1.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Title. A Psalm. The sixth of nine so ascribed. Hebrew. mizmor. See App-65 .
Korah. See App-63 .
people = peoples.
world = age = transitoriness. Hebrew. heled = the world as transitory, as in Psalms 17:14 . Compare Psalms 39:5 , "age"; Psalms 89:47 , "time". Job 11:17 . These are all the occurrences.
2.
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
low = sons of 'adam. App-14 .
high = sons of ish . App-14 .
poor = helpless. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 ,
together = alike.
3.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
dark = deep.
5.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
days of evil. His were in Matthew 26:38 . Luke 22:44 , 3 John 1:12; 3 John 1:12 :27 . Hebrews 5:7 .
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
iniquity = perverseness. Hebrew ' avah . App-41 .
of my heels: or, my footsteps. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for the whole person, in order to call attention to, and thus emphasize, the reference to Genesis 3:15 . When our iniquities were laid upon Christ, then He was vulnerable and was wounded for our transgressions.
6.
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
trust. Hebrew. batah. See App-69 .
7.
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
None = no man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
by any means redeem. Hebrew Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ) = "redeeming will redeem".
redeem = deliver by power. Hebrew. padah. See notes on Exodus 6:6 with Exodus 13:13 .
his brother. Some codices read "surely" instead of "a brother". In this case the two lines read, "Surely no man (Hebrew. 'ish) can redeem, nor give to God atonement for himself".
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
a ransom = atonement. Hebrew. kapher. See Genesis 6:14 ("pitch"). Exodus 29:33 .
him = himself.
8.
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
redemption = Hebrew. padah , as "redeem", in Psalms 49:7 .
their soul = them. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
precious = costly, or, so costly is it that, &c.
it = the redemption of themselves.
9.
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
That, &c. Connect this with the end of Psalms 49:7 .
still live for ever = live on continually.
corruption. Hebrew. sahath = destruction (with Art.): i.e. in the grave.
10.
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
he seeth = it must be seen.
And leave = They leave. Homonym: 'azab. See note on Exodus 23:5 ; or, fortify, or strengthen by increasing or laying them up.
11.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
man. Hebrew. 'adam . App-14 . This corresponds with Psalms 49:20 . See the Structure, above.
13.
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
Selah. Connecting the fact of Psalms 49:14 with their thought of verses: Psalms 49:11 , Psalms 49:12 , and explaining the folly of Psalms 49:13 . See App-66 .
14.
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
the grave. Hebrew. Sheol. App-35 . Occurs three times in this Psalm, verses: Psalms 49:14 , Psalms 49:15 .
feed on them = shepherd them. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia.
the morning: i.e. the resurrection morning = the "first" resurrection of Revelation 20:6 ; resurrection of "life" (John 5:29 ); "the just" (Acts 24:15 ). Luke 14:14 .Daniel 12:2 . &c.
from their dwelling: i.e. [far] from their [former] lofty house. Hebrew. zabal, from similar Assyrian root = lofty [house], in contrast with "the grave". See note on 1 Kings 8:13 .
15.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
my soul = me, myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
the power of the grave = the hand of Sheol ; "hand" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause).
receive me = take me out of [Sheol]; same word as "carry away" in Psalms 49:17 . Compare Psalms 50:9 ; Psalms 73:24 ; Psalms 78:70 .
Selah. Connecting the fear and the folly of the hopeless man with the true hope and wisdom which takes away fear. See App-66 .
16.
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Be not thou afraid. This, with Psalms 49:5 , gives the scope of the Psalm. See the Structure (p. 767).
one = a man. Hebrew. 'ish .
17.
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
carry . . . away. See note on "receive", Psalms 49:15 .
18.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
Though = For.
his soul = himself. Hebrew. nephesh.
And men will praise = And [though] men praise thee when, &c.
19.
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
He shall = [Yet] he shall, &c, continuing from Psalms 49:18 .
his: i.e. the man's.
They: i.e. those fathers.
20.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.