Read
Psalm 49:7
none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.
5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—
7none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.
8For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
Notice
A brother’s life lies beyond the reach of wealth, exposing the gap between what money promises and what anyone can pay to God.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What limit does the phrase “nor give God a ransom for him” place on your hopes for money?
Write on thisWhom do you think of when you read that no one can redeem his brother?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Matthew 16:26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?Both expose wealth’s limits when a life is at stake: gaining the whole world supplies no adequate price for life.
Matthew 20:28even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”The psalm speaks of a ransom no wealthy person can pay; Jesus speaks of giving his life as a ransom.
1 Timothy 2:6who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony at the proper time,Ransom connects these texts: the psalm denies that human wealth can provide it, while Timothy speaks of one who gave himself.
1 Peter 1:18knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,Both reject material wealth as the price of redemption, with Peter naming silver and gold as corruptible things.
Exodus 30:12“When you take a census of the children of Israel, according to those who are counted among them, then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to the LORD …Both speak of ransom paid to God, though Exodus concerns protection from plague during a census and the psalm concerns escaping death.
Matthew 25:9But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’Their shared thread is limited: both describe a limit on providing for another, though Matthew concerns insufficient supplies rather than redemption.
John 11:39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”The psalm names human inability to ransom a brother from death; John records a sister facing her brother’s bodily decay.
Philippians 3:11if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.Both concern life beyond death: the psalm denies wealth can secure it, while Philippians expresses hope of resurrection.
Genesis 47:29Both face death within a family: the psalm speaks of a brother beyond human ransom, and Genesis of Israel nearing death.
Psalm 26:11But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me.Redemption connects the two psalms: one denies a person’s power to ransom another, while the other asks God for redemption and mercy.
1 Kings 20:39As the king passed by, he cried to the king, and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over and brought a man …Both mention payment connected with a life; Kings describes a guard’s penalty, while the psalm concerns ransom from death.
Job 5:20In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.Both speak of redemption from death, with the psalm denying human wealth that power and Job describing God’s rescue.
Where this verse fits
Death and what comes after. envy and comparison. grief.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Your inability to buy a loved one endless life is a human limit this psalm names without disguise. Even the richest cannot pay God that ransom.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 49:7. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 49 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).