Psalms 53
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Upon Mahalath--(See on Psa 88:1, title). Why this repetition of the fourteenth Psalm is given we do not know. (Psa 53:1-6) with few verbal changes, correspond with Psa 14:1-4.
Open source ↗The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God,.... The Targum adds, "of whom is revenge"; or there is no God to punish and avenge the wicked; corrupt are they; the Chaldee paraphrase is, "the wicked have corrupted their ways"; as all flesh had done in the old world, Gen 6:12; and have done abominable iniquity; iniquity is the abominable thing that God hates, and makes men abominable in his sight; in Psa 11:1, it is read, "abominable worlds": the Targum paraphrases the words, "they are far from good, for iniquity is found in them"; see Rev 21:8; there is none that doeth good; See Gill on Psa 14:1.
Open source ↗The well-grounded asyndeton השׁהיתוּ התעיבוּ is here dismissed; and the expression is rendered more bombastic by the use of עול instead of עלילה. עול (the masculine to עולה), pravitas, is the accusative of the object (cf. Eze 16:52) to both verbs, which give it a twofold superlative attributive notion. Moreover, here השׁחיתו is accented with Mugrash in our printed texts instead of Tarcha. One Mugrash after another is contrary to all rule.
Open source ↗This psalm was opened before, and therefore we shall here only observe, in short, some things concerning sin, in order to the increasing of our sorrow for it and hatred of it. 1. The fact of sin. Is that proved? Can the charge be made out? Yes, God is a witness to it, an unexceptionable witness: from the place of his holiness he looks on the children of men, and sees how little good there is among them, Psa 53:2. All the sinfulness of their hearts and lives in naked and open before him. 2. The fault of sin. Is there any harm in it? Yes, it is iniquity (Psa 53:1, Psa 53:4); it is an unrighteous thing; it is that which there is no good in (Psa 53:1, Psa 53:3); it is an evil thing; it is the worst of evils; it is that which makes this world such an evil world as it is; it is going back from God, Psa 53:3. 3. The fountain of sin. How comes it that men are so bad? Surely it is because there is no fear of God before their eyes: they say in their hearts, "There is no God at all to call us to an account, none that we need to stand in awe of." Men's bad practices flow from their bad principles; if they profess to know God, yet in works, because in thoughts, they deny him. 4. 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. Atheists, whether in opinion or practice, are the greatest fools in the world. Those that do not seek God do not understand; they are like brute-beasts that have no understanding; for man is distinguished from the brutes, not so much by the powers of reason as by a capacity for religion. The workers of iniquity, whatever they pretend to, have no knowledge; those may truly be said to know nothing that do not know God, Psa 53:4. 5. The filthiness of sin. Sinners are corrupt (Psa 53:1…
Open source ↗Ps 53 This psalm parallels Ps 14, differing only in verse 5. 53:1-3 Paul uses the Greek translation of this passage in his description of the depravity of all people (Rom 3:10-12).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
נָצַח (nâtsach, H5329) — properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of… מַחֲלַת (machălath, H4257) — 'Machalath', probably the title (initial word) of a popular song מַשְׂכִּיל (maskîyl, H4905) — instructive, i.e. a didactic poem דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse נָבָל (nâbâl, H5036) — stupid; wicked (especially impious) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843) — to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) תַּעָב (taʻâb, H8581) — to loathe, i.e. (morally) detest עֶוֶל (ʻevel, H5766) — (moral) evil עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the…
Open source ↗אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שָׁקַף (shâqaph, H8259) — properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… יֵשׁ (yêsh, H3426) — there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection) שָׂכַל (sâkal, H7919) — to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent דָּרַשׁ (dârash, H1875) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by…
Open source ↗סוּג (çûwg, H5472) — properly, to flinch, i.e. (by implication) to go back, literally (to retreat) or… יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly אָלַח (ʼâlach, H444) — to muddle, i.e. (figuratively and intransitive) to turn (morally) corrupt עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Open source ↗פָּעַל (pâʻal, H6466) — to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with…
Open source ↗פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling) פָּחַד (pâchad, H6342) — to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… פָּזַר (pâzar, H6340) — to scatter, whether in enmity or bounty עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… בּוּשׁ (bûwsh, H954) — properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be… מָאַס (mâʼaç, H3988) — to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יְשׁוּעָה (yᵉshûwʻâh, H3444) — something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity צִיּוֹן (Tsîyôwn, H6726) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… שְׁבוּת (shᵉbûwth, H7622) — exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch גִּיל (gîyl, H1523) — properly, to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually… שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. They imitated all the abominations of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.