Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 14:1-3

If we apply our hearts as Solomon did (Eccl. 7:25) to search out the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness, these verses will assist us in the search and will show us that sin is exceedingly sinful. Sin is the disease of mankind, and it appears here to be malignant and epidemic. 1. See how malignant it is (Ps. 14:1) in two things:? (1.) The contempt it puts upon the honour of God: for there is something of practical atheism at the bottom of all sin. The fool hath said in his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:2

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, Genesis 6:12 . This is said in direct opposition to the atheistic thoughts and reasonings of wicked men, in Psalm 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:3

They are all gone aside ,.... As bankrupts, having run out their whole stock, and into debt, and have nothing to pay, nor make composition with, and are obliged to abscond, as Adam, Genesis 3:8 . The words in Psalm 53:3 are, "everyone of them is gone back"; from God; have revolted from him, and turned their backs upon him, and have gone back from his commandment, despised his law, and cast away his word. The Apostle Paul interprets it, "they are all gone out of the way"; out of God's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 14:2

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 defense. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 14:3

They are all gone aside - They will not walk in the straight path. They seek crooked ways; and they have departed from truth, and the God of truth. They are all together become filthy - נאלחו neelachu . They are become sour and rancid; a metaphor taken from milk that has fermented and turned sour, rancid, and worthless. There is none that doeth good, no, not one - This is not only the state of heathen Babylon! but the state of the whole inhabitants of the earth, till the grace of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 14:2

Verse 2 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,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 14:3

Verse 3 Every one of them has gone aside. Some translate the word סר, sar, which is here used, to stink, (282) as if the reading were, Every one of them emits an offensive odour, that it may correspond in meaning with the verb in the next clause, which in Hebrew signifies to become putrid or rotten. But there is no necessity for explaining the two words in the same way, as if the same thing were repeated twice. The interpretation is more appropriate, which supposes that men are here condemned... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

The depravity of a godless world, viewed by God. This psalm is given us twice—as the fourteenth and the fifty-third. It is one of those which assumes a revelation of God as a redeeming God, and also the existence of a redeemed people of God. And by way of consequence it assumes the necessity of a Divine redemption in order to bring about "the generation of the righteous." This could only have come about by Divine grace and by Divine power. Hence the very manifest distinction noted in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

Right views of God's government. I. In considering God's moral government of the world, we should be careful to TAKE THE RIGHT STANDPOINT . Much depends on the way we look at things. We may be too near or too far off; we may lean too much to the one side or to the other. Here the standpoint is not earth, but "heaven." This is the perfect state. Here we take our place by the side of God, and look at things in the light of his truth. If we have the Spirit of Christ, the true Son of... read more

Group of Brands