Bible Commentaries
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible
Psalms 53
Where no fear was, i.e. where there was no great nor sufficient cause of fear. See Leviticus 26:36 Deuteronomy 28:65 Job 15:21 Proverbs 28:1. They who designed to secure themselves from all fear and danger by their contempt of God, and by the persecution of good men, and by other wicked courses, were by those means filled with the terrors which they sought to avoid.
Hath scattered the bones; hath not only broken their bones, i.e. their strength and force, which is oft noted by the bones, as Psalms 6:2 31:10 51:8, but also dispersed them hither and thither, so as there is no hopes of a reunion and restoration.
Against thee, i.e. against my people, expressed, Psalms 53:4, or Israel, or Zion, as it is in the next verse.
Thou, O Zion, or Jerusalem, which they besiege,
hast put them to shame, for the great and strange disappointment of their hopes and confidence. It was a great reproach to them, for such numerous and mighty forces to be baffled and conquered by those whom they thought to swallow up at a morsel.
Despised them; or, rejected them; cursed them. Therefore it is no wonder if they could not stand before thee.
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