Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 14:2
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God.
2. For a while Jehovah as it were overlooked the growing corruption. At length He ‘looked down’ (Psa 33:13-14). So in the yet simpler language of the Pentateuch He is said to have ‘come down to see’ the wickedness of Babel and Sodom (Gen 11:5; Gen 18:21; and note the use of ‘look down’ in the latter narrative though in a different connexion, Psa 18:16). Are not these typical examples of human corruption in the Psalmist’s mind? ‘Jehovah looked down to see if there were any that did understand (or deal wisely, R.V. marg., for the verb often denotes right action as well as right purpose), that did seek God.’ Cp. Psa 9:10. The use of God, not Jehovah, is significant. It is of mankind in general, not of Israel, that the Psalmist is speaking. God made Himself known through the voice of conscience, and in the works of creation, but men would not follow the light of conscience, or read the book of nature. See Act 14:17; Act 17:27; Rom 1:19 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Lord looked down from heaven – The original word here – shaqaph – 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 good. He looked at all men; he examined all their pretensions to goodness, and he saw none who could be regarded as exempt from the charge of depravity. Nothing could more clearly prove the doctrine of universal depravity than to say that an Omniscient God made an express examination on this very point, that he looked over all the world, and that in the multitudes which passed under the notice of his eye not one could be found who could be pronounced righteous. If God could not find such an one, assuredly man cannot.
Upon the children of men – Upon mankind; upon the human race. They are called children, or sons (Hebrew), because they are all the descendants of the man that God created – of Adam. Indeed the original word here is Adam – ‘adam. And it may be questionable whether, since this became in fact a proper name, designating the first man, it would not have been proper to retain the idea in the translation – the sons of Adam; that is, all his descendants. The phrase occurs frequently to denote the human race, Deu 32:8; Psa 11:4; Psa 21:10; Psa 31:19; Psa 36:7; Psa 57:4; et soepe.
To see if there were any that did understand – If there were one acting wisely – to wit, in seeking God. Acting wisely here stands in contrast with the folly referred to in the first verse. Religion is always represented in the Scriptures as true wisdom.
And seek God – The knowledge of him; his favor and friendship. Wisdom is shown by a desire to become acquainted with the being and perfections of God, as well as in the actual possession of that knowledge; and in no way can the true character of man be better determined than by the actual interest which is felt in becoming acquainted with the character of him who made and who governs the universe. It is one of the clearest proofs of human depravity that there is no prevailing desire among people thus to ascertain the character of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. The 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 defence.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Lord looked down from heaven, to search out the truth. God knoweth all things without any inquiry; but this is a figure called anthropopathia, whereby Scripture oft speaks of God after the manner of men.
Upon the children of men; upon the whole body of the Israelitish nation, and upon the generality of mankind under heaven; for he speaks of all except his people, and the righteous ones, who are here opposed to these, Psa 14:4,5.
That did understand, and seek God; that did truly know God, to wit, so as to love, and fear, and trust, and obey him, (for all these are frequently signified in Scripture by this expression of knowing God) and that did diligently seek him, i.e. study his mind and will, that they might do it, and seek his grace and favour.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. lookedin earnest enquiry.
understandas opposedto “fool” [Ps 14:1].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, Ge 6:12. This is said in direct opposition to the atheistic thoughts and reasonings of wicked men, in
Ps 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 must be understood consistent with the omniscience and omnipresence of God; it is an anthropopathy, or a speaking after the manner of men; and denotes the exact notice which God takes, and distinct observation he makes, and the perfect and accurate knowledge he has of men and their actions; see
Ge 11:5;
to see if there were any that did understand: not things natural, civil, and moral, but things spiritual as the Apostle Paul interprets the words, Ro 3:11. For though man has not lost the natural faculty of his understanding, and may have an understanding of the things of nature, yet not of the things of God, until a supernatural light is put into him; not any spiritual experimental knowledge of God in Christ, nor of the way of salvation by Christ, nor of the work of the Spirit of God upon the heart, nor of the doctrines of the Gospel, nor any true sight and sense of his own state and condition;
[and] seek God; that is, “after God”; as the apostle in the same place explains it; after the knowledge of him and his ways, and communion with him; after the things of God, his interest and his glory: they do not seek after him in prayer, or by an attendance on his worship and ordinances; at least with their whole hearts, earnestly, diligently, constantly, and in the first place; nor do they seek after him in Christ, where he is only to be found; nor under the influence, and with the assistance of the blessed Spirit.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The second tristich appeals to the infallible decision of God Himself. The verb means to look forth, by bending one’s self forward. It is the proper word for looking out of a window, 2Ki 9:30 (cf. Niph. Jdg 5:28, and frequently), and for God’s looking down from heaven upon the earth, Psa 102:20, and frequently; and it is cognate and synonymous with , Psa 33:13, Psa 33:14; cf. moreover, Son 2:9. The perf. is used in the sense of the perfect only insofar as the divine survey is antecedent to its result as given in Psa 14:3. Just as reminds one of the history of the Flood, so does of the history of the building of the tower of Babel, Gen 11:5, cf. Psa 18:21. God’s judgment rests upon a knowledge of the matter of fact, which is represented in such passages after the manner of men. God’s all-seeing, all-piercing eyes scrutinise the whole human race. Is there one who shows discernment in thought and act, one to whom fellowship with God is the highest good, and consequently that after which he strives? – this is God’s question, and He delights in such persons, and certainly none such would escape His longing search. On , , vid., Ges. 117, 2.