Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 49

All ye people. The problem to be discussed merits the attention of all mankind. Verses 1–4 constitute an introductory exhortation, solemn and formal (see Deut. 32:1; Ps. 50:1; Isa. 1:2; Micah 1:2). World. Heb. cheled, “duration of life.” Cheled is also used to designate “the world” as composed of the passing generations of men (see Ps. 17:14).

Low and high. Literally, “sons of ordinary men [Heb. ’adam] and sons of great men [Heb. ’ish]” (see on Ps. 4:2; Ps. 8:4). The psalm teaches the humble not to envy or to fear the rich, and the rich not to trust in their riches or to use them unjustly to lord it over the poor. Thus the rich are warned and the poor consoled.

Wisdom. In the Hebrew the words for both “wisdom” and “understanding” are in the plural, calling attention to the varied aspects of these qualifications. See on Prov. 1:2 for definitions of “wisdom” and “understanding.”

Parable. Heb. mashal, “similitude,” “proverb,” “song,” or “poem” (see p. 945). Dark saying. Or, “riddle,” a point so obscure as to need untangling. Harp. Better, “a lyre” (see p. 34). Sentiments worthy of retention are often best stored in the mind when set to music. “There are few means more effective for fixing His [God’s] words in the memory than repeating them in song” (Ed 167).

Wherefore? The psalmist puts the consoling results of his meditation first, before he proceeds with the discussion. He has concluded that he has no reason to fear.

Can by any means redeem. A denial emphatically expressed in the Hebrew. No man by his wealth can rescue another from death, not even his own brother. No man can shift his responsibility or accept another’s.

Redemption. Verse 8 is parenthetical. Their soul. “They themselves” (see on Ps. 16:10). Ransom of an individual from death is the theme of the psalmist’s discussion. Precious. Or, “costly.” It is beyond the power of wealth to save a man from death. Ceaseth for ever. Wealth is insufficient, no matter how long it may be employed, to save one human being from the grave.

Corruption. See on Ps. 16:10.

He. The wealthy man (v. 6). Verse 10 states a self-evident natural law. Not even wisdom keeps its possessor from dying. Brutish. Or, “stupid.”

Their inward thought. The rich seem to forget that, sooner or later, men forget the name of the man who once owned their estates, and his memory passes into oblivion.

In honour. Or, “in splendor.” Abideth not. Verse 12 is the refrain of the psalm. It appears again with variation as v. 20. Abideth. Heb. lin, “to spend the night,” not remaining permanently. He will not even spend the “night” of life, but will soon pass away. Perish. Literally, “are reduced to silence,” or “are brought to rest.”

Their posterity. Those who follow them are as foolish as their fathers. Approve their sayings. Literally, “delight in their mouth.” These foolish descendants also take pleasure in uttering the same foolish sentiments as their wealthy ancestors. The evil is perpetuated. Selah. See p. 629.

Grave. Heb. she’ol (see on Prov. 15:11). Shall feed on. Heb. ra‘ah, “to feed a flock,” “to perform the function of a shepherd.” The idea is not that death shall eat them, but that death shall be their shepherd. Beauty. The body crumbles to dust.

My soul. “Me” (see on Ps. 16:10). From the power of the grave. Literally, “from the hand of she’ol” (see on Prov. 15:11), a vivid personification.

He shall receive me. Better, “He shall receive me for Himself.” In this short clause, all the more powerful because of its brevity, is a suggestion of the doctrine of a future life and the resurrection from the dead (see PK 264). In Gen. 5:24 another form of the same verb describes the translation of Enoch (see 2 Kings 2:10). Selah. See p. 629.

Be not thou afraid. The psalmist turns from encouraging himself to encouraging others. Glory. This may be thought of as the sumptuousness that wealth provides.

Carry nothing away. See Job 1:21; Eccl. 5:15; Luke 12:20; 1 Tim. 6:7. Glory. See on v. 16. The rich man’s wealth cannot go down to the grave with him. Despite the custom of many peoples of burying wealth with the deceased, the body returns to the dust.

Blessed his soul. The picture is that of a rich man complimenting himself on his sagacity in amassing his fortune (see Deut. 29:19; Luke 12:19). Men will praise thee. Many are ready to praise a man for accumulating that which is the universal desire among men. This general acclaim is no proof of ultimate success.

He shall go. That is, the unrighteous man, who is the subject of the psalm. Shall never see light. The rich sinner and his progenitors will never again look upon the things that were to them the source of their pride and self-congratulation (see Job 33:30).

Like the beasts. The refrain of v. 12 is repeated, with slight alterations. Instead of “abideth not,” this verse has “understandeth not,” although a number of Hebrew manuscripts read “abideth not” here also. The LXX has “understands not” in both instances. In Hebrew there is a difference of only one letter between the two readings. According to v. 12, men in general are like beasts that perish; according to this verse, men perish like brutes only if they do not have the true wisdom.