King James Version

Psalms 53:2

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

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 53:3.

אֱֽלֹהִ֗יםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.מִשָּׁמַיִם֮mishamayimfrom heavenשָׁמַיִםpreposition, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “from heaven”, the ordinary formH8064the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).הִשְׁקִ֪יףhishqifappearשָׁקַףverb, hiphil, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “appear”, a completed actionH8259properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle)appear, look (down, forth, out).עַֽלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…בְּנֵ֫יbenesonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […אָדָ֥םadampersonאָדָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.לִ֭רְאוֹתlirotto seeרָאָהpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to see”, the to-form of the verbH7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), m…הֲיֵ֣שׁhayeshareיֵשׁparticle, interrogative, particle, demonstrative — “are”H3426there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)(there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.מַשְׂכִּ֑ילmaskilconsiderשָׂכַלverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “consider”, a verb used as a describing wordH7919to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligentconsider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(-ly), guide wittingly.דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁdoreshaskדָּרַשׁverb, qal, participle, absolute — “ask”, a verb used as a describing wordH1875properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worshipask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).אֱלֹהִֽיםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(53-3) God looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

Young’s Literal Translation

God from the heavens looked on the sons of men, To see if there be an understanding one, [One] seeking God.

World English Bible

God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

When the men of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David hidden with us?

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(53-3) God looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any that understood, or sought after God.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ διέκυψεν ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, τοῦ ἰδεῖν εἰ ἔστι συνιῶν, ἢ ἐκζητῶν τὸν Θεόν.