Psalms 49:9

KJV

That he should still live for ever, [and] not see corruption.

KJV (with Strong's)

That he should still live {H2421}{H8799)} for ever {H5331}, and not see {H7200}{H8799)} corruption {H7845}.

Complete Jewish Bible

to have him live on eternally and never see the pit.

Berean Standard Bible

that he should live on forever and not see decay.

American Standard Version

That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 49:9 serves as a profound and sobering declaration of humanity's universal mortality and the ultimate futility of wealth and earthly power in the face of death. It asserts the impossibility of any human being, regardless of their riches or status, purchasing perpetual life or escaping the inevitable physical decay of the grave. This verse encapsulates a core message of the psalm: that true security and lasting hope cannot be found in transient material possessions but must reside in something beyond the temporal realm.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 49 is a Maskil, an instructional or contemplative psalm, designed to impart wisdom regarding the vanity of earthly riches and the certainty of death. The psalmist begins by calling all people to attention, promising to utter "dark sayings" and "riddles" (v. 4) that expose the folly of trusting in wealth. Verses 6-8 lay the crucial groundwork for verse 9, emphasizing that those who trust in their wealth and boast in their riches cannot redeem a brother or pay a ransom to God for their own life, "for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever" (v. 8). Verse 9 then delivers the stark, inescapable conclusion: no human can live forever and avoid the grave's corruption, directly following the declaration of the prohibitive cost of life's redemption.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, wealth often conferred immense power, status, and a sense of security. Kings and powerful individuals sought to immortalize themselves through grand monuments, elaborate tombs, and dynastic legacies, often believing their influence could extend beyond life. However, Israelite wisdom literature, in contrast to surrounding cultures' attempts to defy or manipulate death, consistently affirmed the universal dominion of death and the grave (Sheol) over all humanity. This psalm challenges the prevailing human tendency to find ultimate security in material possessions, a common temptation in any era, by highlighting the ultimate equalizer: mortality.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalm 49 and broader wisdom literature. It powerfully underscores **Universal Mortality**, asserting that death is an inescapable reality for all humanity, regardless of status, wisdom, or material possessions, as seen in [Ecclesiastes 2:16](/ecclesiastes/2-16 "Ecclesiastes 2:16 - The Wise and the Foolish Die Alike"). It highlights the **Futility of Earthly Riches**, exposing the profound inadequacy of wealth as a means to secure eternal life or prevent physical decay, demonstrating that riches offer no ultimate security against death, a theme echoed in [Proverbs 11:4](/proverbs/11-4 "Proverbs 11:4 - Riches Profit Not in the Day of Wrath"). Furthermore, it emphasizes **Human Limitation**, underscoring the inherent inability of human beings to redeem themselves or others from the grip of death and the grave; no human effort or payment can overcome the physical consequences of mortality, pointing implicitly to the need for a divine intervention beyond human capacity, as seen in [Job 14:1-2](/job/14-1 "Job 14:1-2 - Man's Frailty").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Live for ever (Hebrew, _netsach'_):** The Hebrew word נצח (_netsach_) here denotes perpetuity, eternity, or lasting duration. When used in the context of human life, as it is in this verse, it refers to the aspiration or delusion of unending existence on earth, specifically avoiding death. The psalmist uses it to emphatically deny that any human being can achieve such a state, contrasting human frailty with divine eternality.
* **Corruption (Hebrew, _shachath'_):** The Hebrew word שחת (_shachath_) carries a range of meanings including "pit," "destruction," "decay," "ruin," or "corruption." In the context of the grave, as it is used here, it unequivocally refers to the physical decomposition and decay of the human body after death. This term is crucial because it directly speaks to the biological reality of mortality and the irreversible process that awaits all flesh. Its use here sets up a profound theological contrast with its appearance in [Psalm 16:10](/psalms/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - God's Holy One Will Not See Corruption").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That he should still live for ever":** This clause presents the unattainable aspiration of humanity. It speaks to the deep-seated human desire for immortality, or at least for an indefinite extension of life, free from the constraints of mortality. The psalmist is asserting that this desire, when rooted in human power or wealth, is utterly futile and cannot be realized. No amount of earthly resource or influence can grant perpetual life to an individual.
* **"[and] not see corruption":** This second clause clarifies and intensifies the first. Not only can a person not live forever, but they also cannot escape the physical consequences of death – the process of decay and decomposition in the grave. "To see corruption" is an idiomatic expression for experiencing physical disintegration. This powerfully reinforces the universal and inescapable nature of mortality, making it clear that even the wealthiest and most powerful are subject to the same biological fate as the poorest.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 49:9 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The primary device is **Contrast**, setting the human desire for perpetual life against the stark reality of inevitable death and decay. This verse stands in direct contrast to the preceding verses (6-8) which speak of the inability to pay a ransom for life, highlighting the ultimate limitation of human power and wealth. There is also an element of **Irony**, as those who trust in their great wealth often believe themselves secure and perhaps even above the common fate, yet their riches are precisely what cannot save them from the grave. The direct, declarative statement of the verse carries a sense of **Authoritative Pronouncement**, lending weight to the psalmist's wisdom. Furthermore, the psalm as a whole functions as a **Riddle** or "dark saying" (v. 4) that this verse helps to solve, revealing the profound truth about human mortality and the vanity of earthly trust.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 49:9 stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of the Fall, where death entered the human experience as a universal decree. It underscores the biblical truth that all humanity is subject to mortality, a direct result of sin, and that no human effort, wisdom, or material possession can reverse this decree. This verse implicitly points to the profound need for a divine solution to the problem of death and corruption, a solution that lies beyond human capacity to achieve or purchase. It positions humanity in a state of utter helplessness before the grave, thereby preparing the theological ground for the concept of a divine Redeemer who alone can conquer death.

