Psalm 49:1-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 49:1-5

This is the psalmist's preface to his discourse concerning the vanity of the world and its insufficiency to make us happy; and we seldom meet with an introduction more solemn than this is; for there is no truth of more undoubted certainty, nor of greater weight and importance, and the consideration of which will be of more advantage to us. I. He demands the attention of others to that which he was about to say (Ps. 49:1, 2): Hear this, all you people; hear it and heed it, hear it and consider... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:1

Hear this ,.... Not the law, as some Jewish writers F12 Midrash Tillim in loc. Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 106. 2. interpret it, which was not desirable to be heard by those that did hear it; it being a voice of wrath and terror, a cursing law, and a ministration of condemnation and death; but rather אחויתא דא , "this news", as the Targum; the good news of the Gospel; the word of "this" salvation; the voice from heaven; the word not spoken by angels, but by the Lord himself: or ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:2

Both low and high ,.... Or "both the sons of Adam and the sons of men". By the sons of "Adam" are meant the multitude of the people, as Ben Melech explains it; the common people, the meaner sort, the base things of this world; and such are they, generally speaking, who are called by grace under the Gospel dispensation: and by "the sons of men" are meant the princes, nobles, and great men of the earth; men of high birth and illustrious extraction: so Adam is rendered, "the mean man", and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:3

My mouth shall speak of wisdom ,.... Or "wisdoms" F13 חכמות "sapientias", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis. ; of Christ, who is so called, Proverbs 1:20 . He being as a divine Person the wisdom of God, and the only wise God; and having all the treasures of wisdom in him, as man and Mediator: of him the prophet spake, and of him the apostles and all Gospel ministers speak; of the glories of his Person, of the fulness of his grace, and of his wonderful... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:4

I will incline mine ear to a parable ,.... In which way of speaking the doctrines of the Gospel were delivered out by Christ, Matthew 13:3 . Wherefore the prophet, representing his apostles and disciples, signifies that he would listen thereunto, that he might attain to the knowledge thereof, and communicate it to others; I will open my dark saying upon the harp ; the enigmas, riddles, and mysteries of the Gospel, being understood by the ministers of it, are opened and explained in a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:1

Hear this, all ye people - The four first verses contain the author's exordium or introduction, delivered in a very pompous style and promising the deepest lessons of wisdom and instruction. But what was rare then is common-place now. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:4

I will incline mine ear to a parable - This was the general method of conveying instruction among the Asiatics. They used much figure and metaphor to induce the reader to study deeply in order to find out the meaning. This had its use; it obliged men to think and reflect deeply; and thus in some measure taught them the use, government, and management of their minds. My dark saying upon the harp - Music was sometimes used to soothe the animal spirits, and thus prepare the mind for the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:1

Verse 1 1.Hear this, all ye people. Whoever may have been the penman of this psalm, it discusses one of the most important principles in divine philosophy, and there is a propriety in the elevated terms designed to awaken and secure attention, with which the Psalmist announces his purpose to discourse of things of a deep and momentous nature. To a superficial view, indeed, the subject might seem trite and common-place, treating, as he does, of the shortness of human life, and the vanity of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:3

Verse 3 3.My mouth shall speak of wisdom The prophet was warranted in applying these commendatory terms to the doctrine which he was about to communicate. It is, no doubt, by plain appeals to observation that we find him reproving human folly; but the general principle upon which his instruction proceeds is one by no means obvious to the common sense of mankind, not to say that his design in using such terms is less to assert the dignity of his subject than simply to awaken attention. This he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:4

Verse 4 4.I will incline my ear (214) to a parable The Hebrew word משל , mashal, (215) which I have translated parable, properly denotes a similitude; but it is often applied to any deep or weighty sayings, because these are generally embellished with figures and metaphors. The noun which follows, חידת, chidoth (216) and which I have rendered an enigma, or riddle, is to be understood in nearly the same sense. In Ezekiel 17:2, we have both the nouns with their corresponding verbs joined... read more

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