Psalm 62 9

Psalm 62:9 kjv

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Psalm 62:9 nkjv

Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor.

Psalm 62:9 niv

Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.

Psalm 62:9 esv

Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.

Psalm 62:9 nlt

Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales,
together they are lighter than a breath of air.

Psalm 62 verses

Psalm 62 9 Meaning

Psalm 62:9 declares the absolute futility and unreliability of humanity, regardless of social status. It states that both the common person ("men of low degree") and the powerful person ("men of high degree") are ultimately like a fleeting breath or a deception, unable to offer true security or worth. When placed in the divine scales of judgment or truth, the collective weight of human existence and power is found to be utterly insignificant, even less substantial than vanity itself, unable to counterbalance genuine trust in God. It underscores the contrast between the shifting sand of human trust and the solid rock of divine faithfulness.

Psalm 62 9 Context

Psalm 62 is a psalm of profound trust in God alone, expressed by David during a time of personal tribulation and opposition from treacherous individuals. The preceding verses (Psa 62:1-4) articulate David's unwavering reliance on God as his rock, salvation, and fortress, despite enemies who devise his downfall. He describes their intent to overthrow him and their deceptive speech (Psa 62:3-4), creating a background of instability caused by human wickedness. Psa 62:5-8 then pivots to a renewed declaration of seeking God's refuge, asserting that "My soul, wait silently for God alone," reiterating God's unshakeable nature.

Verse 9, therefore, serves as a crucial theological and logical bridge. It explains why David explicitly places his trust only in God by revealing the inherent emptiness and deceitfulness of trusting in any human being or human system. It functions as a stark contrast to the absolute stability of God, solidifying the argument for sole reliance on the divine. Historically and culturally, societies of David's time, like any other, heavily relied on social hierarchies, political alliances, and the strength of rulers. This verse directly challenges the pervasive belief in the ultimate power or security found in human structures or individuals, whether they are the common populace or powerful figures, effectively polemicizing against any form of anthropocentric confidence that displaces God. It's a critique of trusting in human numbers (men of low degree) or human might (men of high degree).

Psalm 62 9 Word analysis

• Surely: (Hebrew: ’ak - אַךְ) - This adverb means "only," "surely," "nevertheless." In this context, it functions as a strong affirmation or an emphatic declaration. It emphasizes the truth and certainty of what follows, often marking a decisive point or a striking contrast. Here, it underlines the stark reality being presented.
• men of low degree: (Hebrew: b’nei-’adam - בְּנֵי־אָדָם) - Literally, "sons of man" or "children of Adam." This term typically refers to ordinary, common, or weak humanity, mortals in general. It emphasizes their humanity and frailty inherent in being born of Adam. It can contrast with God's divine nature or with a specific "son of man" as a messianic figure.
• are vanity: (Hebrew: hevel - הֶבֶל) - Meaning "breath," "vapor," "futility," "emptiness," "nothingness." This is a key term in Ecclesiastes, often translated "vanity." It signifies something fleeting, insubstantial, ephemeral, or ultimately meaningless. It’s like a puff of air – visible for a moment, then gone, leaving no trace or substance. Trusting in such is to trust in what quickly disappears or has no lasting value.
• and men of high degree: (Hebrew: b’nei-’ish - בְּנֵי־אִישׁ) - Literally, "sons of man/man of strength/mighty man." This refers to distinguished men, people of power, influence, wealth, or high social standing, or notable individuals. It differentiates them from the common b'nei-adam, indicating people who might be perceived as powerful or significant in human society.
• are a lie: (Hebrew: kazav - כָּזָב) - Meaning "lie," "deceit," "falsehood," "disappointment," "fraud." This word emphasizes their unreliability and deceptive nature. Relying on them will lead to disillusionment; their promises or perceived strength are false and will ultimately fail or disappoint. It highlights that they cannot deliver what they promise or what one might expect from them.
• to be laid in the balance: (Hebrew: bamma'oznayim la'alot - בַּמֹּאזְנַיִם לַעֲלוֹת) - "in the scales to go up" or "in the balance they ascend." This vividly pictures an act of weighing. Scales were instruments of judgment, commerce, and justice. To "go up" in the scales implies being lightweight, insubstantial, having no true worth or weight, or even floating away when compared to something of substance.
• they are altogether lighter than vanity: (Hebrew: kallu mehhevel yahdav - קַלּוּ מֵהֶבֶל יַחַד) - "together lighter than vapor/breath." The Hebrew kallu means "they are light," "they are insignificant." This is a striking hyperbolic expression. Not just hevel (vapor/vanity), but even lighter than hevel itself when weighed together. It strongly reinforces the idea that all humanity, irrespective of status, has no intrinsic worth or stability upon which to build trust when measured against eternal divine truth and reality. The word yahdav (together/altogether) emphasizes that their combined weight is still nothing.

