The Meaning of Psalms 49:16 Explained

Psalms 49:16

KJV: Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

YLT: Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

Darby: Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:

ASV: Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Be not thou afraid  when one  is made rich,  when the glory  of his house  is increased; 

What does Psalms 49:16 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 49:16 mean?

Not do be afraid when becomes rich one is increased the glory of his house
אַל־ תִּ֭ירָא כִּֽי־ יַעֲשִׁ֣ר אִ֑ישׁ יִ֝רְבֶּה כְּב֣וֹד בֵּיתֽוֹ

תִּ֭ירָא  do  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
יַעֲשִׁ֣ר  becomes  rich 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשַׁר  
Sense: to be or become rich or wealthy, enrich, pretend to be rich.
אִ֑ישׁ  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יִ֝רְבֶּה  is  increased 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
כְּב֣וֹד  the  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
בֵּיתֽוֹ  of  his  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.