The Meaning of Psalms 53:2 Explained

Psalms 53:2

KJV: God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

YLT: God from the heavens looked on the sons of men, To see if there be an understanding one, One seeking God.

Darby: God looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

ASV: God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

God  looked down  from heaven  upon the children  of men,  to see  if there were  [any] that did understand,  that did seek  God. 

What does Psalms 53:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 53:1-6 - Sinners All-God Alone Can Help
That Psalms 53:1-6 should be a repetition of Psalms 14:1-7, with very few variations, suggests, as does the "verily, verily" of Christ, that the truths contained in these words are worthy of special attention. They supply the Apostle, in Romans 3:1-31, with his phraseology for describing the state of the ungodly before the searching eye of Omniscience.
We have here a photograph of the human heart. Jew and Gentile are alike in their innermost texture. There is nothing to choose between the Pharisee and the publican, except when either turns the balance by humble confession, as in Luke 18:9, etc.
Psalms 54:1-7 is probably founded on 1 Samuel 23:19. It is short, as if compressed by the urgency of David's need. Evidently he was in sore straits, though conscious of the rectitude of his cause. Notice how he makes his transition from prayer to praise, Psalms 54:4. He affirms, in spite of everything, that God is still his helper. He hears the approaching footsteps of those who are pledged to uphold Him, and God is with them. As he speaks thus in the confidence of faith, the storm clears away. He is delivered; his eye has seen the defeat of his foes. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 53

1  David describes the corruption of the natural man
4  He convinces the wicked by the light of their own conscience
6  He glories in the salvation of God

What do the individual words in Psalms 53:2 mean?

God from heaven looks down upon the sons of men to see if there are [any] who understand who seek - God
אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־ בְּנֵ֫י אָדָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ אֶת־ אֱלֹהִֽים

אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
מִשָּׁמַיִם֮  from  heaven 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
הִשְׁקִ֪יף  looks  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁקַף  
Sense: to overlook, look down or out, overhang, look out and down.
עַֽל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
בְּנֵ֫י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָדָ֥ם  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
לִ֭רְאוֹת  to  see 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הֲיֵ֣שׁ  if  there  are  [any] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
מַשְׂכִּ֑יל  who  understand 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ  who  seek 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֱלֹהִֽים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).