Psalms 49:6

KJV

¶ They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

KJV (with Strong's)

They that trust {H982}{H8802)} in their wealth {H2428}, and boast {H1984}{H8691)} themselves in the multitude {H7230} of their riches {H6239};

Complete Jewish Bible

the evil of those who rely on their wealth and boast how rich they are?

Berean Standard Bible

They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.

American Standard Version

They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 49:6 introduces the central folly addressed in this wisdom psalm: the misguided confidence and arrogant self-glorification of those who place their ultimate security and identity in their material possessions. It highlights the profound illusion that wealth can provide lasting safety or significance, setting the stage for the psalm's deeper exploration of humanity's shared mortality and the ultimate futility of earthly riches in the face of divine judgment and eternal realities.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 49 is designated as a *maskil*, an instructive or contemplative psalm designed to impart wisdom, particularly concerning the perplexing issue of the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous. Verse 6 serves as the initial articulation of the problem the psalmist intends to address: the seemingly unshakeable confidence of the wealthy. It immediately follows a call to all humanity to listen to the psalmist's wisdom (verses 1-4) and precedes the psalmist's declaration that he will not fear in times of trouble because he understands the ultimate fate of those who trust in their riches (verse 5). This verse directly sets up the contrast between the temporary illusion of security offered by wealth and the enduring truth of mortality and God's sovereignty, which the rest of the psalm will elaborate upon, culminating in the declaration that no one can ransom themselves from death (verses 7-9) and the ultimate end of the foolish wealthy (verses 10-14).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, wealth was often perceived as a sign of divine blessing, and poverty as a sign of divine displeasure. This cultural assumption made the prosperity of the wicked a significant theological challenge for the righteous. Wisdom literature, including Psalms, frequently grappled with this tension. The psalm reflects a society with distinct social strata, where the "wealthy" (often associated with power and influence) could easily become arrogant and oppressive, believing their riches insulated them from the common fate of humanity. The cultural norms often encouraged the accumulation of vast estates and treasures, which could lead to a misplaced sense of invincibility, ignoring the universal reality of death and the ultimate accountability before God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse immediately introduces several core themes woven throughout Psalm 49 and broader biblical wisdom literature. The most prominent is **False Security**, highlighting the illusion that material possessions can provide ultimate safety or permanence against life's inevitable challenges, especially death. This contrasts sharply with the biblical teaching that true security is found only in God, as echoed in [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trusting in the Lord") where the psalmist declares, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." Hand-in-hand with this is **Boasting and Pride**, where those who rely on their riches develop an arrogant self-sufficiency, elevating their status and power above others. This pride blinds them to their own mortality and dependence on a higher power. Finally, the verse subtly introduces **Materialism's Emptiness**, foreshadowing the psalm's argument that a life centered on accumulating and flaunting wealth is ultimately futile and empty in the face of eternity, unable to buy redemption or extend life, a truth powerfully articulated in [Ecclesiastes 2:18-19](/ecclesiastes/2 "Ecclesiastes 2 - The Vanity of Toil").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Trust (Hebrew, _bātaḥ_):** This verb signifies leaning on, relying on, or having confidence in something or someone. When applied to wealth, as it is here, it denotes a misplaced reliance, a confidence that should be reserved for God alone. It implies a deep-seated conviction that one's financial resources are sufficient to meet all needs and overcome all dangers, including the ultimate danger of death. This is a fundamental theological error, as it shifts ultimate dependence from the Creator to the created.
* **Boast themselves (Hebrew, _hālāl_):** This word carries the primary meaning "to praise," "to glory," or "to shine." In the reflexive form used here ("boast themselves"), it refers to self-glorification, an inward celebration of one's own material abundance, often accompanied by an outward display of pride and arrogance. It suggests a self-congratulatory attitude, where one's identity and worth are derived from their possessions, leading to an inflated sense of superiority over others.
* **Multitude of their riches (Hebrew, _rōv ‘ōshrām_):** The term "multitude" (רֹב, _rōv_) emphasizes the sheer volume, abundance, or greatness of their wealth. It is not merely that they have riches, but that they have *many* riches, a vast amount. This intensifies the folly of their trust and boasting, highlighting that even an overwhelming quantity of wealth is ultimately insufficient to provide true security or eternal life. The phrase underscores the human tendency to believe that if only one had *enough*, or *more than enough*, they could escape life's ultimate limitations.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They that trust in their wealth":** This clause identifies the subject of the psalm's critique: individuals whose fundamental security and hope are anchored not in God, but in their material possessions. "Trust" here is not merely an acknowledgment of having resources, but a deep-seated reliance and confidence, suggesting that their wealth is their ultimate refuge and source of strength. This misplaced trust constitutes a form of idolatry, where the created thing (wealth) usurps the place of the Creator.
* **"and boast themselves":** This part describes the outward manifestation and inward attitude stemming from their misplaced trust. It speaks of a self-glorification, an arrogant pride that arises from their financial standing. This boasting is not merely about what they possess, but about what their possessions enable them to do or be, fostering a sense of self-sufficiency and superiority over those less fortunate. It reflects a heart that finds its glory in its own achievements and acquisitions rather than in God.
* **"in the multitude of their riches":** This final phrase amplifies the preceding two clauses, specifying the *source* and *extent* of their misplaced trust and boasting. It's not just "riches," but the "multitude" or abundance of them, indicating a vast accumulation. This emphasizes the profound spiritual blindness of those who believe that sheer quantity of material possessions can provide ultimate security, immortality, or true worth, setting the stage for the psalm's argument that such wealth is utterly powerless in the face of death and divine judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 49:6 employs several literary devices to convey its message. The primary device is **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first clause ("They that trust in their wealth"). This repetition emphasizes the dual nature of the folly: a misplaced internal reliance and an outward display of pride, both rooted in material possessions. There is also an implied **Irony**, as the very thing in which these individuals place their trust and boast—their vast wealth—will prove utterly useless in the face of death, which the psalm will elaborate on. This sets up a **Contrast** between the apparent strength and security of the wealthy and their ultimate vulnerability and foolishness, a theme central to wisdom literature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 49:6 lays bare a fundamental theological error: the idolatry of wealth. By placing trust and deriving identity from material possessions, individuals effectively dethrone God and enthrone their riches. This verse speaks to the universal human temptation to find ultimate security and significance in created things rather than in the Creator. It highlights the deceptive nature of wealth, which promises security but delivers only an illusion, ultimately failing to ransom a life from death or provide true peace. The psalm's message aligns with the consistent biblical warning against materialism and the love of money, emphasizing that true life and lasting value are found only in a right relationship with God, who alone is the source of all true security and redemption.

