The Meaning of Psalms 14:2 Explained

Psalms 14:2

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

YLT: Jehovah from the heavens Hath looked on the sons of men, To see if there is a wise one -- seeking God.

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

ASV: Jehovah 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

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

What does Psalms 14:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God does indeed look down on all people to assess our condition (cf. Genesis 6:5; Genesis 11:5; Genesis 18:21). The arrogant materialist of Psalm 14:1 is only one example of humanity in general.

Context Summary

Psalms 14:1-7 - The Bounty Of God And The Folly Of Men
The first of these psalms evidently dates from the Sauline persecutions, 1 Samuel 19:1. Four times the persecuted soul cries, How long! The psalm begins in deepest dejection, but clears as it proceeds. Prayer often proves to be the ladder from the deepest dungeon to the more radiant day. We find here depression, Psalms 13:1-2; supplication, Psalms 13:3-4; assurance, Psalms 13:5-6. Do not carry your anxieties in your heart. Remember that Christ is by your side, and leading you through all to the Kingdom. Faith begins praise for victory before the fight has reached its worst.
The creed, character, and doom of the atheist are set forth in the next psalm, and the psalm is so important as to demand repetition. See Psalms 53:1-6. The root of atheism is in the heart, Romans 1:21. Its effect on character, speech, and action is disastrous, and it ends in great fear, Psalms 14:5. The best answer to atheism is the light and liberty of the children of God, Psalms 14:7; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 14

1  David describes a natural man
4  He convinces the wicked by the light of their conscience
7  He glories in the salvation of God

What do the individual words in Psalms 14:2 mean?

Yahweh from heaven looks down upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand who seek - God
יְֽהוָ֗ה מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־ בְּנֵי־ אָ֫דָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵשׁ אֶת־ אֱלֹהִֽים

יְֽהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
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.
בְּנֵי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָ֫דָ֥ם  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 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
מַשְׂכִּ֑יל  any  who  understand 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
דֹּ֝רֵשׁ  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).