Psalms 44:12

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

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

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

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

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

Commentary

Context of Psalms 44:12

Psalm 44 is a poignant communal lament, voiced by the people of Israel during a time of significant national distress and defeat. The psalm opens by recalling God's mighty acts of deliverance in the past (Psalm 44:1-3), affirming that their trust is in God and not in their own strength. However, the current reality is one of profound humiliation and suffering, where they feel abandoned and exposed to their enemies. Verse 12, "Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase [thy wealth] by their price," encapsulates this feeling of being discarded without value or benefit to God, intensifying their plea for divine intervention.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Abandonment (from the human perspective): The verse expresses the deep pain and confusion of a people who feel that God has "sold" them off cheaply, as if they were slaves or property of no worth. This is not a theological statement about God's actual nature, but a raw, emotional cry from those enduring inexplicable suffering and perceived betrayal.
  • Worthlessness in Suffering: The phrase "for nought" (or "for nothing") highlights the perceived lack of purpose or gain in their affliction. Unlike typical transactions where a seller gains something, here the divine "seller" gains nothing, making the abandonment seem even more arbitrary and painful. This contrasts sharply with the biblical understanding of God's people as His treasured possession.
  • The Cry of the Righteous in Distress: Despite their suffering, the psalmists affirm their faithfulness and rejection of idolatry (Psalm 44:17-18). This makes their lament all the more powerful, as it comes from those who believe they are upholding their covenant with God, yet are experiencing immense hardship.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "sellest... for nought" translates the Hebrew verb mฤkar (ืžึธื›ึทืจ), meaning "to sell," and the noun lล' hรดwn (ืœึนื ื”ื•ึนืŸ), meaning "no gain" or "no profit." The imagery is that of a master selling servants or property for a trivial sum, or even nothing at all. This emphasizes the perceived lack of value or benefit to God in their current plight. Itโ€™s an expression of profound disillusionment, not a literal statement about God engaging in transactions. The idea of God not increasing "thy wealth" by their price further underscores the utter lack of divine benefit from their suffering, which makes their situation seem unjust and purposeless from their limited human perspective.

Related Scriptures

This verse reflects a common theme in the laments of the Old Testament, where the faithful question God's apparent silence or inaction during times of severe trial. Similar sentiments of feeling abandoned or forgotten by God can be found in other psalms, such as Psalm 13:1 ("How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?") or Psalm 22:1. However, unlike some laments, Psalm 44 emphasizes the unearned nature of their suffering, as they claim faithfulness. The concept of God's people being a special people unto Himself stands in stark contrast to the feeling expressed in this verse.

Practical Application and Reflection

Psalms 44:12 provides a powerful voice for those who feel utterly abandoned, undervalued, or whose suffering seems senseless. It validates the human experience of deep spiritual anguish and confusion when God's ways are inscrutable. For believers today, this verse reminds us that:

  • It is permissible to lament: The Bible gives us permission to express our rawest emotions and questions to God, even accusations, in the midst of pain.
  • God can handle our questions: Our honest cries of confusion and hurt do not diminish God's sovereignty or love. He invites us to bring our whole selves to Him.
  • Suffering is not always punishment: The psalmist's claim of faithfulness highlights that not all suffering is a direct consequence of sin. Sometimes, the righteous suffer, leading to profound questions about God's purposes. This challenges us to trust God's character even when His plan is unclear, knowing that He works all things for good for those who love Him.

Ultimately, this verse is a testament to the psalmist's profound faith, daring to question God directly rather than turning away from Him, holding onto the hope that God will eventually intervene and restore their fortunes (Psalm 44:26).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified 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

    ยถ 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

    ยถ 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.