Psalm 49:2

2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of great men; the rich and poor man together.

Psalm 49:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 49:2

Both low and high
Or "both the sons of Adam and the sons of men". By the sons of "Adam" are meant the multitude of the people, as Ben Melech explains it; the common people, the meaner sort, the base things of this world; and such are they, generally speaking, who are called by grace under the Gospel dispensation: and by "the sons of men" are meant the princes, nobles, and great men of the earth; men of high birth and illustrious extraction: so Adam is rendered, "the mean man", and "Ish", the word here used, "the great man", in ( Isaiah 2:9 ) . And though not many, yet some of this sort are called by grace; and all of them have a peculiar concern in many things spoken of in this psalm; see ( Psalms 49:12 Psalms 49:16 Psalms 49:17 Psalms 49:20 ) ;

rich and poor together:
these are called upon to hearken to what is after said, that the one may not be elated with and trust in their riches, and that the other may not be dejected on account of their poverty; and seeing both must die, and meet together at the judgment day; and inasmuch as the Gospel is preached to one as to another; and for the most part the poor hear it, receive it, and are called by it.

Psalm 49:2 In-Context

1 Hear these words, all ye nations, hearken, all ye that dwell upon the earth:

2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of great men; the rich and poor man together.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,

9 and live to the end, so that he should not see corruption.

10 When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

11 And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, even their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.

12 And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

13 This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. Pause.

14 They have laid them as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory.

15 But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. Pause.

16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.

17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

18 For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to thee when thou dost well to him.

19 Yet he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.