The Text and Meaning of Ps 49:12

Introduction

The MT of Ps 49:12 reads as follows:

קִרְבָּ֤ם בָּתֵּ֨ימוֹ ׀ לְֽעוֹלָ֗ם מִ֭שְׁכְּנֹתָם לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר קָֽרְא֥וּ בִ֝שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עֲלֵ֣י אֲדָמֽוֹת

This verse deals with the posthumous fate of the speaker's opponents, that is the foolish rich, and is variously represented among modern translations. For example:

• Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. (KJ21)
• Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,... (NET)
• Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. (RSV)
• Their grave is their eternal home, the dwelling-place for all generations of those once famous on earth. (JPS1985)

These translations indicate that among some of the difficulties with v. 12 is the interpretation of v. 12a and 12c.

1. In v. 12a, the MT has קִרְבָּם which a number of modern translations read as "their inner thought", that is, the rich think that their houses will stand for ever (e.g., KJ21; ASV; NASB; KJV; ERV; JPS 1917; LUTH1545; HOF; TOB; S21; BULG; RUSV; UKR; etc.). Other translations, however, represent v. 12a as "Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations..." (e.g., RSV; NEB; REB; NRSV; NIV; ELT; RL; etc.).
2. Additionally, the meaning of קָרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת in v. 12c is not straightforward, raising questions regarding a practice(s) that the rich here are envisaged as engaging in, i.e., either laying a claim of ownership to their immovable property (i.e., their land) or invoking the names of their deceased ancestors.

Argument Maps

Reading v. 12a with the MT's קִרְבָּם

In v. 12a, the MT has קִרְבָּם which is followed by a number of modern translations rendering it as "their inner thought", i.e., "Their inner thought is that their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations..." (NASB; cf. KJ21; ASV; KJV; ERV; JPS 1917; LUTH1545; HOF; TOB; S21; BULG; RUSV; UKR; etc.).

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[The MT's קִרְבָּם]: The MT's קִרְבָּם should be preferred. E.g., "Their inner thought is that their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations..." (NASB).#dispreferred  
 + <Context>: The MT's קִרְבָּם makes sense contextually, i.e., the foolish rich imagine that "their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations..." (NASB).#dispreferred 
 + <Lectio difficilior potior>: As the more difficult reading, the MT should be preferred.#dispreferred 
 - <Ancient Witnesses>: Some ancient witnesses do not support the MT.  
  + [Targ.]: "They shall remain in their graves/קבורתהון for ever and not rise from their dwellings to all generations” (Stec 2004, 102).
  + [LXX]: "And their graves/καὶ οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν are their homes forever, their coverts to generation and generation" (NETS).
  + [Pesh.]: "Their graves/ܩܒܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ are their houses forever, their dwelling places throughout generations" (Taylor 2020, 189).
   + [Pesh.'s Reading]: This would have been produced due to metathesis of rīsh and bēth (Taylor 2020, 189).
 + <Ancient Witnesses 2>: Some ancient witnesses do support the MT: εβρ, α', σ', ε', ς'. #dispreferred  
  + [Aquila]: ἐν μέσωι αὐτῶν οἰκίαι αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα σκηνώματα αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν...
  + [Symmachus]: τὰ ἐντὸς τῶν οἰκῶν αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα τὰς κατασκημώσ(εις) αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν̣̣...
 - <Internal Evidence>: Inner-biblical evidence shows that graves were thought of as deceased's final and "eternal" dwelling places, houses.
  + [Qoh 12:5]: Qoh 12:5 describes the deceased going to their eternal home (בית עולמו).
  + [Isa 22:16]: Isa 22:16 refers to a grave as a "dwelling place".
 - <External Evidence>: Extra-biblical sources (Phoenician and Aramaic inscriptions; Palmyrene burial inscriptions) refer to graves as houses (Tromp 1969, 78 :M:; Spronk 1986, 33 :M:; Crenshaw 1986, 9 :A:; Seow 1999, 224–226 :A:). 
  + [The Deir 'Alla inscriptions]: Line 6 of Combination II of the Deir 'Alla inscriptions uses byt 'lmn. 

Emending the MT's קִרְבָּם to קברם (preferred)

Many translations, however, follow the LXX (οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν), and emend the MT to קברם. Hence, they render v. 12a as "Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations..." (RSV; cf. NEB; REB; NRSV; NIV; ELT; RL).

