Psalm 49:1 kjv
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Psalm 49:1 nkjv
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
Psalm 49:1 niv
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
Psalm 49:1 esv
Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
Psalm 49:1 nlt
Listen to this, all you people!
Pay attention, everyone in the world!
Psalm 49 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:1 | "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear..." | Direct call for universal attention. |
| Isa 1:2 | "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth..." | Parallel call for creation's attention. |
| Mic 1:2 | "Hear, all ye people, hearken, O earth..." | Prophetic universal summons. |
| Isa 49:1 | "Listen, O isles, to me; and hearken, ye peoples, from afar..." | Divine call to distant nations. |
| Prov 1:8 | "Hear, my son, your father’s instruction..." | Wisdom's call to heed instruction. |
| Matt 11:15 | "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | Jesus' recurring call for spiritual discernment. |
| Mark 4:23 | "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." | Emphasis on truly understanding. |
| Rev 2:7 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says..." | Call for spiritual listening to divine message. |
| Ps 9:8 | "He will judge the world in righteousness; he will administer judgment to the peoples..." | God's universal judgment applies to all. |
| Ps 96:3 | "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples." | Universal proclamation of God's greatness. |
| Ps 117:1 | "Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples." | Universal praise for the LORD. |
| Rom 1:19-20 | "...what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it..." | Universal knowledge of God through creation. |
| Acts 17:30-31 | "...commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day..." | Universal command and judgment. |
| Eccl 1:2 | "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" | Main theme of Ps 49 - futility of worldly pursuits. |
| Eccl 2:16 | "...the wise man dies just like the fool!" | Emphasizes universal mortality. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | (Parable of the rich fool) "...not rich toward God." | Warning against earthly treasures' vanity. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth..." | Direct command against storing earthly wealth. |
| 1 Tim 6:7 | "For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out..." | Futility of wealth in face of mortality. |
| Job 1:21 | "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall depart." | Echoes the ephemeral nature of life and possessions. |
| Heb 9:27 | "...appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." | Universal decree of death and judgment. |
| 1 Jn 2:17 | "And the world is passing away along with its desires..." | Reinforces the transient nature of this world. |
Psalm 49 verses
Psalm 49 1 Meaning
Psalm 49:1 serves as a universal summons, calling all humanity to attentively heed a crucial message. It signifies a profound announcement that transcends any particular nation or group, inviting every person on earth to listen with discernment to the wisdom that follows concerning the true nature of wealth, life, death, and redemption.
Psalm 49 1 Context
Psalm 49 is a Maskil, a psalm of instruction or contemplation. It is a wisdom psalm addressing universal human anxieties regarding prosperity, adversity, death, and divine judgment. Placed amidst psalms that often lament or praise, Psalm 49 acts as a solemn oracle designed to disabuse humanity of the common misconception that wealth or status can secure ultimate salvation or stave off mortality. The call in verse 1 thus prepares a universal audience for a crucial teaching on the ephemeral nature of earthly riches and the ultimate equality of all before death and God's redemption. Historically, in ancient cultures, material wealth was often seen as a direct sign of divine favor and a source of security, even after death (as seen in elaborate burial practices of kings and nobles); this psalm directly counters such beliefs.
Psalm 49 1 Word analysis
- Hear: שִׁמְעוּ (Shim'u) - This is an imperative plural form of the Hebrew verb shama' (שָׁמַע). While often translated as "hear," it encompasses a broader meaning that includes "listen attentively," "understand," and critically, "obey" or "heed." It is a demand not just for auditory perception but for careful attention leading to comprehension and action.
- this: זֹאת (zot) - A demonstrative pronoun meaning "this." It points directly to the profound message that is about to unfold in the rest of the psalm. It serves to intensify the gravity and immediacy of the forthcoming revelation.
- all you peoples: כָּל־עַמִּים (kol-amim) - Kol (כָּל) means "all" or "every." Amim (עַמִּים) is the plural of am (עַם), referring to "people" or "nations." This phrase immediately establishes the universal scope of the psalm's message. It transcends national, ethnic, or religious boundaries, making the ensuing wisdom relevant to every human being, regardless of their background or identity. This challenges any narrow, exclusive view of divine wisdom or judgment.
