The Meaning of Psalms 49:2 Explained

Psalms 49:2

KJV: Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

YLT: Both low and high, together rich and needy.

Darby: Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

ASV: Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Both low  and high,  rich  and poor,  together. 

What does Psalms 49:2 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 49:2 mean?

both low low and son high together Rich and poor
גַּם־ בְּנֵ֣י אָ֭דָם גַּם־ בְּנֵי־ אִ֑ישׁ יַ֝֗חַד עָשִׁ֥יר וְאֶבְיֽוֹן

גַּם־  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
בְּנֵ֣י  low 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָ֭דָם  low 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בְּנֵי־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אִ֑ישׁ  high 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יַ֝֗חַד  together 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַחַד 
Sense: union, unitedness adv.
עָשִׁ֥יר  Rich 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָשִׁיר  
Sense: rich, wealthy n.
וְאֶבְיֽוֹן  and  poor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.