Psalm 49:7-11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 49:6-14

In these verses we have, I. A description of the spirit and way of worldly people, whose portion is in this life, Ps. 17:14. It is taken for granted that they have wealth, and a multitude of riches (Ps. 49:6), houses and lands of inheritance, which they call their own, Ps. 49:11. God often gives abundance of the good things of this world to bad men who live in contempt of him and rebellion against him, by which it appears that they are not the best things in themselves (for then God would give... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:7

None of them can by any means redeem his brother ,.... That is, "with their substance", or "riches", as the Targum and Jarchi supply. Some, according to the order of the words in the original, render them, "a brother redeeming cannot redeem a man", or "anyone" F17 So Cocceius; and some in Michaelis. : but, as Aben Ezra observes, אח , "a brother", is the effect, and איש , "a man", is the cause. The Targum is, "his brother that is a captive, a man redeeming cannot redeem with his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:8

For the redemption of their soul is precious ,.... Or "heavy" F19 יקר "gravis", De Dieu, Michaelis. ; it is, as Jarchi observes, "heavier than their substance": it is too weighty a matter for the richest man in the world to engage in; he is not equal to it; his riches are not an equivalent to the redemption of a soul which has sinned, and which is of more worth than the whole world: "what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" or another for him? all the substance of his house... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:9

That he should still live for ever ,.... Or "though he should live", &c.; F23 ויהי "etiamsi vivat", Gejerus. . Though the rich man should live ever so long, a thousand years twice told, as in Ecclesiastes 6:6 ; yet he could not in all this time, with all his riches, redeem his brother; and at last must die himself, and so must his brother too, as his own experience and observation may assure him, Psalm 49:10 . Or the meaning is, he cannot so redeem his brother, or give to God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:10

For he seeth that wise men die ,.... This is a reason convincing the rich man, that with all his riches he cannot redeem his brother from death; since he must see, by daily and constant experience, that none are exempted from dying, no, not even the wise man; and therefore, not the rich, since wisdom is better than riches, and is said to give life, Ecclesiastes 7:12 ; and yet wise men die, yea, Solomon, the wisest of men, died. Worldly wise men, such who are wiser in their generation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:11

Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever ,.... This is the thought of their hearts, what they secretly imagine, and conclude within themselves; either that their families, which may be meant by their houses, see 2 Samuel 3:1 ; shall continue in succeeding ages, to the end of the world, to inherit their possessions, and perpetuate their name; though often so it is, that great families become extinct, and the seed of the wicked is cut off: or that their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:7

Sone of them can by any means redeem his brother - Wealth cannot save from death; brother, however rich, cannot save his brother; nor will God accept riches as a ransom for the life or soul of any transgressor. To procure health of body, peace of mind, redemption from death, and eternal glory, riches are sought for and applied in vain. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:8

For the redemption of their soul is precious - It is of too high a price to be redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, and has required the sacrificial death of Christ. And it ceaseth for ever - This is very obscure, and may apply to the ransom which riches could produce. That ransom must be for ever unavailable, because of the value of the soul. Or this clause should be added to the following verse, and read thus: "And though he cease to be, ( וחדל vechadal ),... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:10

For he seeth that wise men die - Though they may be rich, and their wisdom teach them the best method of managing their riches so as to derive all the good from them they can possibly produce, yet they die as well as the fool and the poor ignorant man; and their wealth is left to others who will be equally disappointed in their expectation from it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:11

Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever - Thus, by interpolation, we have endeavored to patch up a sense to this clause. Instead of קרבם kirbam , their inward part, the Septuagint appear to have used a copy in which the second and third letters have been transposed קברם kibram , their sepulchres; for they translate: Και οἱ ταφοι αυτων οικιαι αυτων εις τον αιωνα· "For their graves are their dwellings for ever." So six or seven feet long, and two or three... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 49:6-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:11

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