Psalm 14:1-3 NIV

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 14:1

The fool hath said in his heart ,.... This is to be understood not of a single individual person, as Nabal, which is the word here used; nor of some Gentile king, as Sennacherib, or Rabshakeh his general, as Theodoret; nor of Nebuchadnezzar, nor of Titus, as some Jewish writers F25 Vid. Jarchi, Kimchi & Ben Melech in loc. interpret it, making one to be here intended, and the other in the fifty third psalm: the same with this; but of a body, a set of men, who justly bear this... 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 14:1

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God - נבל nabal , which we render fool, signifies an empty fellow, a contemptible person, a villain. One who has a muddy head and an unclean heart; and, in his darkness and folly, says in his heart, "There is no God." "And none," says one, "but a fool would say so." The word is not to be taken in the strict sense in which we use the term atheist, that is, one who denies the being of a God, or confounds him with matter. 1. There have been some,... 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 14:1

Verse 1 Many of the Jews are of opinion that in this psalm there is given forth a prediction concerning the future oppression of their nation: as if David, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, bewailed the afflicted condition of the Church of God under the tyranny of the Gentiles. They therefore refer what is here spoken to the dispersed condition in which we see them at the present day, as if they were that precious heritage of God which the wild beasts devour. But it is very apparent, that... 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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:1

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 14:1

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 14:1

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

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

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