Psalms 53:2

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

Psalms 53:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 53:2

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men
In ( Psalms 14:2 ) , it is read, "the Lord" or "Jehovah"; in everything else there is an agreement in this verse; (See Gill on Psalms 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".

Psalms 53:2 In-Context

1 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, 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 they were 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.