The Meaning of Psalms 49:1 Explained

Psalms 49:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.} Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

YLT: To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.} Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

ASV: Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  A Psalm  for the sons  of Korah.  }} Hear  this, all [ye] people;  give ear,  all [ye] inhabitants  of the world: 

What does Psalms 49:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 49:1-20 - The Folly Of Trusting In Riches
Here is a proclamation worthy of the hearing of all the world. The psalmist is listening to voices unheard by ordinary ears. Be sure to listen to God's voice, and then unfold His dark sayings in music. However dark they may seem in their mystery and awe, they may be uttered in song. See Revelation 15:3-4.
The burden of the psalm is the impotence of wealth. The millionaire cannot prolong the life of his sick child. And even if, like Queen Elizabeth, he cries on his dying bed: "A million of money for a moment of time!" the sand passes unheeding through the hour-glass. He must leave stocks and shares, jewels and gold, at the summons of Death, described in Psalms 49:14 as the shepherd who calls his flock to fold it in Sheol, R.V. How different the lot of the righteous! As eternity dawns, they are redeemed from the power of the grave and pass to the bosom of God. What are the riches and glory of this world compared with the sense of God's presence in the humble and contrite heart! To have that is to have the essence of all! "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee," Psalms 73:25. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 49

1  An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection
16  Worldly prosperity is not to be admired

What do the individual words in Psalms 49:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician of the sons of Korah A Psalm Hear this all peoples Give ear inhabitants of the world
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לִבְנֵי־ קֹ֬רַח מִזְמֽוֹר שִׁמְעוּ־ זֹ֭את כָּל־ הָֽעַמִּ֑ים הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חָֽלֶד

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
לִבְנֵי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
קֹ֬רַח  of  Korah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹרַח  
Sense: son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire.
מִזְמֽוֹר  A  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
שִׁמְעוּ־  Hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
זֹ֭את  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
הָֽעַמִּ֑ים  peoples 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ  Give  ear 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָזַן  
Sense: to hear, listen.
יֹ֥שְׁבֵי  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
חָֽלֶד  of  the  world 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶלֶד  
Sense: age, duration of life, the world.