Psalms 49:7

KJV

None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

KJV (with Strong's)

None of them can {H376} by any means {H6299}{H8800)} redeem {H6299}{H8799)} his brother {H251}, nor give {H5414}{H8799)} to God {H430} a ransom {H3724} for him:

Complete Jewish Bible

No one can ever redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,

Berean Standard Bible

No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

American Standard Version

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 49:7 issues a profound and sobering declaration regarding the inherent limitations of humanity, asserting that no individual, regardless of their earthly wealth, power, or influence, possesses the capacity to redeem another from the clutches of death or spiritual peril, nor can they offer a sufficient payment to God as a ransom for such a purpose. This verse functions as a pivotal statement within a wisdom psalm, directly challenging the common human tendency to place ultimate trust in fleeting material possessions, thereby powerfully underscoring the futility of earthly riches in the face of mortality and divine judgment, and implicitly pointing to the indispensable necessity of a divine solution for true and eternal redemption.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 49 is classified as a *maschil*, an instructional or contemplative psalm, designed to impart profound wisdom concerning the universal human dilemma of mortality and the pursuit of lasting security. It masterfully contrasts the ultimate destiny of the arrogant rich, who foolishly trust in their accumulated wealth and boast in their abundance (as described in [Psalms 49:6](/psalms/49-6 "Psalms 49:6 - Trusting in Riches")), with the righteous who wisely place their hope and trust in God alone. Verse 7 serves as a crucial theological linchpin within this contrast, providing the fundamental reason *why* the rich are ultimately foolish: their wealth, no matter how vast, cannot save them or anyone else from the inevitability of death or from divine accountability. It directly follows the psalmist's initial call for all people to listen to this profound wisdom (found in [Psalms 49:1-4](/psalms/49-1-4 "Psalms 49:1-4 - A Call to Hear Wisdom")) and the vivid description of the self-assured wealthy (in [Psalms 49:5-6](/psalms/49-5-6 "Psalms 49:5-6 - The Foolishness of Trusting in Riches")), thereby setting the theological stage for the psalm's ultimate conclusion that only God possesses the power to deliver the righteous from the grave (as emphatically stated in [Psalms 49:15](/psalms/49-15 "Psalms 49:15 - God Will Redeem My Soul")). The psalm's structure thus moves from a general observation of universal human folly to a specific, profound theological truth about the exclusive nature of divine redemption.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, as in many societies throughout history, wealth and material prosperity were frequently perceived as tangible indicators of divine favor, as well as a primary source of security, social status, and political power. Kings, nobles, and other powerful individuals often amassed immense riches, genuinely believing that such wealth could provide them with unparalleled influence, robust protection, and even a form of immortality through their enduring legacy or the construction of grand monuments. The concept of a "ransom" (Hebrew *kopher*) was a well-established and understood legal and social construct, typically referring to a compensatory payment made to avert a severe penalty, secure the release of a captive, or provide restitution for a life (as seen in [Exodus 21:30](/exodus/21-30 "Exodus 21:30 - A Ransom for a Life")). However, Psalm 49:7 profoundly subverts this prevailing worldly understanding, asserting with divine authority that no humanly devised payment, no matter how exorbitant or meticulously planned, can ever suffice as a ransom to God for the ultimate debt of life or for deliverance from spiritual judgment. This powerful declaration directly challenges the deeply ingrained cultural assumptions about the ultimate power and efficacy of wealth.
* **Key Themes:** This verse makes a profoundly significant contribution to several overarching theological and narrative themes within Psalm 49 and, indeed, the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it emphatically highlights the **futility of earthly riches** as a viable means of securing ultimate life, spiritual salvation, or lasting security; wealth is utterly powerless against the twin realities of death and divine judgment. Secondly, it underscores the **universal human mortality and inherent limitation**, emphasizing that all human beings, without exception, regardless of their social status, accumulated possessions, or worldly achievements, are irrevocably subject to death and cannot, through their own efforts, escape its grasp or redeem others from its dominion. Thirdly, by explicitly stating that no human can provide a sufficient "ransom" to God, the verse implicitly but powerfully points to the **absolute necessity of a divine solution for redemption**. This crucial theological insight sets the stage for a deeper biblical understanding that true, eternal deliverance from the grave and from spiritual death must come exclusively from God alone, a theme powerfully echoed later in the psalm when the psalmist confidently declares, "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me" ([Psalms 49:15](/psalms/49-15 "Psalms 49:15 - God Redeems from the Grave")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **None (Hebrew, _ʼîysh'_):** The Hebrew word אִישׁ (_ʼîysh_) typically means "a man" or "an individual." In this context, appearing as "None of them," it refers back to the individuals described in the preceding verses—those who trust in their wealth. The use of this term here emphasizes the universal scope of the psalmist's declaration: it is not just *some* men, but *no man*—no individual human being, regardless of their status or resources—who possesses the ability to perform the actions described. This highlights the absolute and inherent limitation of humanity in the face of ultimate spiritual realities.
