psalms 33:13The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of mankind;
• Psalms 102:19For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven the Lord looked upon the earth,
• Genesis 6:12And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for humanity had corrupted its way upon the earth.
• Genesis 11:5Now the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the men had built.
• Genesis 18:21I will go down now and see whether they have done entirely 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 holy and glorious lofty habitation; Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.
• Isaiah 64:1Oh, that You would tear open the heavens and come down, That the mountains would quake at Your presence--
• Lamentations 3:50Until the Lord looks down And sees from heaven.
• Psalms 82:5They do not know nor do they understand; They walk around in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
• Psalms 107:43Who is wise? He is to pay attention to these things, And consider the mercy of the Lord.
• Proverbs 2:9Then you will discern righteousness, justice, And integrity, and every good path.
• Proverbs 8:5You naive ones, understand prudence; And, you fools, understand wisdom!
• Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,
• Isaiah 27:11When its limbs are dry, they are broken off; Women come and make a fire with them, For they are not a people of discernment, Therefore their Maker will not have compassion on them. And their Creator will not be gracious to them.
• Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are foolish, They do not know Me; They are foolish children And have no understanding. They are skillful at doing evil, But they do not know how to do good.”
• Daniel 12:10Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight 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