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.
• 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.
• 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, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never 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 33:13From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;
• Psalms 102:19“The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
• Genesis 6:12God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.
• Genesis 11:5But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.
• Genesis 18:21that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
• Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.
• Isaiah 64:1Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
• Lamentations 3:50until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.
• Psalms 82:5“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
• Psalms 107:43Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
• Proverbs 2:9Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
• Proverbs 8:5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
• Proverbs 9:4“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,
• Isaiah 27:11When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
• Jeremiah 4:22“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.”
• Daniel 12:10Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are 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