* **Redeem (Hebrew, _pâdâh'_):** The Hebrew verb פָדָה (_pâdâh_) means "to sever," "to ransom," "to deliver," or "to rescue." It often implies the payment of a price or an exchange to free someone from bondage, danger, or the power of death. In Psalms 49:7, the assertion that "none can by any means redeem his brother" underscores the absolute inability of any human to perform this ultimate act of liberation for another's soul or life, especially in the context of divine judgment or the inevitability of death. This specific usage highlights that such a profound rescue is utterly beyond human capability and financial means.
* **Ransom (Hebrew, _kôpher'_):** The Hebrew noun כֹּפֶר (_kôpher_) is derived from a root meaning "to cover" or "to atone." It refers to a "price of a life," a "payment that covers or atones," or a sum given to appease, avert punishment, or make expiation. The verse states that no human can "give to God a ransom for him," meaning no amount of human wealth, influence, or personal merit can serve as a sufficient payment to God to cover the debt of sin, to appease divine justice, or to purchase eternal life for oneself or another. This term is profoundly significant as it sets the theological stage for the New Testament understanding of Christ's sacrifice, where He provides the ultimate and uniquely sufficient *kôpher*.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"None [of them]":** This opening phrase deliberately points back to the "men who trust in their wealth" and "boast in the multitude of their riches" mentioned in [Psalms 49:6](/psalms/49-6 "Psalms 49:6 - Trusting in Riches"). By beginning with this universal negation, the psalmist immediately establishes that even the most powerful, influential, or materially wealthy individuals are subject to this fundamental human limitation. It emphatically underscores that human resources, no matter how vast or impressive, are utterly ineffective when confronted with ultimate spiritual and existential realities like death and divine judgment.
* **"can by any means redeem his brother":** This clause powerfully emphasizes the utter impossibility of human intervention in the most profound matters of life, death, and spiritual redemption. The phrase "by any means" (literally, an intensive infinitive absolute construction in Hebrew, "redeeming he shall redeem") serves to amplify the verb, highlighting the absolute and undeniable nature of this inability. It signifies that not only can a person not redeem themselves from the grip of death or divine judgment, but they also completely lack the power to liberate even their closest kin or fellow human being. This underscores the unique and transcendent nature of true redemption as something entirely beyond human capacity or earthly transaction.
* **"nor give to God a ransom for him":** This final clause precisely specifies both the recipient and the purpose of the payment: it is to be given "to God" and serves as a "ransom" for the individual. The explicit inability to provide this ransom underscores the infinite and unbridgeable gap between finite human resources and the infinite divine requirement for atonement. No human offering, no matter how valuable or well-intentioned, can ever satisfy God's perfect justice or purchase eternal life. This statement implicitly but powerfully points to the absolute necessity of a non-human, divine provision for such a ransom, thereby prophetically foreshadowing the ultimate and sufficient sacrifice that God Himself would graciously provide.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 49:7 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound and timeless message. Central to its impact is the powerful use of **Contrast**, which starkly juxtaposes the immense, yet ultimately hollow and futile, power of human wealth and influence with the absolute, unyielding, and inescapable power of death and divine judgment. The verse functions primarily as a **Rhetorical Assertion**, a strong, declarative statement presented as an undeniable and self-evident truth, leaving absolutely no room for doubt about humanity's inherent inability to secure ultimate salvation or eternal life through its own efforts. There is also a subtle yet significant element of **Understatement** in its concise simplicity; by merely stating "none can," it profoundly highlights the vastness of human limitation and spiritual impotence in the face of eternal realities. Finally, the verse contains a crucial **Foreshadowing** of the indispensable need for a divine solution. By unequivocally declaring that no human can provide the necessary "ransom," it implicitly but powerfully points to the unique, singular, and divinely appointed nature of a future, non-human, and perfectly sufficient ransom, thereby laying a foundational theological groundwork for later, more complete biblical revelation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 49:7 stands as a stark and uncompromising biblical declaration of humanity's inherent spiritual bankruptcy and its utter inability to secure ultimate salvation or eternal life through any human means, especially the accumulation of wealth or reliance on personal merit. It establishes a foundational theological truth: there exists a profound and unbridgeable chasm between finite human capacity and the infinite divine requirement for true redemption. This verse powerfully underscores that the pervasive problem of sin and the inevitability of mortality are so deeply rooted and extensive that no amount of human effort, personal merit, or material possession can ever bridge this chasm. By explicitly stating that no one can "give to God a ransom," the psalm implicitly but powerfully highlights the absolute necessity of a divine intervention, thereby meticulously preparing the theological ground for the New Testament revelation of God's unique, gracious, and all-sufficient provision for atonement. It reveals with striking clarity that humanity's greatest and most desperate need is a redemption that utterly transcends all human capability, a redemption that only God Himself can provide.

