Psalms 49:16 · Bible study
Psalms 49:16 Commentary: Why Not Fear the Wealthy Wicked?
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why the psalmist tells believers not to fear the prosperity of the wicked, pointing to the temporary nature of wealth and eternal hope in God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Believers need not fear or envy when the wicked grow rich, because wealth is temporary and cannot save from death; God redeems the righteous.
- Key words: afraid (fear or anxiety), made rich (sudden or growing wealth), glory (splendor, honor, family, possessions), house (dynasty or estate), increased (expanded).
- Main debate: Whether the fear is primarily about harm from the wicked (Barnes, Gill) or about envy and anxiety over apparent injustice (Clarke, Calvin).
- Theological theme: The vanity of earthly riches contrasted with God’s redemption of the humble faithful.
- Best use: Comfort for believers facing oppression or inequality; a call to place hope in God rather than in material success.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Do not be amazed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
KJV King James Version 1769
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth?
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No temas cuando se enriquece alguno, cuando aumenta la gloria de su casa;
Não temas quando um homem enriquece, quando a glória de sua casa se engrandece.
Mais Dieu sauvera mon âme du séjour des morts,
Laß dich's nicht irren, ob einer reich wird, ob die Herrlichkeit seines Hauses groß wird.
Maar God zal mijn ziel van het geweld des grafs verlossen, want Hij zal mij opnemen. Sela.
Non temere quand’uno s’arricchisce, quando si accresce la gloria della sua casa.
Ale Bóg wykupi duszę moję z mocy grobu, gdy mię przyjmie. Sela.
Грешнику же говорит Бог: "что ты проповедуешь уставы Мои и берешь завет Мой в уста твои,
見人 發財、 家室 增 榮的時候，你不要 懼怕；
Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that this verse issues a command not to fear or envy when the wicked grow rich. Adam Clarke warns against envy: the wealth does the wicked no good and the believer no harm. Albert Barnes explains that the fear is not of a good man’s wealth, but of the power a bad man can wield to injure others. The psalmist declares there is no real cause for dread. Matthew Henry frames the verse as part of a larger argument: because God will redeem the righteous soul from the grave (v. 15), the temporary splendor of the wicked loses its terror. Calvin similarly notes the psalm aims to moderate pride in the prosperous and to check despondency in the godly. Across traditions, the unified message is clear: the believer’s confidence rests not in earthly fortunes but in God’s redemption.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse clearly commands believers not to be afraid when the wicked become rich, and the surrounding context grounds this command in the temporary nature of wealth and God’s redemption of the righteous.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the fear prohibited | The verse commands believers not to be controlled by fear of the wicked's prosperity. | Some emphasize fear of harm or oppression (Barnes), while others stress fear mixed with envy or anxiety over God’s justice (Clarke, Calvin). Both agree the emotion is inappropriate for the redeemed. |
| Duration of wealth and glory | Wealth and glory are temporary; death ends them. | Some traditions focus on the immediate cessation at death; others see an eschatological judgment (Keil & Delitzsch) where the wicked are finally cut off from life and light. |
| Redemption of the righteous | God redeems the righteous from Sheol (v. 15), giving hope beyond death. | Interpretations vary: some see this as deliverance from premature death or danger, while others (Matthew Henry) view it as a clear hope of eternal life with God. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 49 belongs to the wisdom tradition, a genre that wrestles with the age-old problem of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. It is attributed to the sons of Korah, a Levitical guild of musicians. The psalm opens with a universal call, “all you people,” “all inhabitants of the world” (vv. 1, 2), signaling that its teaching crosses national and social boundaries. The immediate context (vv. 5, 15) describes the futility of trusting in riches: the wealthy cannot ransom their own lives from death; they are like sheep appointed for Sheol.
In the ancient Near East, wealth was often seen as a sign of divine favor. A rich man’s “glory” included a large house, land, children, and honor from others. Figures like Haman (Esther 5:11) flaunted such glory. The psalmist’s audience likely included both the powerful (who might be tempted to arrogance) and the powerless (who might be tempted to envy or fear). The command “do not be afraid” directly counters the anxiety that arises when the wicked gain influence and use it to oppress. Barnes notes that the fear is not of righteousness but of the harm wicked wealth can inflict. The psalm anchors the believer’s courage in a reality death itself cannot touch.
Textual Notes
The Masoretic Text for Psalm 49:16 is stable across Hebrew manuscripts. The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants. A few older interpreters (like Lange) mention general obscurity in the passage, but the wording of this verse is not disputed.