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[Emending the MT to קברם]: The MT's קִרְבָּם should be emended to קברם/their graves (Barthélemy (cf. ''BHS'') 2005, 292-95 :M:). E.g., "Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations..." (RSV; cf. NEB; REB; NRSV; NIV; ELT; RL).
 + <Context>: The emended קברם/"their grave(s)" makes sense contextually, i.e., although the foolish rich accumulate wealth and make plans for this life, it is their grave(s) that will be their houses forever and their dwelling places to all generations.
 - <Lectio difficilior potior>: As the more difficult reading, the MT should be preferred.#dispreferred 
 + <Ancient Witnesses>: Ancient witnesses support the reading "their graves".
  + [Targ.]: "They shall remain in their graves/קבורתהון for ever and not rise from their dwellings to all generations” (Stec 2004, 102).
  + [LXX]: "And their graves/καὶ οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν are their homes forever, their coverts to generation and generation" (NETS).
  + [Pesh.]: "Their graves/ܩܒܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ are their houses forever, their dwelling places throughout generations" (Taylor 2020, 189).
   + [Pesh.'s Reading]: This would have been produced due to metathesis of rīsh and bēth (Taylor 2020, 189).
 - <Ancient Witnesses 2>: Some ancient witnesses support the MT: εβρ, α', σ', ε', ς'. #dispreferred  
  + [Aquila]: ἐν μέσωι αὐτῶν οἰκίαι αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα σκηνώματα αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν...
  + [Symmachus]: τὰ ἐντὸς τῶν οἰκῶν αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα τὰς κατασκημώσ(εις) αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν̣̣..
 + <Internal Evidence>: Inner-biblical evidence shows that graves were thought of as deceased's final and "eternal" dwelling places, houses.
  + [Qoh 12:5]: Qoh 12:5 describes the deceased going to their eternal home (בית עולמו).
  + [Isa 22:16]: Isa 22:16 refers to a grave as a "dwelling place".
 + <External Evidence>: Extra-biblical sources (Phoenician and Aramaic inscriptions; Palmyrene burial inscriptions) refer to graves as houses (Tromp 1969, 78 :M:; Spronk 1986, 33 :M:; Crenshaw 1986, 9 :A:; Seow 1999, 224–226 :A:). 
  + [The Deir 'Alla inscriptions]: Line 6 of Combination II of the Deir 'Alla inscriptions uses byt 'lmn. 
 - <Context>: The MT's קִרְבָּם makes sense contextually, i.e., the foolish rich imagine that "their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations..." (NASB).#dispreferred 

The Meaning and Function of קָרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת

"Land possession" (preferred)

The phrase קָרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת in v. 12c should be understood as the rich people laying a claim of ownership to their immovable property (i.e., their land).

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["Land possession"]: The phrase "calling with names" in v. 12c should be understood as a claim of property ownership.
 + <Internal Support 1>: In Ps 49, the foolish rich are depicted as constantly accumulative wealth, and claiming "lands" as their would fit their modus operandi well.
  + [Ps 49:7]: "Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches?."
  + [Ps 49:17]: "Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich, When the splendor of his house is increased."
 + <Internal Support 2>: In Ps 49, the foolish rich are depicted as trusting in their wealth, and not in other individuals (dead or alive) or God.
 + <External Inner-biblical Support>: The phrase represents the idea of property ownership in a number of texts. 
  + [Evidence]: E.g., Num 32:41, 42; Deut 3:14; Jdg 18:29; 1 Chr 6:50.
 - <Usage of the Phrase>: קרא  בשם can mean "to invoke the name of X."#dispreferred 
  + [Exod 31:2; 35:30]: It can be used with individuals.
  + [Isa 40:26]: It can be used with the heavenly host. 
  + [Isa 43:1, 4]: It can be used with Israel.
  + [Gen 12:8]: It can be used with God.

"Calling on deceased ancestors"

The phrase קָרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת in v. 12c could refer to the practice of invoking the name(s) of deceased ancestors. Thus, M. Smith argues that the rich in v. 12 "maintain the ancestral cult with their burials, their 'eternal homes' (Ps 49:12a-b)" and "wrongly comfort themselves by indulging in the custom of summoning their deceased ancestors (Ps 49:12c)."

