Psalm 49 14

Psalm 49:14 kjv

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Psalm 49:14 nkjv

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

Psalm 49:14 niv

They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.

Psalm 49:14 esv

Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.

Psalm 49:14 nlt

Like sheep, they are led to the grave,
where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule over them.
Their bodies will rot in the grave,
far from their grand estates.

Psalm 49 verses

Psalm 49 14 Meaning

Psalm 49:14 paints a vivid and somber picture of the ultimate end for those who trust in their earthly riches and deny God. Like helpless sheep, they are passively destined for death and the grave (Sheol). Death itself is personified as their ironic "shepherd," guiding them not to green pastures but to decay. Yet, this bleak fate for the wicked is juxtaposed with a future divine "morning," where the righteous, the upright, will receive their vindication and reign over those who once appeared powerful. Their worldly form and splendor will completely decay and be consumed within the grave, leaving no enduring legacy or dwelling.

Psalm 49 14 Context

Psalm 49 is a wisdom psalm addressing the perplexing issue of why the wicked often prosper while the righteous suffer. It serves as an instruction to understand the transient nature of worldly success. Verses 6-12 describe the rich, who trust in their wealth and believe their possessions grant them immortality or an enduring legacy. Verse 13 highlights their foolishness. Verse 14 directly confronts this delusion, emphatically declaring the ultimate, inevitable fate of such individuals. It functions as the stark counterpoint to the earlier boasting, shifting from their earthly "glory" to their future decay, while simultaneously hinting at the future hope for the upright, which is fully expanded upon in verse 15. The psalm directly challenges ancient Near Eastern beliefs that equated wealth and long life with divine favor, asserting that true wisdom and lasting hope come only from a relationship with God, not from material possessions.

Psalm 49 14 Word analysis

• Like sheep (כצאן ke-tso'n): This simile suggests passivity, helplessness, and a lack of self-awareness. It denotes an animal destined for slaughter, without control over its fate, an ironic reversal for those who prided themselves on control and power.
• they are appointed (שתּוּ shatu): Means to be set, placed, or destined. It implies a firm, irreversible decree, not a choice.
• for Sheol (שְׁאוֹל she'ol): Refers to the grave or the underworld, the common abode of the dead. For the rich and foolish, it represents their final, inescapable destination, where all earthly advantage is nullified.
• Death (מות mawet): Personified as an active agent, an adversary. It is not merely an event, but a grim ruler.
• shall be their shepherd (ירעם yir'am): This is a powerful, dark irony, sharply contrasting with the loving care of God, the Good Shepherd, depicted elsewhere (e.g., Ps 23). Instead of protection and provision, this shepherd leads to destruction and decay.
• upright men (ישרים yesharim): Refers to the righteous, those whose hearts and lives are straight and aligned with God's will. Their contrasting destiny underscores the psalm's central message.
• shall have dominion over them (ירדום yirdum): Signifies ruling, prevailing, or having ascendancy. It denotes a profound reversal of earthly fortunes, where those once seemingly powerful are now under the authority of the righteous.
• in the morning (בבקר ba-bō'qer): This pivotal phrase often signifies a time of divine intervention, awakening, or judgment. It speaks of an eschatological "dawn" when justice will be revealed, roles will be reversed, and the righteous will be vindicated, perhaps referring to a future resurrection or the coming day of judgment.
• their form (צורם tsuram): Refers to their physical appearance, their shape, beauty, or perhaps even their stronghold of strength or image of power. It encompasses the visible, earthly aspects they relied upon.
• shall be consumed (בלות bilot): Implies wasting away, decaying, being worn out. It denotes complete physical disintegration.
• in Sheol (שְׁאוֹל she'ol): Reiteration to emphasize that the decay and consumption occur fully within the grave, reinforcing its inescapable reality for the physical body.
• with no place to dwell (מזבול להם mizz'vul lahēm): This phrase is somewhat ambiguous in translation. It generally means their "splendor" or "stately dwelling" (from z'vul) will be utterly absent, or the grave itself becomes their "dwelling" which consumes them. It confirms the absolute lack of lasting physical presence, memorial, or continued habitation for their earthly glory.

Words-group analysis

• "Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol": This paints a picture of inescapable destiny for the godless rich. Despite their self-assurance and earthly power, they are ultimately as helpless as livestock headed for slaughter, passive in the face of death's inevitability.
• "Death shall be their shepherd": This phrase creates a stark, chilling inversion of comfort and guidance. It highlights the ultimate irony that what one fears most becomes their ultimate leader, driving them not to life but to oblivion.
• "upright men shall have dominion over them in the morning": This marks the psalm's critical turning point and core message of divine justice. It signifies a dramatic reversal where the righteous, seemingly overlooked or oppressed in this life, are elevated to authority and vindication, marking the "morning" of God's final reckoning.
• "their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell": This final segment emphasizes the complete and utter obliteration of their earthly existence, beauty, and power within the grave. Their physical being and any imagined legacy completely dissolve, confirming the futility of their trust in material things.

Psalm 49 14 Bonus section

The strong contrast between the fate of the wicked in verse 14 and the hope for the righteous in verse 15 (e.g., "But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol; for he will receive me") is pivotal to understanding Psalm 49. Verse 14 sets up the despairing end of the self-reliant rich, emphasizing their utter dissolution, while verse 15 then immediately pivots to the glorious distinction awaiting those who have placed their trust in God, including a hint of resurrection or deliverance from Sheol's ultimate grip. The "morning" can also signify the resurrection or the Last Judgment where the hidden reality of God's justice is brought into full light, turning the world upside down from human perspective. This passage highlights that earthly appearances are deceiving and only God's eternal perspective truly matters.

Psalm 49 14 Commentary

Psalm 49:14 offers a sobering perspective on mortality and divine judgment, particularly aimed at those whose security is rooted in fleeting wealth. It declares that human pride and possessions are ultimately impotent against the decree of death. The image of "Death" as a "shepherd" for the wicked serves as a profound and dark counterpoint to the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23, exposing the folly of those who ignore the true Shepherd. While the physical decay in Sheol is universal, the "morning" of the righteous points to a distinct eschatological hope—a time when God intervenes to elevate His faithful and reveal true justice. This verse assures believers that while the wicked may prosper temporarily, their end is desolate, and a future vindication awaits those who trust in the Living God. It teaches humility, warning against the illusion of invincibility derived from wealth and advocating for trust in God as the only true source of eternal security and an enduring legacy.