Psalms 44:12

KJV

Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase [thy wealth] by their price.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou sellest {H4376}{H8799)} thy people {H5971} for nought {H1952}, and dost not increase {H7235}{H8765)} thy wealth by their price {H4242}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You sell your people for a pittance, you don't even profit on the sale.

Berean Standard Bible

You sell Your people for nothing; no profit do You gain from their sale.

American Standard Version

Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased thy wealth by their price.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 44:12 expresses the profound anguish of the Israelite community, who feel that God has abandoned them, selling them off "for nought" without any perceived gain or benefit to Himself. This verse encapsulates a deep sense of worthlessness and abandonment during a time of national distress, where the people, despite their faithfulness, experience inexplicable suffering and humiliation, leading them to question God's apparent inaction and the purpose of their plight.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 44 is a communal lament, part of the second book of Psalms (Psalms 42-72). It stands out for its raw honesty and direct questioning of God, particularly given the psalmists' assertion of their continued faithfulness. The psalm opens by recalling God's mighty acts of deliverance in the past, specifically the conquest of Canaan, attributing victory solely to divine power rather than human strength ([Psalms 44:1-3](/psalms/44-1 "Psalms 44:1-3 - God's Past Deliverances")). This historical remembrance sets a stark contrast with the present reality of defeat and humiliation. Verses 9-16 detail the current suffering, describing God's apparent rejection of His people, making them a reproach among nations. Verse 12 serves as a central expression of this perceived abandonment, leading into a powerful affirmation of their covenant loyalty despite suffering ([Psalms 44:17-22](/psalms/44-17 "Psalms 44:17-22 - Affirmation of Faithfulness")). The psalm concludes with an urgent plea for God to "awake" and deliver them ([Psalms 44:23-26](/psalms/44-23 "Psalms 44:23-26 - Plea for Deliverance")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The precise historical setting for Psalm 44 is debated among scholars, but it clearly reflects a period of severe national crisis, possibly a military defeat or invasion where Israel suffered greatly at the hands of its enemies. This could be during the Assyrian or Babylonian exiles, or even an earlier period of significant oppression. Culturally, the imagery of "selling" people for "nought" evokes the ancient practice of selling slaves or captives, often for a price. The psalmist's complaint is that God, as their divine Lord and Protector, has seemingly "sold" them without receiving any benefit, making their suffering appear utterly purposeless and devaluing them to nothing. This stands in stark contrast to the covenant relationship where Israel was considered God's "treasured possession" ([Exodus 19:5](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5 - Israel, God's Treasured Possession")) and "special people" ([Deuteronomy 7:6](/deuteronomy/7-6 "Deuteronomy 7:6 - Israel, God's Chosen People")). The lament reflects the profound shock and confusion of a people who believed they were in covenant with God, yet experienced what felt like divine betrayal.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 44 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Abandonment (from the human perspective)**, a common motif in lament psalms where the faithful express feelings of God's absence or inaction during suffering. This is not a theological statement about God's nature but a raw, emotional cry. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Suffering of the Righteous**, as the psalmists explicitly deny any unfaithfulness or turning away from God ([Psalms 44:17-18](/psalms/44-17 "Psalms 44:17-18 - The Psalmist's Innocence")). This challenges the simplistic Deuteronomic theology that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin, introducing the complex reality of inexplicable suffering. Thirdly, the verse touches upon the **Value of God's People**, contrasting the perceived worthlessness in their current plight with their inherent value as God's chosen. The idea that God gains "nothing" from their suffering makes their abandonment seem even more arbitrary and painful, intensifying their plea for God to remember His covenant and their worth.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sellest (Hebrew, _mākar'_):** This verb literally means "to sell" or "to hand over for a price." In this context, it functions as a powerful anthropomorphism, attributing a human commercial action to God. It conveys the psalmist's perception that God has actively disowned or disposed of His people, treating them as property to be traded, rather than a cherished covenant partner. The implication is one of deliberate abandonment, not passive neglect.
* **Nought (Hebrew, _lō' hôwn'_):** This phrase translates literally as "no gain" or "no profit." The KJV's "for nought" captures the essence of worthlessness. It emphasizes that the "selling" of God's people yields no benefit to the "seller" (God). This intensifies the bitterness of the lament, as it implies that their suffering is not only severe but also utterly pointless from a divine perspective, lacking any redemptive or strategic purpose for God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou sellest thy people for nought":** This clause expresses the core complaint. The psalmist accuses God of treating His covenant people as cheap merchandise, actively "selling" them into the hands of their enemies. The phrase "for nought" or "for nothing" emphasizes the perceived utter lack of value or purpose in this transaction. It's a cry of profound disillusionment, feeling discarded and devalued by the very God who had previously delivered them and claimed them as His own.
* **"and dost not increase [thy wealth] by their price":** This second clause reinforces the first, underscoring the pointlessness of their suffering from a human perspective. It highlights that God, the "seller," gains absolutely nothing from their "sale." Unlike a typical transaction where the seller profits, here there is no increase in "wealth" (or "gain" or "profit") for God. This makes the abandonment seem even more arbitrary and unjust, as if their suffering serves no divine purpose or advantage, deepening the sense of betrayal and confusion.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 44:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its emotional intensity. **Anthropomorphism** is central, as God is depicted engaging in the human act of "selling" His people, attributing a commercial action to the divine to express the psalmist's sense of being traded away. This is coupled with vivid **Imagery**, specifically that of a master selling servants or property for a trivial sum, or even nothing at all, which powerfully communicates the feeling of being devalued and discarded. The phrase "for nought" functions as **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the perceived worthlessness of their situation to emphasize the depth of their despair and the apparent lack of divine purpose in their suffering. The verse also contains an element of **Irony**, as the people who are God's "treasured possession" (a concept well-established in the Old Testament) are here portrayed as being sold for no value, highlighting the stark contrast between their covenant status and their current plight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, while a raw expression of human pain and confusion, grapples with profound theological questions about God's justice, sovereignty, and faithfulness in the face of inexplicable suffering. It challenges a simplistic understanding of divine retribution, asserting that the righteous can suffer immensely without apparent cause, prompting a desperate plea for God to act in accordance with His covenant character. The psalmist's lament, rather than abandoning faith, expresses a profound, albeit agonizing, trust that God is capable of hearing and responding to even the most audacious questions. It affirms the biblical permission to bring our deepest anguish and confusion directly to God, even when His ways are inscrutable.

