Psalm 53

This psalm belongs to Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42–72). The preceding Psalm 52 sings of the pride and downfall of the wicked; this psalm broadens that theme to the sinfulness of all humanity. Its superscription reads, "To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David." The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as a verse, giving the psalm seven verses in all.

Structure

• Verse 1 The fool says in his heart that there is no God. Such people are corrupt and commit abominable iniquity; there is none that does good.
• Verses 2–3 God looks down from heaven to see whether there are any who understand and who seek God. But every one has gone back and become filthy; there is none that does good, not even one.
• Verse 4 The workers of iniquity eat up "my people" as they eat bread, yet they do not call upon God.
• Verse 5 They are in great fear where no fear was. God scatters the bones of those who encamp against his people and despises them, and they are put to shame.
• Verse 6 The psalmist waits for the salvation of Israel to come out of Zion. He sings that when God brings back the captivity of his people, Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.

Key Verses

• Psalm 53:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Here "folly" refers not to a lack of intelligence but to the moral condition of living in disregard of God.
• Psalm 53:3 "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." Paul quotes these words in his argument for the universal sinfulness of humanity.
• Psalm 53:6 "When God bringeth back the captivity of his people." The psalm, which opens in lament, closes with the hope of restoration.

People and Places

• David: Named in the superscription as the author of the psalm.
• Zion: Refers to Jerusalem and its temple mount. It is portrayed as the place from which God's salvation comes.
• Jacob: Used in verse 6 as a name for the people of Israel as a whole.

Points for Reflection

• Relationship to Psalm 14: This psalm is nearly identical to Psalm 14. However, it refers to God as Elohim (God) rather than Yahweh (the LORD). Because this tendency is pronounced in Psalms 42–83, scholars call this section the "Elohistic Psalter." Verse 5 differs in content from Psalm 14:5–6 and depicts the defeat of an enemy army more explicitly. Some scholars connect this passage with the withdrawal of the Assyrian army in the time of Hezekiah, but since the text does not state this directly, the connection remains conjectural.
• The setting of verse 6: Interpreters differ over whether the expression "bringing back the captivity" refers to the Babylonian exile and the return from exile. Others interpret the expression more broadly as an idiom meaning "to restore the fortunes."
• Connection with the New Testament: In Romans 3:10–12, Paul quotes this psalm (or Psalm 14) to show that Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin. The Reformed tradition frequently cites this passage in support of the doctrine of total depravity. The Wesleyan-Arminian tradition also affirms universal sinfulness but places equal emphasis on the prevenient grace that enables people to seek God.

In the Korean Church

The words of verse 1, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God," are frequently quoted in sermons and apologetics lectures addressing atheism and a life lived without God. In such settings the verse is often presented together with Psalm 14:1, which has the same content.