* [Psalm 16:10](/psalms/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - The Holy One Will Not See Corruption")
* [Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Acts 2:27 - Peter's Sermon on David and the Resurrection")
* [Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin and Death Through Adam")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 49:9 confronts us with the inescapable truth of our mortality, a truth often obscured by the pursuit of temporal security and material gain. It challenges us to examine where our ultimate trust and hope truly lie. If neither wealth nor human ingenuity can deliver us from the grave and its inevitable decay, then our deepest longings for permanence and security must be directed elsewhere. This verse serves as a powerful call to re-evaluate our priorities, reminding us that life is finite and that true wisdom involves investing in that which endures beyond the grave. It implicitly points us away from self-reliance and towards the only source of genuine, enduring life. Our mortality is not a curse to be feared without hope, but a catalyst to seek the One who has conquered death.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be subtly placing my hope or security in earthly possessions or achievements, rather than in eternal realities?**
* **How does the inevitability of death, as highlighted in this verse, shape my daily priorities and long-term goals?**
* **What does this verse teach me about the limits of human power and the necessity of divine intervention for true, lasting life?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalms 49:9 mean that no one can ever have eternal life?**

Answer: No, Psalms 49:9 specifically states that no *human being*, by their own power or wealth, can "live for ever" or "not see corruption." It emphasizes the universal human inability to escape physical death and decay through earthly means. However, the Bible elsewhere reveals that eternal life is a gift from God, offered through a divine Redeemer, not something earned or purchased by humans. This verse highlights the problem (human mortality and inability to save oneself) that God's solution (Christ's victory over death) addresses.

**Why is the word "corruption" so important in this verse?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "corruption" (שחת, _shachath_) is significant because it refers to the physical decay of the body in the grave. While Psalms 49:9 declares that all humans will "see corruption," [Psalm 16:10](/psalms/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - God's Holy One Not Seeing Corruption") prophesies that God's "Holy One" would *not* see corruption. This prophetic distinction is later applied by Peter in [Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Acts 2:27 - Peter's Sermon on David and the Resurrection") to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, making "corruption" a key theological term linking human mortality to Christ's unique triumph over death.

**Is this psalm pessimistic about life?**

Answer: While Psalms 49:9 and the psalm as a whole present a sobering reality about human mortality and the vanity of earthly trust, it is not ultimately pessimistic. Instead, it serves as a profound piece of wisdom literature designed to reorient one's perspective. By exposing the futility of trusting in what is temporary, it implicitly directs the reader towards a greater, enduring hope. It's a call to wisdom, encouraging a proper understanding of life's true values and where ultimate security can be found, which for the believer, points to God's ultimate victory over death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 49:9, with its stark declaration that no human can "live for ever, [and] not see corruption," powerfully sets the stage for the unique and indispensable work of Jesus Christ. Humanity's inability to ransom itself from death and decay, articulated here, underscores the profound need for a divine intervention. While all human flesh is destined to "see corruption," the New Testament proclaims that Jesus Christ, the "Holy One" prophesied in [Psalm 16:10](/psalms/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - God's Holy One Will Not See Corruption"), did *not* see corruption. As Peter preached in [Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Acts 2:27 - Peter's Sermon on David and the Resurrection") and [Acts 13:35-37](/acts/13-35 "Acts 13:35-37 - Paul's Sermon on the Resurrection"), David himself died and saw corruption, but God raised Jesus, who was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh "see corruption." Christ's resurrection is the ultimate answer to the dilemma posed in Psalms 49:9; He is the true and sufficient "ransom" (cf. [Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Give His Life as a Ransom")) who conquered death and the grave, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him (cf. [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World") and [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Gift of God is Eternal Life")). Thus, the universal human fate described in Psalms 49:9 serves as a dark backdrop against which the glorious light of Christ's victory over death shines all the more brightly, fulfilling the ultimate hope that no earthly wealth could ever purchase.

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 89:48

What man [is he that] liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

Psalms 16:10

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

John 8:51

¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

John 8:52

Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

Zechariah 1:5

Your fathers, where [are] they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

Psalms 22:29

All [they that be] fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

Proverbs 10:2

¶ Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.