Psa 53:2 | KD | STEP | In both recensions of the Psalm the name of God occurs seven times. In it reads three times Elohim and four times Jahve ; in the Psalm before us it is all seven times Elohim , which in this instance is a proper name of equal dignity with the name Jahve . Since the mingling of the two names in is perfectly intentional, inasmuch as Elohim in , describes God as a Being most highly exalted and to be reverentially acknowledged, and in as the Being who is present among men in the righteous generation and who is mighty in their weakness, it becomes clear that David himself cannot be the author of this levelling change, which is carried out more rigidly than the Elohimic character of the Psalm really demands.

‏ Psalms 53:2

In both recensions of the Psalm the name of God occurs seven times. In Psa 14:1-7 it reads three times Elohim and four times Jahve; in the Psalm before us it is all seven times Elohim, which in this instance is a proper name of equal dignity with the name Jahve. Since the mingling of the two names in Psa 14:1-7 is perfectly intentional, inasmuch as Elohim in Psa 53:1, Psa 53:2 describes God as a Being most highly exalted and to be reverentially acknowledged, and in Psa 52:5 as the Being who is present among men in the righteous generation and who is mighty in their weakness, it becomes clear that David himself cannot be the author of this levelling change, which is carried out more rigidly than the Elohimic character of the Psalm really demands.