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[Invocation of the Dead]: The phrase "calling with names" in v. 12c should be understood as a practice of invoking the deceased ancestors (Malamat 1989, 105-106 :M:; Smith 1993, 105-107 :A:). #dispreferred 
 + <Veneration of the Dead>: The practice of invoking the dead ancestors is represented with language similar to Ps 49:12c.#dispreferred 
  + [Evidence 1]: Ps 16:4. "Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips/ובל אשא את שמותם על שפתי" (Pope 1981, 457 :A:; Spronk 1986, 249, 334-38 :M:; Lewis 1989, 166 :M:; Smith 1993, 107 :A:).
  + [Evidence 2]: Invoking the royal dead in Ugarit is communicated with qr' (KTU 1.161; Smith 1993, 107 :A:).
  + [Evidence 3]: In Akkadian, the invocation of the dead is done with šuma zakārū (KAI 214:16, 24; cf. 2 Sam 18:18; Smith 1993, 107 :A:).
   <_<Land Holding and Ancestor Veneration>: Land holding and ancestor veneration were intricately linked in Israel and ANE (Stavrakopoulou 2010 :M:). 
 - <Accumulation of Wealth>: In Ps 49, the foolish rich are depicted as constantly accumulating wealth, and claiming "lands" as theirs would fit their modus operandi.
  + [Ps 49:7]: "Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches."
  + [Ps 49:17]: "Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich, when the splendor of his house is increased."
 - <Trust in Wealth>: In Ps 49, the foolish rich trust in their wealth, and not in other individuals (dead or alive).
 - <קרא  בשם and Land Ownership>: Naming territories with one's name is attested in the Hebrew Bible. 
  + [Num 32:41, 42]: "Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its towns/חותיהם, and called them Havvoth-jair/ויקרא אתהן חות יאיר."; "Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah after his own name/ויקרא לה נבח בשמו." (NASB; Deut 3:14; Jdg 18:29; 1 Chr 6:50).
   <_<The "Naming" Idiom>: Although similar, Num 32:41, 42, Deut 3:14, Jdg 18:29, and 1 Chr 6:50 are not identical to the formulation in Ps 49:12.#dispreferred  
 + <קרא  בשם and Naming/Invocation>: קרא  בשם can mean "to name X" or "to invoke the name of X." #dispreferred 
  + [Exod 31:2]: "See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah" (cf. Exod 35:30).
  + [Gen 12:8]: "... and he called upon the name of the Lord" (cf. Gen 26:25; Exod 34:5; 1 Kgs 18:24; Ps
116:4, 13, 17; etc.).
 + <Ps 49:20>: V. 20 could be a reference to the rich persons' ancestors/דּוֹר אֲבוֹתָיו (cf. NJPS; NRSV; Dahood 1965, 296 :C:;  Smith 1993, 106-107 :A:). "#dispreferred 

Conclusion (B)

On balance, emending the MT to קברם in v. 12a and taking the phrase קָרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת in v. 12c as a claim of property ownership are preferable. The reading of קברם as "their graves" has good support from a.) ancient witnesses; b.) internal and external biblical evidence; and c.) context. The "property ownership" take on "calling with names" a.) makes sense contextually; b.) reflects the usage of the phrase elsewhere in HB; and c.) is well presented in scholarship. In Psalm 49, the overall thrust of the speaker's discourse indicates that his focus is on the foolishness of trust in one's own material possessions, not the good-will of others, including the ancestral dead. At this juncture in the psalm (i.e., v. 12), "Both 'home' and 'dwelling' are plural, which makes one reflect on the fact that wealthy people will have more than one residence—in Israel, perhaps a winter home in the Jordan Valley and a summer home in the mountains. But these plurals are no doubt grammatically intensive rather than numerical. They attach mistaken expectations about how long they will live in their fine home, their splendid dwelling (MT); the grave will turn out to be their actual fine home and splendid dwelling, and that will be so forever and for all generations (LXX). There is to be a “forever” about their experience, but it is not the one they are looking for (v. 9)."