- listen: הַאֲזִינוּ (Ha'azinu) - This is another imperative plural, from the verb azan (אָזַן). It means "to give ear," "to incline one's ear," implying an even more profound and deliberate act of attentive listening than shama'. The pairing of shama' and azan ("Hear... listen") is a common poetic device (a hendiadys) used in biblical literature (e.g., Deut 32:1; Isa 1:2) to emphasize urgency, seriousness, and the absolute necessity of deeply comprehending the message. It signifies a call for intense spiritual and intellectual engagement.
- all you inhabitants: כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵי (kol-yoshvei) - Kol (כָּל) means "all." Yoshvei (יֹשְׁבֵי) is the construct plural of yoshev (יוֹשֵׁב), meaning "those who dwell" or "inhabitants." This phrase complements "all you peoples" by highlighting the presence and earthly tenure of the listeners, linking the universal call to every individual living on the planet.
- of the world: חָלֶד (khalad) - This is a relatively rare Hebrew word, here meaning "world," but with significant connotations. Unlike eretz (אֶרֶץ, physical earth) or tevel (תֵּבֵל, habitable world), khalad (חָלֶד) carries an implicit sense of transience, fleeting existence, or a temporary dwelling. Some scholars suggest it literally refers to the "duration of life" or "flea-ridden tent," emphasizing the fragile, perishable, and short-lived nature of human earthly existence. This choice of word foreshadows the psalm's central theme: the brevity of life and the futility of worldly endeavors and possessions in the face of death.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all you inhabitants of the world": This opening sets a universal, didactic tone. The repetition of the summons to listen with different, but complementary, verbs (shim'u and ha'azinu) intensifies the call for attention. The parallel phrases "all you peoples" and "all you inhabitants of the world" reinforce the boundless scope of the message, suggesting that the truth revealed in the psalm is pertinent to every individual human being, irrespective of their origin or station. This immediate, comprehensive address emphasizes the absolute significance of what follows. The juxtaposition of "peoples" (referring to ethnicity/nations) and "inhabitants of the world" (referring to living individuals residing on earth) covers humanity exhaustively, preparing them for a message of universal import that impacts all equally.
Psalm 49 1 Bonus section
The solemn universal summons in Psalm 49:1 can be seen as mirroring the pervasive presence of natural revelation. Just as God's general revelation (through creation, Rom 1:19-20) calls all people to recognize His existence and power, this specific psalm's instruction, by its universal address, hints at truths accessible to all, independent of special revelation (though enhanced by it). The psalm's message, initiated by this call, serves as a significant counter-narrative to ancient Near Eastern polytheistic beliefs, where divine favor often translated to earthly prosperity and where a king's wealth could be seen as an extension of his power into the afterlife. Psalm 49 refutes such notions, declaring that no earthly fortune can grant immortality or buy escape from divine judgment. This makes the call in verse 1 particularly bold and polemical, challenging common ancient worldview assumptions right from the outset.
Psalm 49 1 Commentary
Psalm 49:1 is a clarion call, beckoning all of humanity to attend to a timeless truth. It sets the stage for a wisdom discourse that is neither exclusive to Israel nor bound by any single culture. The dual command "Hear... listen" signifies an urgent and profound invitation to not merely perceive sound, but to internalize, understand, and ponder the forthcoming instruction deeply. The address to "all peoples" and "all inhabitants of the world" immediately declares the universal applicability of the psalm's message. This instruction cuts across all social, economic, and national divides because its subject matter – the futility of trust in wealth and the ultimate equalizer of death – is a shared human experience. By emphasizing "this world" using the term khalad, the verse subtly hints at the transient and temporary nature of our earthly sojourn, setting a foundational premise for the subsequent argument that material possessions are powerless against the inevitable end of life and cannot purchase true salvation. This introduction serves to elevate the message to the level of divine wisdom meant for every soul.