Bible Strands
Psalms 49:16
Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses a community tempted to dread or envy human prosperity, placing the warning immediately after his declaration that God will redeem his own life from Sheol and immediately before the statement that the rich man carries nothing into death.
The words — The Hebrew imperative אַל־ תִּ֭ירָא ('al-tira) commands "do not be afraid," introduced by the conditional כִּֽי־ (ki) meaning "when" or "if." The verb יַעֲשִׁ֣ר (ya'ashir) means "he will become rich," coupled with כְּב֣וֹד (kavod) for "splendor" or "honor."
The thread — This directive to reject fear of human wealth runs parallel to Psalms 37:1 and 37:7, which forbid fretting or envying those who do wrong and prosper. The tension between temporal abundance and lasting reality finds its resolution in Revelation 21:24, where earthly kings bring their glory into the eternal city.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to stop measuring security by material accumulation because wealth cannot cross the boundary of death. It demands a practical shift of trust from temporary house splendor to the certainty of divine redemption.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Cross-references
- Psalms 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
- Psalms 37:1 Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
- Revelation 21:24 By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.
- Revelation 21:26 And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations.
- Genesis 31:1 Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”
- Esther 3:1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.
- Esther 5:11 Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
- Psalms 49:5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
- Proverbs 28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.