Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Themes 3 ▾
Judgment 5 Sovereignty of God 5 Peace 5
People 2 ▾
Jacob Patriarchal 6 Jacob Life of Christ 6
Speakers 1 ▾
David human 1-6
Historic voices 7 ▾
Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans 1× 1 Summa Theologica 1× 2 City of God 1× 3-4 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-6 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1-6 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 5
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 54 ▾
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What is Psalms 53 about?

David sings again of a world without God, nearly echoing an earlier psalm, as he surveys mankind from heaven's vantage. The fool has said in his heart there is no God, and God looks down to find all gone aside, none doing good, no, not one. He warns that great terror will seize the workers of iniquity, whom God will scatter and put to shame. The song ends with a longing cry that salvation would come out of Zion, a hope the people of God still carry toward its answer in Christ.

Historical backdrop

These are the songbook of a nation, sung across a thousand years of Israel's worship, from Moses in the wilderness to the exiles returned from Babylon. They were carried from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple to the second temple rebuilt under Persia, set to the lyre and the harp and the clash of cymbals in the courts of the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalms 53
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 53
The Church Fathers on Psalms 53

Psalms 53

Psalms Chapter 53
53
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 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.
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What is Psalms 53 about?

David sings again of a world without God, nearly echoing an earlier psalm, as he surveys mankind from heaven's vantage. The fool has said in his heart there is no God, and God looks down to find all gone aside, none doing good, no, not one. He warns that great terror will seize the workers of iniquity, whom God will scatter and put to shame. The song ends with a longing cry that salvation would come out of Zion, a hope the people of God still carry toward its answer in Christ.