Psalm 49:16-17
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The verse isn't just telling you not to be envious of wealth, but to actively resist the fear it can instill, especially when that wealth seems to amplify someone's pride and influence. It's a call to recognize that external splendor is ultimately a fragile facade, unable to truly secure or benefit its owner in the face of eternity.
Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist begins by calling everyone to listen, as he's about to reveal a divinely-taught wisdom concerning the temporary prosperity of the godless. He contrasts their arrogance and belief that their wealth will last forever with the certainty of death, showing how riches ultimately can't save them. This verse, therefore, serves as an encouragement not to be intimidated by the outwardly successful but ungodly, because their material gains and grand homes are fleeting and will be left behind when they die.
Ever feel a pang of envy or fear when you see someone else's success, especially if they seem to have it all?
The psalmist directly addresses this feeling, urging us not to be afraid or discouraged when others gain wealth and their households flourish.
The Illusion of Security
This isn't about a good person becoming successful; the context of the psalm points to the godless prospering. Their success, while outwardly impressive, is temporary. The psalmist calls it 'glory,' but it's a deceptive glory, like a shining facade on a crumbling building.
Why Not Fear?
Fear often stems from a sense of powerlessness or a misunderstanding of true value. When we see the wicked prosper, it can shake our faith in God's justice and providence. However, this verse reminds us that their prosperity is shallow. It doesn't secure their future or offer any lasting benefit. It's a temptation to envy, but ultimately, it's nothing to dread.
What's the great equalizer that strips away all earthly status and possessions?
The psalmist's counsel to not fear the rich isn't just a suggestion; it's backed by a stark reality: death.
The End of Earthly Gain
When the verse says, 'when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases,' it paints a picture of earthly success. But the immediate implication, explored further in the psalm, is that none of this can be taken with you.
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A Sobering Truth
This isn't morbid; it's clarifying. The riches, the 'glory of his house' – the impressive dwellings, the status symbols – they all remain behind. Death is the ultimate revealer of what truly matters. It exposes the vanity of trusting in material wealth for security or significance. The psalmist wants us to see this so clearly that the temporary success of others loses its power to intimidate or tempt us.
Understand the original words
tira · Hebrew Verb
A feeling of alarm or dread; in a biblical context, it often refers to a lack of trust in God's sovereignty when faced with the power or prosperity of the wicked.
ashar · Hebrew Verb
Abundance of material possessions or wealth. In Scripture, while sometimes viewed as a sign of God's favor, it is frequently warned against as a source of temptation, pride, and false security.
kabod · Hebrew Noun
Heavy weight or significance; in the context of a man's house, it refers to honor, splendor, wealth, and status, which the world values but which is ultimately fleeting before God.
This psalm likely emerged during the Persian period when the community was rebuilding and facing internal social stresses. It addresses the age-old question of why the wicked prosper while the righteous may suffer, offering a timeless perspective rooted in the certainty of death and the ultimate vindication by God.
c. 7th-5th centuries BC— this verse
Persian Period in Judah
The Jewish people lived under Persian rule after the Babylonian exile. This era saw efforts to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, while grappling with societal inequalities and the meaning of prosperity.
c. 5th-4th centuries BC
Post-Exilic Rebuilding and Social Tensions
Following the return from exile, there were significant social and economic disparities. The psalm likely addresses concerns about the prosperity of the godless and the apparent injustice of their success, a common theme in wisdom literature.
c. 3rd century BC
Hellenistic Influence Begins
The subsequent period saw the rise of Greek influence, which would further shape Jewish thought and societal structures, though the psalm's core concerns about wealth and mortality predate its full impact.
This verse expresses a similar struggle with envy and doubt when observing the prosperity of the wicked, directly mirroring the sentiment that precedes Psalm 49:16.
Luke 12:15Jesus warns against greed and the illusion that one's life is secured by the abundance of possessions, echoing the psalm's critique of material security.
Ecclesiastes 5:10This passage directly states that a love of money will never be satisfied, reinforcing the idea that wealth offers no true contentment or security, even when a 'house's glory increases'.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse identifies the love of money as a root of all kinds of evil, connecting the psalmist's caution against fearing the rich with the spiritual dangers of covetousness.
Job 1:21Job's example of relinquishing all his possessions without complaint, stating 'the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away,' demonstrates a profound trust that transcends earthly riches and glory, even in loss.
clarkePsalms 49:16: "Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;"
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich - Do not be envious; do not grieve: it will do you no harm; it will do him no good. All he gets will be left behind; he can carry nothing with him. Even his glory must stay behind; he shall mingle with the common earth.
expositorsPsalms 49:1-20: "To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:"
Psalm 49:1-20 THIS psalm touches the high-water mark of Old Testament faith in a future life; and in that respect, as well as in its application of that faith to alleviate the mystery of present inequalities and non-correspondence of desert with condition, is closely related to the noble Psalm 73:1-28 , with Which it has also several verbal identities. Bot…
The verse isn't just telling you not to be envious of wealth, but to actively resist the fear it can instill, especially when that wealth seems to amplify someone's pride and influence. It's a call to recognize that external splendor is ultimately a fragile facade, unable to truly secure or benefit its owner in the face of eternity.
The psalmist begins by calling everyone to listen, as he's about to reveal a divinely-taught wisdom concerning the temporary prosperity of the godless. He contrasts their arrogance and belief that their wealth will last forever with the certainty of death, showing how riches ultimately can't save them. This verse, therefore, serves as an encouragement not to be intimidated by the outwardly successful but ungodly, because their material gains and grand homes are fleeting and will be left behind when they die.
The psalmist begins by calling everyone to listen, as he's about to reveal a divinely-taught wisdom concerning the temporary prosperity of the godless. He contrasts their arrogance and belief that their wealth will last forever with the certainty of death, showing how riches ultimately can't save them. This verse, therefore, serves as an encouragement not to be intimidated by the outwardly successful but ungodly, because their material gains and grand homes are fleeting and will be left behind when they die.
"Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him." — The verse isn't just telling you not to be envious of wealth, but to actively resist the fear it can instill, especially when that wealth seems to amplify someone's pride and influence. It's a call…
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Last reviewed October 2026
