The Meaning of Psalms 49:9 Explained

Psalms 49:9

KJV: That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

YLT: And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

Darby: That he should still live perpetually, and not see corruption.

ASV: That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That he should still live  for ever,  [and] not see  corruption. 

What does Psalms 49:9 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 49:9 mean?

That he should to live continue eternally [And] not see the Pit
וִֽיחִי־ ע֥וֹד לָנֶ֑צַח לֹ֖א יִרְאֶ֣ה הַשָּֽׁחַת

וִֽיחִי־  That  he  should  to  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
ע֥וֹד  continue 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
לָנֶ֑צַח  eternally 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵצַח  
Sense: eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness.
לֹ֖א  [And]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִרְאֶ֣ה  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הַשָּֽׁחַת  the  Pit 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שַׁחַת  
Sense: pit, destruction, grave.