* [Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve and Give His Life as a Ransom")
* [1 Timothy 2:5-6](/1_timothy/2-5-6 "1 Timothy 2:5-6 - One Mediator, Christ Jesus, Who Gave Himself as a Ransom")
* [Romans 3:23-24](/romans/3-23-24 "Romans 3:23-24 - All Have Sinned and Are Justified Freely by Grace")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 49:7 serves as a powerful and urgent call to profound spiritual humility and a critical re-evaluation of where we, as individuals and as a society, tend to place our ultimate trust and hope. In a world that frequently equates wealth, power, and influence with ultimate security, lasting significance, and even happiness, this verse shatters that pervasive illusion. It soberly reminds us that these earthly assets, no matter how vast or impressive, are utterly useless and impotent in the face of the ultimate realities of death and eternal judgment. This truth challenges us to confront the uncomfortable reality of our own inherent limitations and the profound futility of relying on anything or anyone other than God for true, lasting, and eternal salvation. Understanding that no human can "redeem his brother" or "give to God a ransom" should decisively lead us away from any semblance of self-sufficiency or self-reliance and toward a profound, unwavering dependence on God's unique and sovereign provision. It compels us to shift our ultimate hope and trust from fleeting material possessions, temporary human achievements, or worldly accolades to the eternal, unfailing, and all-sufficient power of God, who alone possesses the means, the authority, and the loving will to provide ultimate redemption and life beyond the grave. This liberating truth should inspire deep gratitude for the divine ransom that has been graciously provided and foster a renewed, passionate commitment to living a life that authentically reflects our absolute reliance on Him, rather than on the world's deceptive and fleeting securities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways do I, or others I observe, tend to place undue trust in earthly resources (such as money, social status, professional achievements, or personal connections) for ultimate security or significance, rather than placing that trust wholeheartedly in God?**
* **How does the absolute and unequivocal inability of humans to "redeem" or "ransom" highlight the unique, indispensable, and utterly gracious nature of God's provision for salvation, uniquely found in Christ Jesus?**
* **What concrete, practical steps can I intentionally take this week to consciously and deliberately shift my reliance from temporary, fleeting earthly things to the enduring, unwavering truth of God's redemptive power and His unfailing promises?**

