None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
-The godly has no cause for overwhelming fear because of the power of the ungodly; nor has the ungodly reason to boast over the godly because of his own worldly greatness. This might be so if the ungodly could ensure eternal life by his wealth, so as to enjoy it forever. But the fact is, he can redeem neither his brother nor himself from death, over which God is the Master. He must therefore be in constant fear, not knowing how soon he must lose his life and wealth together. Therefore, it is he, not the godly, who has reason for fear.
Verse 7. None of them can by any means redeem his brother - a brother in riches and ungodliness (Genesis 49:5). In the Hebrew order, 'A brother can no one redeeming redeem.' The doubled expression 'redeeming redeem' emphasizes the idea of redemption as the chief concern, the standard of value by which all things, wealth included, are to be tested, whether they who have them ought to boast over those who have them not, or the latter fear the former on account of them.
Nor give to God a ransom for him - Hebrew, 'His (own) atonement'-namely the atonement for the rich man himself. As the former clause saith, None can redeem his brother, so this clause saith, The rich man cannot even give to God a ransom for himself. The "their" in Psalms 49:8, the redemption of their soul," combines both the brother and the rich man himself. "Ransom" - literally, the covering (in Genesis 6:14, the pitch upon the ark) wherewith sin is covered out of sight, and so atoned (Psalms 32:1). х kaapªrow (H3724) - Nowhere else in the Psalms; but the very in Psalms 65:3, "Purge away."] Exodus 21:30 lays down cases where a ransom might be paid to men, so as to escape a penalty; but to God no ransom for a soul once forfeited can be paid which will exempt the giver from death.
Verse 8. (For the redemption of their soul is precious. It is too costly a price for any man to pay it. "The precious blood of Christ" alone was of sufficient value in the eyes of God to effect such a ransoming (1 Peter 1:18-19).
And it ceaseth for ever) - `the English Book of Common Prayer,' "so that he must let that alone forever." "It faileth forever." That (ransom money) can never be acquired wherewith one can he redeemed from death (Maurer).
Verse 9. That he should still live forever, and not see corruption - connected with Psalms 49:8. There ceaseth forever the possibility of the ungodly rich man acquiring such a ransom, "that he should still live forever," etc.