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Psalms 14:2

in Psalms 14

The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

KJV

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

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This verse in Psalms 14

Commentary

4 notes on this verse
The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men,.... As he did when all flesh had corrupted its way, and before he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly, Gen 6:12. This is said in direct opposition to the atheistic thoughts and reasonings of wicked men, in Psa 14:1. There is a God, and he takes notice of the children of men, and of what is done by them; though his throne is in the heavens, and his dwelling there, yet he looks down from thence, and takes cognizance of all human affairs.

This site's exposition

The LORD looks down from heaven

on Psalms 14:2-3

The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men, looking for one who understands and seeks God. Verse 3 gives the result, that all have turned away and together become corrupt, and Paul quotes these two verses at Romans 3:10 to 12 to put Jews and Greeks alike under sin. No one does good.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Looked - God knoweth all things without any enquiry: but he speaks after the manner of men. Upon - Upon the whole Israelitish nation, and upon all mankind for he speaks of all except his people, and the righteous ones, who are opposed to these, ver. 4, 5.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Treasury of David, Vol. 1 (1869)

"The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men." As from a watchtower, or other elevated place of observation, the Lord is represented as gazing intently upon men. He will not punish blindly, nor like a tyrant command an indiscriminate massacre because a rumour of rebellion has come up to his ears. What condescending interest and impartial justice are here imaged! The case of Sodom, visited before it was overthrown, illustrates the careful manner in which Divine Justice beholds the sin before it avenges it, and searches out the righteous that they perish not with the guilty.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

The fool said in his heart, etc. David recited two psalms in this Book, in one manner [with almost identical wording]: the first one concerning Nebuchadnezzar and the second one (ch. 53) concerning Titus.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Psalms 14:1:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
All have turned away, etc. Not one man of his armies protested against him.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Psalms 14:3:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

12 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • יְֽהוָ֗הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • מִשָּׁמַיִם֮from heaven

    mishamayimH8064 →421 times

  • הִשְׁקִ֪יףhe looks down

    hishkifH8259 →22 times

  • עַֽל־on

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • בְּנֵי־[the] children of

    benei-H1121 →4930 times

  • אָ֫דָ֥םhumankind

    ʾadamH120 →551 times

  • לִ֭רְאוֹתto see

    lirotH7200 →1300 times

  • הֲיֵ֣שׁ¿ [is] there

    hayeshH3426 →140 times

  • מַשְׂכִּ֑יל[one who] acts prudently

    maskilH7919 →62 times

  • דֹּ֝רֵשׁ[one who] seeks

    doreshH1875 →164 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • אֱלֹהִֽים׃God

    ʾelohimH430 →2601 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Isaiah 55:6Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.92 worksJeremiah 10:14Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them.33 worksRomans 3:11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.16 worksHebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.15 worksPsalms 33:13–14The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.15 worksPsalms 102:19–20For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth12 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Amos 5:4For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live!12 worksGenesis 6:12And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.11 worksJeremiah 8:6I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle.9 worksMatthew 13:15For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’7 worksDaniel 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.6 works2 Chronicles 19:3However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”6 worksPsalms 82:5They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.5 worksJob 33:27Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.5 worksIsaiah 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.4 worksJeremiah 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.”4 worksProverbs 9:16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.4 worksPsalms 92:6A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,4 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hebrews 11:6

    And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 8:17

      I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

    • Jeremiah 29:13–14

      You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

    • Matthew 6:33

      But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

    • Psalms 105:3–4

      Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

    • 1 Chronicles 28:9

      As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought.…

  • Through

    Romans 3:11

    There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 14:2–4

      The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

    • Psalms 53:2

      God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

  • Through

    Genesis 6:12

    And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 53:2–3

      God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About Psalms

Saul attempts to kill David (the harpist of Israel) — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Saul attempts to kill David (the harpist of Israel) — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Psalms: the study guide →Read Psalms 14 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.

Read on in Psalms 14 →