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2. Jehovah looked down from heaven. God himself is here introduced as speaking on the subject of human depravity, and this renders the discourse of David more emphatic than if he had pronounced the sentence in his own person. When God is exhibited to us as sitting on his throne to take cognisance of the conduct of men, unless we are stupified in an extraordinary degree, his majesty must strike us with terror. The effect of the habit of sinning is, that men grow hardened in their sins, and discern nothing, as if they were enveloped in thick darkness. David, therefore, to teach them that they gain nothing by flattering and deceiving themselves as they do, when wickedness reigns in the world with impunity, testifies that God looks down from heaven, and casts his eyes on all sides, for the purpose of knowing what is done among men. God, it is true, has no need to make inquisition or search; but when he compares himself to an earthly judge, it is in adaptation to our limited capacity, and to enable us gradually to form some apprehension of his secret providence, which our reason cannot all at once comprehend. Would to God that this manner of speaking had the effect of teaching us to summon ourselves before his tribunal; and that, while the world are flattering themselves, and the reprobate are trying to bury their sins in forgetfulness by their want of thought, hypocrisy, or shamelessness, and are blinded in their obstinacy as if they were intoxicated, we might be led to shake off all indifference and stupidity by reflecting on this truth, that God, notwithstanding, looks down from his high throne in heaven, and beholds what is going on here below!
To see if there were any that did understand As the whole economy of a good and righteous life depends upon our being governed and directed by the light of understanding, David has justly taught us in the beginning of the psalm, that folly is the root of all wickedness. And in this clause he also very justly declares, that the commencement of integrity and uprightness of life consists in an enlightened and sound mind. But as the greater part misapply their intellectual powers to deceitful purposes, David immediately after defines, in one word, what true understanding is, namely, that it consists in seeking after God; by which he means, that unless men devote themselves wholly to God, their life cannot be well ordered. Some understand the word משכיל, maskil, which we translated, that did understand, in too restricted a sense; whereas David declares that the reprobate are utterly destitute of all reason and judgment.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Looked down.Literally, bent forward to look as from a window. (Comp. Son. 6:10.)
Did understand.Better, any man of understanding, in contrast with fool, in Psa. 14:1, and certainly meaning one who regulates his conduct on the conviction of the existence of a holy and just God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2, 3. The Lord looked down to see An anthropomorphism, simply denoting that he made special judicial inquiry; that is, that he took accurate judicial knowledge of men’s acts, such as we arrive at only by a process of close investigation.
Understand, and seek God This was the test of character, the issue between God and men. The quotation of this by the apostle applies to the universal race, “both Jews and Gentiles.” Rom 3:9-12. They are all reckoned in sin, and as the argument is addressed to the Jews, it shows that this was the sense in which they understood the text. The same universality is expressed in the text by children of men, (Hebrews sons of Adam,) and in Psa 14:3 by the terms all, together, none, no, not one. The bearing of this upon the historical occasion of the psalm shows that it was such as could not be limited to the dominance of a corrupt Jewish party, but included the Gentile nations as well, who now held sway. As a proof of universal, and hence hereditary, depravity, it is decisive.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘YHWH looked down from heaven on the children of men,
To see if there were any that did understand, that did seek after God.
They are all gone aside; They are together become morally corrupt,
There is no one who does good, no, not one.’
But God would not judge men without a fair examination, and so He looked down to see if there were any who understood and sought after Him. The vivid anthropomorphism brings out the truth of God’s constant examination and assessment of the human race (compare Gen 11:5), and His call to accountability. But all had turned aside, even the best; all had become morally tainted (compare Job 15:16). There was not one man on earth who did good and did not sin (Ecc 7:20). (For the thought of the one man Who would come see Isa 50:2 with Psa 14:4-7; Isa 52:13 to Isa 53:12).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Psa 14:2. The Lord looked down, &c. These, and the following words, as to the sense of them, are taken from Gen 6:5. They are here used in confutation of the profane and Epicurean ideas of those who denied a Providence.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It would have been some alleviation of our ruin, had the deadly sin been only here and there in certain instances, or even general in many instances: but when by the divine inquiry we find that the disease is universal, and that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory, Reader, behold the misery of nature. Who is there that will venture to make an appeal against the decision? See Pro 20:9 ; Rom 3:9-19 . I detain the Reader here to remark, that in our common-prayer translation there are added three verses similar to those in Paul’s epistle to the Romans, Rom 3:13-18 which are not in this translation.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God.