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX
  • καὶ οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν οἰκίαι αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα σκηνώματα αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν ἐπεκαλέσαντο τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῶν γαιῶν αὐτῶν.
    • And their graves are their homes forever, their coverts to generation and generation. They named their lands their own. (NETS)
• Aquila
  • ἐν μέσωι αὐτῶν οἰκίαι αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα σκηνώματα αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν ἐκάλεσαν ἐν ὀ̣νόμασιν αὐτ(ῶν) ἐπι χθόνας. (καὶ) ἄν(θρωπ)ος
• Symmachus
  • τὰ ἐντὸς τῶν οἰκῶν αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα τὰς κατασκημώσ(εις) αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν̣̣ ὀνομάσαντες ἐπ’ ὀνόμασιν αὐτ(ῶν) ταῖς γαίαις
• Peshitta
  • ܩܒܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܒ̈ܬܝܗܘܢ ܠܥܠܡ܂ ܘܡܥܡܪܗܘܢ ܠܕܪܕܪܝܢ܂ ܘܩܪܝܢ ܫܡ̈ܗܐ ܒܐܪܥܐ܂
    • Their graves are their houses forever, their dwelling places throughout generations, even though they assign names throughout the land....
• Jerome (Iuxta LXX)
  • interiora sua domus suas in saeculo tabernacula sua in generatione et generatione vocaverunt nominibus suis terras suas
• Jerome (Iuxta Hebr)
  • sepulchra eorum domus illorum in aeternum tabernacula eorum in progeniem et progeniem vocaverunt nomina sua in terris suis
• Targum
  • בבית קבורתהון ישרון לעלם ולא יקומון ממשכניהון לדרי דריא מטול דאיתרברבו/דאיתגאו#1#/ וקנו שום ביש עילוי ארעא׃
    • They shall remain in their graves for ever and not rise from their dwellings to all generations, because they acted proudly and acquired an evil name upon the earth.

Modern

"inner thought" or similar

• Sie bilden sich ein, dass ihre Häuser für die Ewigkeit gebaut sind und alle Generationen überdauern. Aber es hilft ihnen nichts, selbst wenn sie ganze Länder besessen haben. (HFA)
• Sie bilden sich ein, ihre Häuser seien für die Ewigkeit gebaut und ihre Wohnsitze blieben auch in allen künftigen Generationen erhalten. Große Ländereien haben sie erworben und nach sich selbst benannt. (NGÜ)
• Ihr Gedanke ⟨ist⟩, ⟨dass⟩ ihre Häuser in Ewigkeit ⟨stehen⟩, ihre Wohnung von Generation zu Generation; sie hatten Ländereien nach ihren Namen benannt. (ELB)
• Sie meinen, ihre Häuser bestehen auf ewig, / ihre Wohnungen von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht, nannten sie auch Länder nach ihrem Namen. (EÜ)
• Su íntimo pensamiento es que sus casas serán eternas, y sus habitaciones para generación y generación. ¡Dan sus nombres a sus tierras! (RVR95)
• Su íntima aspiración es que sus casas serán eternas, Sus moradas, de generación en generación, Y a sus tierras han puesto sus nombres. (BTX4)
• Ils s'imaginent que leurs maisons subsisteront toujours, et leurs demeures de génération en génération, eux qui avaient donné leurs noms à des terres. (NBS)
• Ils s'imaginent que leurs maisons subsisteront toujours, Et leurs demeures de génération en génération, Eux qui avaient donné leurs noms à des terres. (NVSR)
• Cependant, ils s’imaginent ╵que leurs maisons vont durer ╵jusque dans l’éternité et que leurs demeures ╵seront à l’abri du temps ╵pendant des générations, eux qui voulaient que leurs terres ╵soient appelées de leur nom. (BDS)
• Ils s’imaginent que leurs maisons seront éternelles, que leurs résidences dureront toujours, eux qui avaient donné leur propre nom à leurs terres. (S21)
• В мыслях у них, что домы их вечны, и что жилища их в род и род, и земли свои они называют своими именами. (RUSV)
• Вони думають, ніби доми їхні навіки, місця їхнього замешкання з роду до роду, іменами своїми звуть землі,... (UKR)
• Тайната им мисъл е, че домовете им ще траят вечно, И жилищата им из род в род; Наричат земите си със своите си имена. (BULG)

"graves"

• Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. (ESV)
• Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. (NIV)
• Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves, ... (NET)
• The grave will be their home forever and ever, although they once had land of their own. (CEV)
• Their graves are their homes forever; there they stay for all time, though they once had lands of their own.

(GNT)

• The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves,...