Reception History
Psalm 49:16 has been a source of comfort for Christians facing oppression and inequality. Early church fathers like Augustine used it to encourage the poor not to envy the wealthy. Medieval monastic writers saw it as a call to contempt for worldly riches. Reformers such as Calvin emphasized the faith that trusts God’s justice rather than human power. In modern times, the verse is often cited in funeral sermons and teachings on stewardship, reminding hearers that true glory does not follow us into the grave. Across the centuries, the psalm’s message has remained: earthly wealth is fleeting, but the hope of redemption is secure.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Command: “Do not be afraid”, the psalmist calls believers to reject both fear and envy when the wicked prosper (Ps. 49:16; cf. Ps. 37:1).
- The Reason: Wealth is temporary. The rich “will carry nothing away” at death; their glory cannot follow them (v. 17).
- The Anchor: God redeems the righteous from Sheol (v. 15). Because our hope is in Him, no earthly power can ultimately harm us.
Five-point outline
- The problem: the wicked grow rich and powerful, causing fear (v. 5; Est. 3:1, 6).
- The command: do not be afraid, fear belongs to God alone (v. 16).
- The illusion: wealth and glory are empty; they vanish at death (v. 17).
- The contrast: the wicked perish like beasts; the righteous are redeemed (vv. 14, 15, 20).
- The application: trust God’s justice, not human power (Ps. 37:7).
Illustration hooks
- Unethical success: A colleague takes shortcuts, gets promoted, and flaunts wealth. You worry that honesty doesn’t pay. The psalm says: his success is a vapor.
- The wealthy bully: A local figure uses money to influence courts or harm opponents. The news feeds anxiety. But earthly power has a short leash; God holds the final authority.
- Social media envy: Pictures of lavish houses and vacations stir resentment. The psalm invites us to see glory that fades and to treasure what lasts.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why do the wicked seem to succeed while faithful people struggle?
- Should I be afraid of powerful people who oppose God’s ways?
- How can I keep from envying the wealth and honor of those who don’t follow Christ?
Leading a Discussion
This verse appears in a psalm that tackles one of the hardest questions of faith: why evil people prosper. The psalmist does not pretend everything is fair. Instead, he gives us a new lens, one that sees beyond the grave. Read Psalm 49:5, 20 together before discussing.
Discussion questions
- What does the psalmist command in verse 16, and why might fear be a natural reaction to the wicked growing rich?
- How do verses 17, 20 explain the reason behind the command? What happens to wealth and glory at death?
- Compare verse 15 with verse 14. What difference does redemption make in how we view the prosperity of the wicked?
- In what situations today do you find it hardest to trust God when others gain wealth through dishonest means?
- How does knowing that death strips away all earthly status affect the way you treat both rich and poor people?
- What does this psalm teach us about where true security lies? How would you explain that to a friend who is anxious about a rich bully?
- How can we pray for God to replace our fear with faith and our envy with contentment?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 31:1 | Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.” |
| Esther 3:1 | After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. |
| Esther 3:6 | But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people. |
| Esther 5:11 | Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. |
| Psalms 37:1 | By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. |
| Psalms 37:7 | Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. |
| Psalms 49:5 | Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? |
| Proverbs 28:12 | When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke explains that envy of the wealthy is pointless because their riches neither harm you nor truly benefit them. Everything they acquire is left behind; even their honor ends in the common dust.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes clarifies that the psalmist is not warning against all wealthy people, but only against bad men whose riches give them power to harm others. He observes that the writer shifts from personal reflection to a general lesson, and that "the glory of his house" refers to lavish dwellings meant to project status.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights that the psalm addresses two very different audiences: the proud wicked who prosper and the struggling righteous who are tempted to despair. Both need correcting — the first to abandon pride in their fleeting success, the second to trust that God still regards them and will deliver them.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Be not thou afraid ] The Psalmist addresses himself, repeating the question of Psa_49:5 in the form of an exhortation (the Heb. word is the same), or any individual who is listening to him. glory ] The magnificence and splendour which accompany wealth. Cp. Pro_3:16 ; Pro_8:18 .
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note warns against fearing or being troubled when others grow wealthy and their households increase in honor. The commentator’s distinctive point is that such prosperity should not intimidate believers, because earthly riches are fleeting and not the true measure of God’s favor.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws a key distinction: the command not to fear applies only when a wicked person grows rich and powerful, not a good one. Believers need not be afraid because God remains their strength, and the wicked can do no more than what He permits.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees the psalmist’s command against anxiety as grounded in a stark reality: death itself cuts off the prosperous wicked who trouble the godly. The reason to stop dreading them is not that they become harmless, but that they cease to exist. This puts present fear in perspective.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlights a grim reversal: the self-confident are herded into Sheol like sheep, with Death himself as their shepherd. Their bodily form wastes away in the grave, leaving them no dwelling place. But for the upright, a morning dawns when they rule over their oppressors.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that what distinguishes people at death is not their outward condition but their spiritual state. The righteous have the assured hope that God will redeem their soul from the grave's power, preserving it from descending with the body. This confidence is the believer's great support in a dying hour.