Psalm 53:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 53:1-6

This psalm was opened before, and therefore we shall here only observe, in short, some things concerning sin, in order to the increasing of our sorrow for it and hatred of it. 1. The fact of sin. Isa. that proved? Can the charge be made out? Yes, God is a witness to it, an unexceptionable witness: from the place of his holiness he looks on the children of men, and sees how little good there is among them, Ps. 53:2. All the sinfulness of their hearts and lives in naked and open before him. 2.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:1

The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God ,.... The Targum adds, "of whom is revenge"; or there is no God to punish and avenge the wicked; corrupt are they ; the Chaldee paraphrase is, "the wicked have corrupted their ways"; as all flesh had done in the old world, Genesis 6:12 ; and have done abominable iniquity ; iniquity is the abominable thing that God hates, and makes men abominable in his sight; in Psalm 11:1 , it is read, "abominable worlds": the Targum paraphrases... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:2

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men ,.... In Psalm 14:2 , it is read, "the Lord" or "Jehovah"; in everything else there is an agreement in this verse; See Gill on Psalm 14:2 ; to see if there were any that did understand ; the Targum is, "that were understanding" in the law; it doubtless means understanding in divine and spiritual things; that did seek God ; the above paraphrase is, "seeking doctrine from before the Lord". read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:3

Every one of them is gone back ,.... From God, and the way of his commandments. In Psalm 14:3 , it is, "they are all gone aside"; See Gill on Psalm 14:3 ; they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good , no, not one . What follows in this verse is the same as Psalm 14:3 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 53:1

The fool hath said in his heart - The whole of this Psalm, except a few inconsiderable differences, is the same as the fourteenth; and, therefore, the same notes and analysis may be applied to it; or, by referring to the fourteenth, the reader will find the subject of it amply explained. I shall add a few short notes. Have done abominable iniquity - Instead of עול avel , evil or iniquity, eight of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. have עלילה alilah , work, which is nearly the same... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:1-2

Atheism contrasted with godliness. I. ATHEISM . "No God." This implies: 1 . Denial of God ' s existence This is folly. The assertion proves nothing. Negatives are not arguments. Besides, there may be a God, though you, the denier, have not found him. You have not yet explored the universe. 2 . Denial of God ' s moral government of the world. "No God!" if so, then there is nothing but chance. There can be no law without a lawgiver, no order without a controlling mind.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:1-6

The expression, "upon Mahalath," or, "set to Mahalath," in the title, is thought to be a musical direction, and is explained by Dr. Kay as equivalent to the modern Maestoso. Psalms 53:1 and Psalms 53:2 are identical with the same verses of Psalms 14:1-7 ; with the single exception that "Jehovah "is replaced by" Elohim," as the first word of Psalms 14:2 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:3

For "they are all gone aside" ( הכּל סר ) in Psalms 14:1-7 ; the present psalm has, "every one of them is gone back" ( לּכּוֹ סג )—a difference which may be due to corruption, and which is, at any rate, of no importance. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 53:1

The fool hath said in his heart ... - For the meaning of this verse, see the notes at Psalms 14:1. The only change in this verse - a change which does not affect the sense - is the substitution of the word “iniquity,” in Psalms 53:1-6, for “works,” in Psalms 14:1-7. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 53:2

God looked down from heaven ... - See the notes at Psalms 14:2. The only change which occurs in this verse is the substitution of the word אלהים 'Elohiym, rendered “God,” for “Yahweh,” rendered Lord, in Psalms 14:2. The same change occurs also in Psalms 14:4, Psalms 14:6. It is to be observed, also, that the word “Yahweh” does not occur in this psalm, but that the term used is uniformly. אלהים 'Elohiym, God. In Psalms 14:1-7 both terms are found - the word אלהים 'Elohiym three times Psalms... read more

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