• "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie": This powerful parallelism divides humanity into two broad categories: the common people and the influential. Both categories are declared fundamentally worthless or deceptive when looked to for ultimate stability or salvation. The common man is like a breath – there and then gone, providing no firm foundation. The powerful man, with all his perceived might, is revealed as a deception, his strength ephemeral, his promises unreliable, his help ultimately a fraud. This refutes any humanistic reliance, whether on democratic consensus or aristocratic authority.
• "to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity": This imagery provides the concrete demonstration of their futility. It portrays a divine assessment or a universal principle: when humanity is placed on God's scales, in contrast to divine truth or the weight of true being, it registers as utterly insubstantial. The second part, "lighter than vanity," is a forceful understatement that is actually an overstatement to underscore complete nothingness. If 'vanity' itself is emptiness, then to be lighter than it is to be beyond empty – utterly, utterly void of substance or reliability. It means even if you expect nothing from man, you might still be disappointed, because he is less than nothing.

Psalm 62 9 Bonus section

The distinction between b’nei-’adam and b’nei-’ish is significant throughout the Old Testament, though its exact nuances can vary by context. In Psalm 62:9, b’nei-’adam can represent common people, masses, or even literally 'sons of men,' implying natural humanity, which by its very nature is mortal and ephemeral. B’nei-’ish, on the other hand, often points to notable individuals, perhaps distinguished by strength, social standing, or a specific accomplishment, embodying human strength or prowess. By using both terms, the psalmist covers the entire spectrum of human experience and social hierarchy, ensuring no one is exempt from the verdict. This universal judgment applies equally to every individual without exception when considering them as a source of ultimate trust or salvation.

The imagery of "scales" (moznayim) is particularly resonant. It harks back to divine judgment and God's sovereign evaluation (Job 31:6; Isa 40:12). For something to be lighter than a mere "breath" (the common meaning of hevel which suggests even insubstantiality) when weighed on divine scales indicates a profound spiritual deficit, a complete lack of intrinsic substance or trustworthiness when compared to the absolute weight and reality of God's character and truth. It reinforces that seeking ultimate solutions or refuge in any human source will inevitably lead to failure because humans inherently lack the divine qualities required to bear such trust.

Psalm 62 9 Commentary

Psalm 62:9 powerfully dismantles any human-centered confidence. It presents a theological argument for why trusting in people is utterly misplaced, whether they are the masses or the elite. Both "men of low degree" (common folk, b’nei-’adam) and "men of high degree" (the influential, b’nei-’ish) are equally incapable of providing ultimate security, stability, or true help. The common person is inherently frail and fleeting, like a mere breath, while the powerful individual's perceived strength is actually a lie, promising security but delivering only deception and disappointment. The metaphor of being weighed in the balance against even vanity itself emphasizes their absolute insignificance in God's eyes. This is not a denigration of human dignity as created in God's image, but a precise theological statement about human sufficiency for ultimate trust. Human beings, despite their importance in relationships and society, cannot bear the weight of ultimate reliance. This verse thus forms the strong theological bedrock for David’s preceding and subsequent declaration of trust only in God, highlighting God as the singular, unwavering source of refuge and help.

Examples:

• A student relying solely on human academic networks for success rather than seeking divine wisdom and guidance in their studies.
• A nation putting its entire security in military might or political alliances, failing to acknowledge divine sovereignty.
• An individual seeking fulfillment or identity primarily from social status or professional achievements, which ultimately prove to be fleeting or deceptive.