* [Proverbs 11:28](/proverbs/11-28 "Proverbs 11:28 - Trusting in Riches") - "He that trusts in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch."
* [Luke 12:15](/luke/12-15 "Luke 12:15 - Beware of Covetousness") - "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses."
* [1 Timothy 6:17](/1_timothy/6-17 "1 Timothy 6:17 - The Danger of Riches") - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 49:6 serves as a powerful mirror, inviting us to critically examine the true object of our trust and the source of our boasting. In a world that often equates success with financial accumulation and societal status, this verse calls believers to a radical reorientation of values. It prompts us to consider whether our confidence ultimately rests in our bank accounts, careers, investments, or possessions, or in the steadfast faithfulness and sovereign provision of God. True wisdom acknowledges our inherent mortality and God's ultimate sovereignty over all things, including our lives and our wealth. This verse encourages a spirit of humility, reminding us that earthly achievements and assets are fleeting and temporary, unable to secure our future beyond the grave. Instead of boasting in what we have, we are called to boast in the Lord and to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that true value is found not in material abundance but in a right relationship with God, who alone can redeem us from the power of the grave and offer eternal life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where do I instinctively place my trust when faced with uncertainty or fear about the future? Is it in my resources or in God?**
* **In what ways might I be subtly boasting in my possessions, achievements, or social standing, rather than in God's grace and provision?**
* **How does an eternal perspective on life challenge my current priorities regarding money and material possessions?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a heart that trusts solely in God and finds its joy and security in Him, rather than in the "multitude of riches"?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalm 49:6 imply that all wealth is inherently evil or that rich people are necessarily condemned?**

Answer: Not at all. Psalm 49:6 does not condemn wealth itself, but rather the *trust* in wealth and the *boasting* that often accompanies it. The issue is where one places their ultimate security and identity. The Bible acknowledges that wealth can be a blessing and a tool for good (e.g., [Proverbs 3:9-10](/proverbs/3-9 "Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honoring God with Wealth")). However, it consistently warns against the dangers of covetousness, greed, and placing one's hope in "uncertain riches" rather than in God (e.g., [1 Timothy 6:9-10](/1_timothy/6-9 "1 Timothy 6:9-10 - The Dangers of Riches")). The problem is when wealth becomes an idol, usurping God's rightful place in the heart and leading to a false sense of invincibility against mortality and divine judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 49:6, with its stark portrayal of the futility of trusting in wealth to escape death, finds its ultimate fulfillment and answer in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The psalm laments that "none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (verse 7), highlighting humanity's inability to purchase salvation or eternal life. This is precisely what Jesus accomplished. He is the true and perfect "ransom" (as seen in [Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve") and [1 Timothy 2:6](/1_timothy/2-6 "1 Timothy 2:6 - Christ, the Ransom for All")), whose sacrifice on the cross paid the debt for sin that no amount of human wealth could ever cover. Jesus Himself taught extensively on the deceptive nature of riches, warning against storing up "treasures upon earth" (as recorded in [Matthew 6:19](/matthew/6-19 "Matthew 6:19 - Treasures in Heaven")) and emphasizing that true riches are found in God (see [Luke 12:21](/luke/12-21 "Luke 12:21 - The Rich Fool")). He demonstrated that true life is not found in the abundance of possessions but in following Him, the one who, though "rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (as described in [2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Example of Generosity")). In Christ, we find the ultimate security and boast in His finished work, not in fleeting earthly wealth, for He has conquered death and offers eternal life to all who trust in Him, a redemption money cannot buy.

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

Psalms 52:7

Lo, [this is] the man [that] made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, [and] strengthened himself in his wickedness.

Jeremiah 9:23

¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:

1 Timothy 6:17

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Ezekiel 28:4

With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

Ezekiel 28:5

By thy great wisdom [and] by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

Mark 10:24

And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Proverbs 11:28

¶ He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.