(NLT)

• Their grave is their eternal home, their dwelling for all time to come; they may give their own names to estates,... (NEB)
• Though they give their names to estates, the grave is their eternal home, their dwelling for all time to come. (REB)
• Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. (NRSV)
• Their grave is their eternal home, the dwelling-place for all generations of those once famous on earth. (JPS 1985)
• Forever no home but their tombs, their dwelling place from age to age, though they gave their name to whole territories,... (NJB)
• Gräber sind ihre Häuser immerdar, ihre Wohnungen für und für, wenn sie auch ihre Namen ausrufen über Länder. (Luther 2017)
• Für immer wird das enge Grab ihre Wohnung, auch wenn sie ganze Länder ihr Eigen nannten. (GNB)
• Gräber sind ihre Behausung auf ewig, ihre Wohnstatt von Generation zu Generation, wenn sie auch Länder nach ihren Namen benannten. (ZÜR)
• Aunque tuvieron tierras a su nombre, sus tumbas serán su hogar eterno, su morada por todas las generaciones. (NVI)
• Aunque dieron su nombre a sus tierras, el sepulcro será su hogar eterno; ¡allí se quedarán para siempre! (DHH)
• Ils pensent posséder leurs champs pour toujours. Mais leur tombe, voilà leur habitation pour toujours, leur maison pour tous les temps. (PDV)
• Même s'ils ont donné leur nom à leurs terres, la tombe est leur habitation pour l'éternité, leur demeure pour tous les temps. (NFC)
• Их могилы пребудут им домом на веки веков, их жилищем из поколения в поколение. Что с того, что они в свою честь называли земли? (NRT)

Secondary Literature

Barthélemy, Dominique. 2005. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. vol. 4: Psaumes. Fribourg, Switzerland: Academic Press.

Briggs, Charles Augustus and Emilie Grace Briggs. 1906. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. vol. 2. ICC. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

Clifford, Richard. 2002. Psalm 1-72. Abingdon Old Testament commentaries Nashville, TN: Abington Press.

Craigie, Peter C., and Marvin E. Tate. 1983. 2nd ed. Psalms 1–50. vol. 19. WBC. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Dahood, Mitchell. 1966. Psalms. Vol. 1. Anchor Bible Commentary. New York: Doubleday.

DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. 2014. The Book of Psalms. NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Delitzsch, Franz. 1883. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms. vol. 1. Translated by Eaton David. New York, NY: Funk and Wagnalls.

Dobbs-Allsopp, F. W. 2015. On Biblical Poetry. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ewald, Heinrich. 1866. Die Dichter des Alten Bundes. Göttingen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

Fohrer, G. 1993. Psalmen. Berlin: De Gruyter.

Goldingay, John. 2007. Psalms 42–89. vol. 2. BCOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Goulder, Michael D. 1982. The Psalms of the Sons of Korah. Sheffield: JSOT Press.

Gross, H. 1972. “Self-oder Fremderlösung.” Pages 65–70 in Wort, Lied und Gottesspruch: Beiträge zu Psalmen und Propheten.ed. J. Schreiner. (J. Ziegler FS). Würzburg: Echter.

Hackett, J. 1980. The Balaam Text from Deir 'Alla. HSM 31. Chico, CA: Scholars Press.

Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm. 1863. Commentary on the Psalms. vol. 2. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

Hitzig, Ferdinand. 1863-1865. Die Psalmen, 2 vols. Leipzig: C.F. Winter.

Kissane, Edward. 1953. The Book of Psalms. vol. 1, Westminster, MD: The Newman Press.

Koehler, Ludwig, Walter Baumgartner, and Johann J. Stamm. 2001. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 vols. Translated and edited under the supervision of Mervyn E. J. Richardson. Leiden: Brill.

Kraus, Hans-Joachim. 1972. Psalmen 1–63. BKT XV/1. Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag.

Malamat, Abraham. 1989. Mari and the Early Israelite Experience. Oxford: Oxford University.

Muraoka, J. 1985. Emphatic Words and Structures in Biblical Hebrew. Leiden: Brill.

Raabe, P. 1991. "Deliberate Ambiguity in the Psalter." Journal of Biblical Literature 110: 213-227.

Smith, Mark S. 1993. "The Invocation of Deceased Ancestors in Psalm 49:12c." Journal of Biblical Literature 112: 105–107.

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Witte, Markus. 2000. "‘Aber Gott wird meine Seele erlösen.’: Tod und Leben nach Psalm XLIX.” VT 50: 540–60.

References

49:12