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Psalms Chapter 53

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns 6 Verses

What is Psalms 53 about?

One hundred fifty inspired poems and hymns — Israel's prayer book, spanning lament and praise, confession and trust. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none that doeth good.
2God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.
3Every one of them is gone back; they are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, And call not upon God?
5There 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 of God hath rejected them.
6Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad. Psalm 54 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David; when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“The fool hath said in his heart, [there is] no God, etc.] 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, (<010612>Genesis 6:12); and have done abominable iniquity; iniquity is the abominable thing that God hates, and makes men abominable in his sight; in (<191101>Psalm 11:1), it is read, “abominable worlds”: the Targum paraphrases the words, “they are far from good, for iniquity is found in them”; (see <662108>Revelation 21:8,27); [there is] none…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“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.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The fool hath said in his heart ... - For the meaning of this verse, see the notes at Psalms 14:1. The only change in this verse - a change which does not affect the sense - is the substitution of the word “iniquity,” in Psalms 53:1-6, for “works,” in Psalms 14:1-7. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 5
“Scattered - Hath not only broken their bones, their strength, and force, but also dispersed them hither and thither, so as there is no hope of a restoration. Thee - Against my people. Thou - Thou oh Jerusalem, which they besiege. Next: Psalms Chapter 54”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“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).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“fool: Psa 14:1-7, Psa 92:6; Mat 5:22; Luk 12:20 said: Psa 10:4, Psa 10:6, Psa 10:11, Psa 10:13; Kg1 12:26; Rom 1:21, Rom 1:28 Corrupt: Gen 6:5, Gen 6:6, Gen 6:11-13; Job 14:4, Job 15:16 have done: Lev 18:24-30; Deu 12:31; Kg1 14:24; Eze 16:47, Eze 16:51; Eph 5:12; Pe1 4:3 there is: Rom. 3:10-31 Psalms 53:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“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. Psalms 53:2”
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