### FAQ
**Question?** Why does the psalm focus so much on wealth and the rich?

Answer: The psalm focuses intensely on wealth and the rich not to condemn wealth itself as inherently evil, but rather to critique and expose the profound *misplaced trust* in it. In ancient societies, much like today, wealth often conveyed a false sense of security, immense power, and even a misguided belief in a form of earthly immortality through legacy. The psalmist specifically targets those who "trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches" ([Psalms 49:6](/psalms/49-6 "Psalms 49:6 - Trusting in Riches")), as they erroneously believe it can protect them from the ultimate and inescapable realities of death and divine judgment. Psalms 49:7 directly refutes this dangerous illusion, demonstrating with absolute clarity that wealth is utterly powerless to "redeem his brother" or "give to God a ransom." The psalm employs the wealthy as a prime, illustrative example to highlight a universal human folly: the pervasive tendency to seek ultimate security, meaning, and salvation in anything other than God. Ultimately, it serves as a profound wisdom lesson intended for all people, rich and poor alike, urging them to place their hope and trust exclusively in the true and only source of eternal life and redemption.

**Question?** Does "redeem his brother" refer only to physical death?

Answer: While the immediate context of Psalm 49 certainly addresses the universal and unavoidable inevitability of physical death for all humanity, the phrase "redeem his brother" extends far beyond mere physical mortality to encompass a deeper, more profound spiritual inability. The "ransom" (Hebrew *kôpher*) mentioned in the second half of the verse carries strong and significant theological connotations of atonement, covering for sin, and expiation—which fundamentally addresses a spiritual debt owed to God. Therefore, the verse implicitly, yet powerfully, conveys humanity's inherent inability to secure eternal life or freedom from divine judgment for another person, or indeed, even for oneself. It points to a spiritual peril from which no human being, through any means, can deliver another, thereby highlighting the absolute and desperate need for a divine solution to the pervasive problem of sin and its ultimate consequence, which is spiritual death and separation from God. The psalmist's triumphant declaration later in the psalm in [Psalms 49:15](/psalms/49-15 "Psalms 49:15 - God Redeems from the Grave")—"But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me"—further confirms that the redemption in view is ultimately from the spiritual power and dominion of death and the grave, not merely a temporary reprieve from physical demise.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 49:7, with its stark and unequivocal declaration of humanity's utter inability to provide a sufficient ransom for life or to redeem another from the clutches of death and spiritual judgment, finds its ultimate, glorious, and complete fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of [Jesus Christ](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). What the psalmist asserts as utterly impossible for any human to achieve—to "redeem his brother" or "give to God a ransom for him"—is precisely what God Himself, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, accomplished through His Son. The New Testament profoundly reveals that [Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve and Give His Life as a Ransom"). He is the unique, perfect, and all-sufficient *kôpher*, the atoning sacrifice whose precious blood alone is capable of covering the infinite debt of human sin and securing eternal life for all who believe. Through [His sacrificial death on the cross](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love"), Jesus paid the immeasurable price that no human could ever afford, thereby providing perfect redemption and full reconciliation with a holy God. His triumphant resurrection from the dead further demonstrates His absolute victory over the very power of the grave and death from which humans cannot redeem themselves ([1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - Christ Died for Our Sins and Was Raised")). Thus, Psalms 49:7 powerfully sets the theological stage for the profound and liberating truth that salvation is not earned or purchased by any human effort or means, but is a gracious and unmerited gift of God, secured solely and perfectly through the all-sufficient ransom provided by [Christ Jesus](/ephesians/1-7 "Ephesians 1:7 - Redemption Through His Blood").

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

Matthew 16:26

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 25:9

But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Matthew 20:28

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1 Peter 1:18

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;

1 Timothy 2:6

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.