The Meaning of Psalms 49:6 Explained

Psalms 49:6

KJV: They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

YLT: Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.

Darby: They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

ASV: They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They that trust  in their wealth,  and boast  themselves in the multitude  of their riches; 

What does Psalms 49:6 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
.
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

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 49:6 mean?

Those who trust in their wealth and in the multitude of their riches boast
הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים עַל־ חֵילָ֑ם וּבְרֹ֥ב עָ֝שְׁרָ֗ם יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ

הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים  Those  who  trust 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
חֵילָ֑ם  their  wealth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
וּבְרֹ֥ב  and  in  the  multitude 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
עָ֝שְׁרָ֗ם  of  their  riches 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֹשֶׁר  
Sense: wealth, riches.
יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ  boast 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.