• Psalm 49:7 NASB - No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him–

I have been seeing this verse put forward by trinitarians as proof that Jesus had to be God in order to redeem mankind by his blood. However, viewing Psalm 49:7 in this way is to yank the verse completely out of context.

If one looks at the whole of Psalm 49, they will see that the context of the psalm is “The Folly of Trusting in Riches” (the NASB subtitle). In other words, the foolishness of thinking that material, worldly wealth will be able to redeem a man from death.

Verse 7 has absolutely nothing to do with the precious blood of the man Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Here is the entire psalm for your review:

Psalm 49 (NASB)

1 For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
6 Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7 No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him—
8 For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever—
9 That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay.
10 For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names.
12 But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words. Selah.
14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah.
16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he congratulates himself—And though men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light.
20 Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.