Psalms 49 · Verse 8

Psalms 49:8

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Psalms 49:8, King James Version

Psalms 49:8 in other translations

BSBFor the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
WEBFor the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
ASV(For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever),
YLTAnd precious is the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased--to the age.
DARBY(For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,)
BBE(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
Webster(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

What does Psalms 49:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 49:7-9

7-9. yet unable to save themselves or others.

Read the full comment on Psalms 49:7-9 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 For the redemption of their soul is precious - It is of too high a price to be redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, and has required the sacrificial death of Christ. And it ceaseth for ever - This is very obscure, and may apply to the ransom which riches could produce. That ransom must be for ever unavailable, because of the value of the soul. Or this clause should be added to the following verse, and read thus: "And though he cease to be, (וחדל vechadal), during the hidden time, (לעולם leolam); yet he shall live on through eternity, (ויחי עוד לנצח vichi od lanetsach), and not see corruption." This is probably the dark saying which it was the design of the author to utter in a parable, and leave it to the ingenuity of posterity to find it out. The verb חדל chadal signifies a cessation of being or action, and עולם olam often signifies hidden time, that which is not defined, and the end of which is not ascertained, though it is frequently used to express endless duration. This translation requires no alteration of the original text, and conveys a precise and consistent meaning.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 49:6-14

Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A man may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their…

Read the full comment on Psalms 49:6-14 →

Psalms 49:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְ֭יֵקַרVe.ye.karso it may be costlyH3365
פִּדְי֥וֹןpid.Yon[the] ransom ofH6306
נַפְשָׁ֗םnaf.Shamlife theirH5315
וְחָדַ֥לve.cha.Daland he will ceaseH2308
לְעוֹלָֽם\׃le.'o.Lamfor everH5769

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 49:8

  • Matthew 16:26

    For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

  • Job 36:18-19

    Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 36:18,19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 49:7

    None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

  • Psalms 49:8

    (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

  • Psalms 49:9

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

Read all of Psalms 49

Psalms 49:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		(Porque la redención de su vida es de gran precio, y no se hará jamás;)
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Un homme ne pourra en aucune manière racheter son frère, ni donner à Dieu sa rançon,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn kostbar ist die Erlösung ihrer Seele, und er muß davon abstehen auf ewig.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non in sacrificiis tuis arguam te; holocausta autem tua in conspectu meo sunt semper.