Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 49:19
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
19. He shall go ] There should be a comma at the end of Psa 49:18, as in R.V., for Psa 49:19 forms the apodosis to it. The Heb. verb may be either the 3rd person fem., the subject being the soul, or the 2nd person masc.; so either, ‘Though he blessed his soul it shall go’ &c.: or, ‘Though men praise thee thou shalt go.’ The first alternative is preferable. The second involves an intolerably harsh change of person (‘ Thou shalt go his fathers’). For the phrase cp. Gen 15:15, “Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace.” The more usual expression for dying is, “he was gathered to his people,” or, “his fathers.” Families are contemplated as reunited in Sheol, where existence is a shadowy reflection of life on earth.
they shall never see light ] ‘They’ refers to the rich men. The Heb. mind passes from the class to the individual and from the individual to the class with a facility to which we are not accustomed. But it is perhaps better to take the phrase as a relative clause referring to ‘his fathers’; Who shall never more see the light. He goes to join the ranks of those whose lot is fixed irrevocably, who will never return to life. For the phrase cp. Psa 58:8; Job 3:16; Ecc 6:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He shall go to the generation of his fathers – To be gathered to ones own people, or to his fathers, is a common expression in the Old Testament in speaking of death. See Gen 25:8, Gen 25:17; Gen 35:29; Gen 49:29, Gen 49:33, Num 20:24, Num 20:26; Num 27:13; Num 31:2; Deu 32:50; Jdg 2:10. It means that they were united again with those who had gone before them, in the regions of the dead. Death had indeed separated them, but by death they were again united.
They shall never see light – He and the generation to which he has gone to be united, would no more see the light of this world; no more walk among the living: Job 33:30. Compare the notes at Isa 38:11; notes at Psa 27:13. The meaning is, that the rich sinner will die as others have done before him, leaving all his earthly possessions, and will no more be permitted to revisit the world where his forsaken possessions are, and will not even be permitted to look on what before had been to him such a source of self-confidence, self-gratulation, and pride.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. They shall never see light.] Rise again they shall; but they shall never see the light of glory, for there is prepared for them the blackness of darkness for ever.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Now he returns again to the third person. Such sudden and repeated changes are frequent in this book.
To the generation of his fathers, i.e. to the grave and hell, where he shall meet with his wicked parents, who by their counsel and example led him into his evil courses; as the godly also are said to be gathered to their fathers, Gen 15:15; Deu 32:50; Jdg 2:10.
Never see, i.e. never enjoy, as seeing is oft taken.
Light; neither the light of the living, as it is called, Job 33:30; Psa 56:13; or of this life, to which they shall never return; nor of the next life to which they shall never be admitted, but they shall be cast into utter darkness, Mat 8:12.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16-19. applies this instruction.Be not anxious (Ps 37:1, &c.),since death cuts off the prosperous wicked whom you dread.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He shall go to the generation of his fathers,…. Be gathered to them at death; or “to the dwelling place of his fathers” m; either the grave, or hell, or both; the habitation of his wicked ancestors: unless the words be rendered, as they are by some, though “he shall come to the age of his fathers” n; live as long as they have done; yet he must die at last, and leave all behind, as they have done;
they shall never see light; neither he nor his fathers; they shall never see light of the sun any more, nor return to the light of the living, but shall lie in the dark and silent grave until the resurrection; or rather, they shall never enjoy eternal light, glory, and happiness. The ultimate state of glory is sometimes expressed by “light”; Joh 8:12; this the people of God, such who are made light in the Lord, and are the children of the day, shall see; but wicked men shall not; they will be cast into outer darkness, where are weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
m – “ad habitationem”, Gejerus. n “Usque ad aetatem”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
19 He shall come to the age of his fathers He proceeds to show how false are the flatteries by which the wicked deceive themselves, and are deceived by others. Be they ever so intoxicated with the praises of the world, or with their own vain imaginations, yet they cannot live beyond the age of their fathers; and, granting their life to be extended to the longest term, it can never stretch into eternity. Others understand the expression as synonymous with their being gathered to the tomb along with their fathers who have gone before them; as in Scripture death is usually called “The way of all the earth.” The Psalmist, a little above, had spoken of their being gathered together in the grave as sheep in a fold. According to this view, the meaning of the passage is, that having never aspired after heaven, but having been sunk in the low grovelling pursuits of this world, they would come at last to the same fate with their fathers. When it is added, They shall not see the light even for ever, we are to understand their consignment to everlasting darkness. (235) In my opinion, both clauses of the verse combine to express the same truth, That however they may flatter and deceive themselves, they cannot prolong their life beyond the common term of mortality. As either interpretation, however, agrees with the general scope of the psalm, the reader may choose for himself. Should the latter be adopted, the words in the close of the verse are to be considered as asserting that the ungodly can only enjoy the light of life for a short period, as they have no hope of another existence beyond the grave. We are taught by the Psalmist, in the words which have been under our consideration, to beware of flattering ourselves in the possessions of this world, and to be principally anxious for the attainment of that happiness which is reserved for us in heaven. We are also warned not to allow ourselves to be carried away by the erring influence of worldly applause. Even heathen authors have taught us the same lesson. Thus the poet Persius says, —
“
Non si quid turbida Roma Elevet, accedas, examenve improbum in illa Castiges trutina: nec te quaesiveris extra,” —
“
If Rome, a city full of commotions, exalt or despise any thing, beware of being satisfied with its weight or balance; that is to say, of stopping at its judgment; and do not look to what others say of you, but enter into thyself, and examine what thou art.” (236) But the disposition to be deceived by flattery is one so strongly marked in our nature, as to require that we should attend to the weightier admonition of one who was inspired.
(235) Horsley reads, “To all eternity they shall not see light;” “that light,” says he, “which emphatically deserves the name — that light, of which created light is but a faint image; the light of God’s glory. He shall have no share in the beatific vision.”
(236) This is the translation which is given of these lines in the French version.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) They shall never.Better, who will never again look on the light, i.e., never live again, implying, in contrast, a hope of a resurrection for the upright. (See Note Psa. 49:14.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 49:19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
Ver. 19. He shall go to the generation of his fathers ] i.e. To the grave, or albeit he come to the age of his fathers, that is, live here very long.
They shall never see light
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
He shall = [Yet] he shall, &c, continuing from Psa 49:18.
his: i.e. the man’s.
They: i.e. those fathers.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
He: Heb. The soul, Ecc 3:21, Ecc 12:7, Luk 12:20, Luk 16:22, Luk 16:23
to the generation: Gen 15:15, 1Ki 16:6
never: Psa 56:13, Job 33:30, Mat 8:12, Mat 22:13, Jud 1:13
Reciprocal: Job 33:28 – see Ecc 3:18 – concerning Luk 6:25 – mourn Joh 3:36 – see Joh 8:12 – shall have 1Pe 3:10 – see
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
49:19 {o} He shall go to the generation of his fathers; {p} they shall never see light.
(o) And not pass the term appointed for life.
(p) Both they and their fathers will live here but a while and at length die forever.