* [Psalm 13:1](/psalms/13-1 "Psalm 13:1 - How Long, O Lord?")
* [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?")
* [Lamentations 5:20](/lamentations/5-20 "Lamentations 5:20 - Why Do You Forget Us Forever?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 44:12 offers a vital scriptural space for those experiencing profound spiritual anguish, a sense of abandonment, or suffering that seems utterly senseless and without purpose. It validates the human experience of feeling devalued and discarded, even by God, in moments of deep crisis. For believers today, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that authentic faith does not preclude honest lament and questioning. It teaches us that it is permissible, even necessary, to voice our deepest pains and confusions to God, rather than suppressing them or turning away in silence. The psalmist's daring to accuse God directly, yet remaining within the context of prayer, models a robust and resilient faith that trusts God enough to be utterly transparent. This verse challenges us to trust God's character and ultimate purposes even when His immediate actions are inscrutable, knowing that our suffering is never truly "for nought" in His sovereign plan, even if we cannot perceive the "price" or "gain" in the moment. It encourages us to hold onto hope, even when we feel forgotten, that God will ultimately act for His glory and our good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt that your suffering was "for nought" or without purpose?**
* **How does this psalm's raw honesty encourage you to bring your full self, including your doubts and accusations, to God in prayer?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge or affirm your understanding of God's sovereignty and His relationship with His suffering people?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalms 44:12 mean that God literally sells His people like property?**

Answer: No, Psalms 44:12 does not mean that God literally sells His people like property. This verse uses powerful **anthropomorphism** and **metaphorical language** to express the profound distress and confusion of the psalmist. It reflects the human perception and emotional outcry of a people who feel utterly abandoned and devalued by God during a time of severe national crisis. The imagery of "selling for nought" emphasizes the perceived lack of divine benefit or purpose in their suffering, making their plight seem arbitrary and meaningless from their limited human perspective. It is a raw lament, not a theological statement about God's actual nature or actions. Throughout the Old Testament, God consistently affirms His people as His treasured possession and covenant partners ([Exodus 19:5](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5 - Israel, God's Treasured Possession"); [Deuteronomy 7:6](/deuteronomy/7-6 "Deuteronomy 7:6 - Israel, God's Chosen People")), making the psalmist's complaint a stark expression of perceived contradiction between God's promises and their current reality.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 44:12 expresses the Old Testament community's feeling of being sold "for nought," its ultimate fulfillment and resolution are found in Christ. The lament of the psalmist, feeling abandoned and devalued, foreshadows the ultimate divine "selling" – not of God's people, but of His own Son, Jesus Christ, who was "sold" by Judas for thirty pieces of silver ([Matthew 26:15](/matthew/26-15 "Matthew 26:15 - Judas' Betrayal")). Yet, this "sale" was not "for nought"; it was for the immeasurable "price" of redemption, the purchase of a people for God through His own blood ([Revelation 5:9](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9 - The Lamb's Redemption")). Jesus himself cried out the ultimate lament of abandonment on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), bearing the full weight of humanity's sin and the Father's wrath. In His suffering, which was far from "for nought," God gained the greatest "wealth" – the reconciliation of humanity to Himself and the establishment of an eternal kingdom. Thus, the perceived purposeless suffering of Psalms 44:12 finds its redemptive meaning in the cross, demonstrating that God never truly abandons His people, but rather, in His perfect love, provides the ultimate sacrifice to secure their eternal worth and belonging, transforming apparent abandonment into glorious salvation ([Romans 8:32](/romans/8-32 "Romans 8:32 - God Did Not Spare His Own Son")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 15:13

Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and [that] for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

Deuteronomy 32:30

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

Isaiah 52:3

For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

Isaiah 52:4

For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Judges 2:14

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Isaiah 50:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Judges 3:8

¶ Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.