Does Psalm 49:7 mean that Jesus could not have redeemed us on the cross?

Answer

Psalm 49:7 states, “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them.” If there is no way to “redeem” or “ransom” someone’s life in God’s eyes, then it seems that we are in a hopeless state. Does this verse negate the idea that Jesus is our Redeemer or that His death was the ransom for our souls?

The broader context of Psalm 49:7 reinforces the doctrine that no one can redeem another person. Verses 7–9 read as follows:

“No one can redeem the life of another

or give to God a ransom for them—

the ransom for a life is costly,

no payment is ever enough—

so that they should live on forever

and not see decay.”

The overarching theme of Scripture is evident: Jesus, the Son of God, is the Redeemer; and He indeed bore the punishment for our sins on the cross. There are several reasons why Psalm 49:7 does not contradict this truth, and here are four of them:

1) The main reason Psalm 49:7 aligns with the New Testament doctrine of Christ’s redemption is that the psalm pertains to being redeemed from physical death, not eternal death. The psalm emphasizes that everyone faces death: rich and poor, wise and foolish. Wealth cannot save a person, and there is no safety in numbers; death is inevitable for all. Trusting in oneself is foolish, and worrying about the power amassed by the wicked is pointless.

Using Psalm 49:7 to argue that Jesus could not have redeemed us on the cross is a category error. Dissimilar things (like apples and oranges) cannot be logically compared. Psalm 49 discusses the futility of evading physical death, while the New Testament addresses our redemption in Jesus Christ. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.

2. Another reason Psalm 49:7 does not imply that Jesus is not the Redeemer is evident within the psalm itself. Psalm 49:15 says, “But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.” There is no redeemer, according to verse 7, but, according to verse 15, God can and will redeem. The clear conclusion is that verse 7 is referring to human redeemers who might attempt to defy death or use their wealth to pay a ransom for their souls. However, redeeming an individual from death is the work of God. This teaching aligns perfectly with the New Testament revelation that Jesus Christ, as God in the flesh, became our Redeemer.

3. Before we question a portion of Scripture, we must gather all the relevant data. This process begins with all pertinent Scripture passages and extends to trusted commentaries. Upholding Scripture requires significant effort, and questioning Scripture should be equally rigorous. We cannot simply seize upon a verse that appears to pose a challenge and proceed without thorough consideration. Before we use Psalm 49:7 as evidence that Jesus could not have redeemed us on the cross, we should prayerfully and meticulously examine all that Scripture communicates on the subject (see 2 Timothy 2:14-15).

4. Psalm 49:7 may suggest that there is no redeemer, seemingly excluding Jesus from that role. However, Psalms is a book of poetry, and a poetic line does not carry the same doctrinal weight as a passage intended for teaching. We must exercise caution before formulating a doctrine in isolation—such as using a line of poetry to contradict a clear biblical teaching. Undoubtedly, the Bible is entirely God’s inspired Word «All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: », (2 Timothy 3:16), and all of it is significant, but not all of it carries equal weight in shaping a doctrine. No single verse should serve as the sole basis for challenging a doctrine that is clearly taught elsewhere in Scripture.

Psalm 49:7 states, “No man can redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God” (BSB).

Now, let’s compare some verses from the epistles—letters intended to explain doctrine—that directly discuss redemption:

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished” (Romans 3:23-25).

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” «Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: », (Galatians 3:13).

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” «In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; », (Ephesians 1:7).

“He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” «neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. », (Hebrews 9:12).

Clearly, these New Testament verses focus on eternal redemption in Christ, rather than just death versus life. They elaborate on advanced concepts, specifically written to establish and explain doctrine. One verse from the Psalms—though entirely God’s Word—

beautiful in form—does not have the power to overturn the Bible’s central theme: the redemption of the world and its people through Jesus Christ.