Psalm 49 20

Psalm 49:20 kjv

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:20 nkjv

A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:20 niv

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:20 esv

Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:20 nlt

People who boast of their wealth don't understand;
they will die, just like animals.

Psalm 49 verses

Psalm 49 20 Meaning

Psalm 49:20 declares that a person, regardless of their esteemed status or material wealth, who lacks spiritual understanding or discernment regarding the transient nature of life and the ultimate reality of God, is no different from the animals that have no lasting future beyond their physical existence. It asserts that outward splendor without inward wisdom is ultimately futile and leads to the same fate as unreasoning creatures—death and decay without hope of redemption or eternal purpose.

Psalm 49 20 Context

Psalm 49 is a wisdom psalm addressing a profound question: "Why should I fear in days of trouble, when iniquity surrounds me—the iniquity of my cunning foes, who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?" (Ps 49:5-6). It is an instructional psalm meant for all people (Ps 49:1-2), dismantling the false security offered by worldly riches and status. The psalm critiques the common human tendency to trust in material possessions and to forget the brevity of life and the inevitability of death. It repeatedly emphasizes that wealth cannot save anyone from the grave, ransom a life, or buy immortality. Verse 20 acts as a stark conclusion and powerful reiteration of the psalm's central message first presented in verse 12 (or 13 depending on translation numbering): earthly honor without spiritual insight reduces humanity to the level of unreasoning animals whose existence concludes irrevocably at death. It challenges the prevailing ancient belief that wealth was a sign of ultimate divine blessing and eternal security. The psalm asserts that true security and an eternal future lie only in God, not in mortal possessions or status.

Psalm 49 20 Word analysis

• Man (אדם - ʾāḏām): This term refers to humanity in general, stressing that this truth applies to any human being, not just a specific class. It can also imply 'earthly man' (from 'adama' - ground), highlighting their mortal and dust-bound nature.
• in honor (ביקר - bîqār): This Hebrew term can denote dignity, splendor, preciousness, costliness, or high status. In this context, within Psalm 49, it strongly emphasizes a person's perceived wealth, exalted position, and material prosperity. It contrasts sharply with their internal lack. It's not just superficial esteem, but tangible, valuable status.
• yet does not (לא - lōʾ): This is the simple negative particle, firmly denying the presence of understanding.
• understand (יבין - yaḇîn): From the root bîn, meaning "to discern, perceive, have insight, distinguish, consider." This "understanding" is not mere intellectual comprehension but a deep spiritual perception or discernment. It implies recognizing life's true meaning, the limits of human existence, God's sovereignty, the reality of death, and the existence of an eternal perspective. It is a profound lack of wisdom regarding ultimate reality.
• Is like (נמשל - nimšāl): This passive form of māšal means "is made like, resembles, becomes comparable to." It suggests an inherent equivalence being declared, a profound and deliberate comparison. It implies a tragic self-degradation or reduction.
• the beasts (כבהמות - kaḇēhēmōṯ): From bəhēmâ, referring to common, non-domesticated or domestic quadrupeds, animals that lack reasoning capacity, moral awareness, and an eternal soul. The comparison underscores their purely instinctual and temporal existence.
• that perish (נדמו - nidmû): From the root dāmam meaning "to be silent, cease, be cut off, destroyed, perish." It indicates their absolute end and silence at death, without any future or continuing consciousness from a worldly perspective. The implication for humans who are "like them" is the same—a complete and utter cessation of meaningful existence in an eternal sense.

• "Man in honor, yet does not understand": This phrase directly confronts the worldly notion that external success (honor, wealth) equates to true value or insight. The core issue isn't merely the presence of wealth, but the absence of true understanding while possessing it. Such individuals live without comprehending their mortality, their Creator, or their eternal destiny, making their existence ultimately empty despite their status.
• "Is like the beasts that perish": This powerful analogy highlights the ultimate outcome. Animals exist purely on a physical and instinctive level, their lives culminating in complete cessation and decomposition. For humans, created in God's image with eternal potential, to live in such a way that their end is no different than an unreasoning animal, is depicted as a profound and tragic failure to realize their God-given purpose and spiritual distinction. The lack of understanding (spiritual wisdom) levels man to beast.

Psalm 49 20 Bonus section

The strong parallelism between Psalm 49:12 (or 49:13 depending on version, "Man in his pomp will not endure; he is like the beasts that perish") and 49:20 serves as a deliberate literary device, known as an inclusion or chiasm. This repetition acts as a strong thematic bookend for the central argument of the psalm, reinforcing the main teaching against the futility of worldly trust. It underscores that despite all the explanations, examples, and warnings in between, the foundational truth remains: without understanding God and our ultimate destiny, our seemingly elevated human status is stripped away, leaving us on par with irrational creatures destined for physical decay alone. The "understanding" often refers to a fear of the Lord, discerning wisdom that sees beyond the immediate and temporal to the eternal reality, knowing that one's ultimate fate rests in God's hands (as highlighted in Ps 49:15, "But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah").

Psalm 49 20 Commentary

Psalm 49:20 delivers a powerful and somber verdict: a person endowed with outward splendor and esteemed by the world, yet lacking spiritual wisdom concerning their ultimate mortality and dependence on God, has an existence no more significant than an animal whose life ends in physical decay. The core message is not against wealth or status itself, but against the self-delusion that such things provide lasting security or value apart from divine understanding. It implies a tragic squandering of humanity's unique spiritual capacity. Unlike animals that fulfill their created purpose by living purely in the physical realm, humans, created in God's image, possess a mind capable of understanding eternal truths and discerning ultimate reality. To live solely focused on earthly possessions and achievements, failing to grasp life's spiritual dimensions and its fleeting nature, is to regress from human dignity to the level of mere instinctual existence, whose end is oblivion without eternal hope. True honor, therefore, comes not from what one possesses, but from the spiritual insight that acknowledges God as the true source of life and eternal security.