Psalms 49:6-9

6-9. His first argument is grounded on the insufficiency of wealth and worldly power to save life, or to bring back from the grave.

Redeem… ransom Two strong Levitical terms for regaining what has become legally forfeited especially, where life had become forfeited by paying an equivalent, or satisfaction, as in the case of the “firstborn.” Exodus 13:12-13; Exodus 34:20; Leviticus 27:27; Numbers 18:15.

Redemption of their soul is precious That is, the redemption price of man’s life is costly too costly for man to pay. This applies to all men, but the psalmist is specially speaking of ungodly men, who place their whole trust in their riches. God only can redeem a soul. (See Psalms 49:15.) “Soul,” here, though it may be rendered life, has the sense, as in other places, of the ego, selfhood, or personality, equivalent to the total man. Under the law, the firstborn, mortgaged lands, captives of war, might be redeemed with money, but no man can pay to God a ransom or a satisfaction for the release of even a brother from the death penalty caused by sin.

It ceaseth for ever The ransom price is left off absolutely and for ever omitted or, as Ewald and others, “Is wanting for evermore.” The law makes no mention of it, and no man is so foolish as to propose or think of offering a redemption price, or satisfaction, for the release even of his body from death, “so that he should still live forever, and not see corruption,” much less for the release of his soul from guilt. God alone could provide this. This eighth verse, though parenthetically read, stands in close connexion as to sense with Psalms 49:7; Psalms 49:9-10, and might be transposed so as to read after Psalms 49:9, without parenthesis.