Psalms 44:12

12 Thou hast sold thy people for nought, and hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price;

Psalms 44:12 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 44:12

Thou sellest thy people for nought
So God, when he is said to deliver up his people into the hands of their enemies, is said to sell them to them; see ( Judges 2:14 ) ( 3:8 ) ( 4:2 ) ; and selling them for nought suggests, that in their apprehensions he had no esteem of them and value for them; just as men, when they have any person or thing to dispose of they have no regard unto, but choose to be rid of, will part with it for nothing: and as it follows, and dost not increase [thy wealth] by their price;
get nothing by the bargain. This must be understood after the manner of men, and in the opinion of the church, and not as in reality; no otherwise than as it has been true, that God has suffered some of his people to be in the bondage and slavery of mystical Babylon, called Egypt, one part of whose wares and merchandises are slaves and souls of men, ( Revelation 11:8 ) ( 18:13 ) .

Psalms 44:12 In-Context

10 Thou hast made us to turn back from the adversary, and they that hate us spoil for themselves;
11 Thou hast given us over like sheep [appointed] for meat, and hast scattered us among the nations;
12 Thou hast sold thy people for nought, and hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price;
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a mockery and a derision for them that are round about us;
14 Thou makest us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or 'hast not increased their price.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.