Ver. 2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men ] As opposed to the children of God, so some take it, as Gen 4:26 ; Gen 6:2 . As a judge he looketh down, he vieweth, he taketh cognizance, ere he proceedeth to sentence. Thus he dealt with the old world, with Sodom, with Egypt, &c., to teach us not to be too hasty. No more haste than good speed, saith one. The celestial spheres, the higher they are in situation the slower in their proper motion; and the supreme judge of all useth much forbearance.
And that did understand and seek God
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. Figure of speech Epanadiplosis (App-6). The verse beginning and ending with “Jehovah” (see note on “GOD”, Psa 14:1). Psalm not for public use: but for David’s private use.
looked . . . To see. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
children = sons.
men. Hebrew. ‘adam. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 14:2-3
Psa 14:2-3
“Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God. They are all gone aside, they are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no not one.”
“The point of these two verses is that the arrogant materialist of Psa 14:1, is but an example of man in general. “What is lamented here is not the corruption of Israel and not that of the heathen, but the universal corruption of man.
In Rom 3:10-18, we have the following from the apostle Paul:
“We laid to the charge of both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin;
As it is written,
There is none righteous, no not one;
There is none that understandeth,
There is none that seeketh after God;
They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable;
There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one:
Their throat is an open sepulchre;
With their tongues they have used deceit:
The poison of asps is under their lips:
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
And the way of peace they have not known:
Their is no fear of God before their eyes.”
One may read every line of this almost verbatim in the LXX and in two or three other ancient versions as pointed out by Dummelow; and Paul’s use of these words to describe the condition of judicially hardened mankind in the days of the Messiah is the only proof needed that we have a description of exactly the same condition here.
We do not know how to account for the omission of some of this material from the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and from our version; but Paul’s declaration that, “It is written,” certainly identifies all of the material as Scripture.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 14:2. Much of the language in the Bible coming directly from God and about him, sounds as if he were a man. The statement of Paul in Rom 6:19 should be a familiar one to all Bible students. It will serve as a key to many otherwise difficult passages. God is infinite and is capable of using language as high as his thoughts (Isa 55:8-9), but man could not understand it. Therefore the language of Heaven is made to conform to the habits and mental capacity of man. This verse speaks of God as making the same investigation as a man would make under the circumstances. When even one human being appeared so corrupt that he would deny the existence of God, perhaps it would be well to take a look at the race in general.
Psa 14:3. When the Lord made the investigation he found that the race as a whole had become corrupt. All rules have exceptions and we know this one had, for the Bible itself records the names of some good men. We think of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Job and many others. When these are considered as they are scattered out over the centuries they look like a small minority. But that very fact gives emphasis to the statement of the verse as to rules and exceptions.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
The Lord: Psa 33:13, Psa 33:14, Psa 102:19, Psa 102:20, Gen 6:12, Gen 11:5, Gen 18:21, Isa 63:15, Isa 64:1, Lam 3:50
any: Psa 82:5, Psa 107:43, Pro 2:9, Pro 8:5, Pro 9:4, Pro 9:16, Isa 27:11, Jer 4:22, Dan 12:10, Mat 13:15, Rom 3:11
seek: Psa 69:32, 2Ch 19:3, 2Ch 30:19, Isa 8:19, Isa 55:6, Heb 11:6
Reciprocal: Gen 5:3 – in his Exo 37:29 – incense Job 33:27 – I have sinned Psa 10:4 – will not Psa 78:59 – God Pro 21:8 – way Ecc 7:10 – wisely Jer 8:6 – hearkened Jer 10:14 – man Jer 51:17 – Every Hos 7:10 – nor Amo 5:4 – Seek Zep 1:6 – and those Mat 7:13 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 14:2. The Lord looked down from heaven God knows all things without any inquiry: but he speaks after the manner of men. Upon the children of men 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, Psa 14:4-5. If there were any that did understand, &c. That did truly know God, namely, so as to fear, love, trust in, and obey him, (all which particulars are frequently included in the Scriptures, under the expression of knowing God,) and seek God Did diligently endeavour to learn his mind and will, that they might do it, and to seek his grace and favour.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
God does indeed look down on all people to assess our condition (cf. Gen 6:5; Gen 11:5; Gen 18:21). The arrogant materialist of Psa 14:1 is only one example of humanity in general.