Psalm 14:1 - The Fool Says There Is No God
Psalm 14:1 states, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt. They do abominable deeds. There is none who does good" (LEB) [1]. This verse introduces a wisdom psalm that also incorporates elements of lament and prophetic speech, contrasting the ideal human state with the reality of human folly and sin [9].
The "fool" mentioned in this verse is not necessarily someone lacking intellectual capacity, but rather someone who is morally deficient [3]. The Hebrew word for "fool" here is related to "Nabal," which means senseless or foolish [2, 3]. This foolishness manifests as practical atheism, where the individual lives as if God does not exist, even if they do not explicitly deny God's existence with their lips [4, 10]. The declaration "There is no God" is made "in his heart," indicating an internal conviction or a practical disposition rather than an outward, verbal assertion [3, 9]. John Calvin notes that this expression is primarily applied to those who, through "licentious desire and overweening confidence," willingly embrace darkness and reject divine knowledge [8].
Jewish tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, connects this internal denial of God to heresy arising in one's heart, drawing a parallel with Numbers 15:39, which warns against straying after one's heart and eyes [5, 6, 7]. The consequence of this internal conviction is moral corruption and abominable deeds, leading to a state where "none does good" [1, 4]. This suggests that a practical denial of God is foundational to all sin [4].
The passage in Psalm 14:1-3 is closely paralleled in Psalm 53 and is significant because the Apostle Paul quotes phrases from its Greek translation in Romans 3:10-12 to describe the universal depravity of humanity [9]. This highlights the theological importance of the psalm in understanding the human condition apart from God. The "fool" in this context represents a type of person who, by rejecting God's revelation, lacks true understanding and consequently engages in corrupt and abominable actions [9].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 14:1 (LEB) — The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They do abominable deeds. There is none who does good.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Nabal — fool; senseless”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 14:1: The fool hath said in his heart,.... This is to be understood not of a single individual person, as Nabal, which is the word here used; nor of some Gentile king, as Sennacherib, or Rabshakeh his general, as Theodoret; nor of Nebuchadnezzar, nor of Titus, as some Jewish writers (y) interpret it, making one to be here intended, and the other in the fifty third psalm: the same with this; but of a body, a set of men, who justly bear this character; and design not such who are idiots, persons void of common sense and understanding; but such who are fools in their morals, w”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 14:1: If we apply our hearts as Solomon did (Ecc 7:25) to search out the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness, these verses will assist us in the search and will show us that sin is exceedingly sinful. Sin is the disease of mankind, and it appears here to be malignant and epidemic. 1. See how malignant it is (Psa 14:1) in two things: - (1.) The contempt it puts upon the honour of God: for there is something of practical atheism at the bottom of all sin. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. We are sometimes tempted to think, "Surely there ne”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128a.24:22: In response, the Gemara cites a baraita where these elements were derived from allusions in the verse, “You shall stray neither after your hearts nor after your eyes, after which you would lust” (Numbers 15:39). As it was taught: “After your hearts” refers to following opinions of heresy that may arise in one’s heart. The Gemara offers a proof, as it is stated: “The fool said in his heart: ‘There is no God’; they have been corrupt, they have acted abominably; there is none who does good” (Psalms 14:1). The phrase: “After your eyes,” in this verse refers ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128b.24:22: In response, the Gemara cites a baraita where these elements were derived from allusions in the verse, “You shall stray neither after your hearts nor after your eyes, after which you would lust” (Numbers 15:39). As it was taught: “After your hearts” refers to following opinions of heresy that may arise in one’s heart. The Gemara offers a proof, as it is stated: “The fool said in his heart: ‘There is no God’; they have been corrupt, they have acted abominably; there is none who does good” (Psalms 14:1). The phrase: “After your eyes,” in this verse refers ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 12b.22: In response, the Gemara cites a baraita where these elements were derived from allusions in the verse, “You shall stray neither after your hearts nor after your eyes, after which you would lust” (Numbers 15:39). As it was taught: “After your hearts” refers to following opinions of heresy that may arise in one’s heart. The Gemara offers a proof, as it is stated: “The fool said in his heart: ‘There is no God’; they have been corrupt, they have acted abominably; there is none who does good” (Psalms 14:1). The phrase: “After your eyes,” in this verse refers to f”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 20: with sober inquiry, because, arrogating to themselves more than they have any title to 47 do, they of their own accord court darkness, nay, bewitch themselves with perverse, empty show. Hence it is that their folly, the result not only of vain curiosity, but of licentious desire and overweening confidence in the pursuit of forbidden knowledge, cannot be excused. 2. The expression of David ( Psalm 14:1 , 53 :1), “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,” is primarily applied to those who, as will shortly farther appear, sti”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 14:1: Ps 14 This wisdom psalm contains some characteristics of lament and prophetic speech. The ideals of Ps 8 have run aground on the reality of foolish human attitudes and sinful actions. With the exception of vv 5-6, this psalm parallels Ps 53. 14:1-3 Paul uses phrases from the Greek translation of this passage in his description of the depravity of all people (Rom 3:10-12). 14:1 Also known as fools, the wicked speak to themselves, think, scheme (10:4, 6, 11), and make claims; however, because they do not heed God’s revelation, they possess no understanding (14:1; 39”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LXXV.[1] (part 7): no adversary, no avenger thereof. And what afterwards saith He to thee? "I will convict thee, and will set thee before thine own face"?[6] What is this? Because now by sinning behind thy back thou settest thyself, seest not thyself, examinest not thyself; I will set thee before thyself, and will bring upon thee punishment from thyself. So also here, "Speak not iniquity against God." Attend. Many men speak this iniquity; but dare not openly, lest as blasphemers they be abhorred by godly men: in their heart they gnaw upon t”