Psalms53
King James Version · Public Domain
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Study
Psalms 53Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 53. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The corruption of man by nature. (1-6).
vv1-6
This psalm is almost the same as the 14th. The scope of it is to convince us of our sins. God, by the psalmist, here shows us how bad we are, and proves this by his own certain knowledge. He speaks terror to persecutors, the worst of sinners. He speaks encouragement to God's persecuted people. How comes it that men are so bad? Because there is no fear of God before their eyes. Men's bad practices flow from their bad principles; if they profess to know God, yet in works, because in thoughts, they deny him. See the folly of sin; he is a fool, in the account of God, whose judgment we are sure is right, that harbours such corrupt thoughts. And see the fruit of sin; to what it brings men, when their hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. See also the faith of the saints, and their hope and power as to the cure of this great evil. There will come a Saviour, a great salvation, a salvation from sin. God will save his church from its enemies. He will save all believers from their own sins, that they may not be led captive by them, which will be everlasting joy to them. From this work the Redeemer had his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins, Mt 1:21.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מַחֲלַת: 'Machalath', probably the title (initial word) of a popular song
מַשְׂכִּיל: instructive, i.e. a didactic poem
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
נָבָל: stupid; wicked (especially impious)
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
אַיִן: a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
Cross References
Psalms 53This psalm is a nearly identical parallel or repetition of Psalm 14, with slight verbal changes.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul quotes verses 1-3 extensively in Romans 3 to prove the universal depravity of mankind.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates being in "great fear where no fear was" due to a faint heart and sound of shaken leaf.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The wicked flee when no man pursueth, matching the terror of those in fear without cause.
Supported by Matthew Poole
A dreadful sound is in his ears; wicked men are chased by terrors they sought to avoid.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the descriptive imagery of bones being scattered at the grave's mouth.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the proud, practical atheism of the wicked who say there is no God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes the trembling heart and constant, baseless fear of those under divine judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Vividly depicts cruel oppressors literally eating up God's people like bread.
Supported by John Calvin