God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
Parallel translations
- WEB God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.
- KJV God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
- NKJV God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
- NASB God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God.
- NLT God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God searches all humanity to find any who truly understand and seek him. It shows God's omniscient examination of the human heart.
Overview
Pictured as looking down from heaven, God surveys mankind for the wise who seek him. The search underscores that true seeking after God is rare and that he alone can assess the heart. It sets the stage for the verdict that all have fallen short, magnifying the grace by which God seeks and saves the lost.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Isa 55:6Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
- 2 Chr 15:2So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
- Ps 27:8My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.
- Jer 16:17For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes.
- Ps 111:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Jer 23:24“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- Ps 33:13–14The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
- 2 Chr 19:3However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”
- Ps 102:19For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
- 1 Chr 28:9As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
- Ps 10:4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
- Ps 11:4The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.
- Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Deut 4:6Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 53:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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