Psalms 33:17
in Psalms 33A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth he deliver any by his great power.
KJV
An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
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This verse in Psalms 33
Commentary
14 notes on this verseYou will not be safe any more than the man who trusted in his own horse, of whom it was sung, "He cast the horse and its rider into the sea." The horse failed to save him. And so even if you are a giant …
This site's exposition
No king is saved
on Psalms 33:16-17
The psalm turns to what kings actually trust, the size of an army and the strength of a warrior. The horse was the chief weapon of that world, and Deuteronomy 17:16 already told a king of Israel to acquire no more of them. Neither army nor horse can save.
This site's exposition
A horse is a vain hope for salvation
John Wesley and Albert Barnes both note that the Hebrew word behind vain means a lie, a promise of safety the horse cannot keep. Arnobius the Younger recalled the horse and rider thrown into the sea in Israel's song at the Exodus. Charles Spurgeon added the cavalry of Sennacherib.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"A horse is a deceitful thing for safety:" he is deceived, who thinks either that through men he gains salvation received among men, or that by the impetuosity of his own courage he is defended from destruction. "In the abundance of his strength shall he not be saved" [Psalm 33:17].
The Medieval Church1 voice
"The king is not saved." Above, the Psalmist showed the dignity of the saints from the certainty of divine judgment, by which he intends to prove the dignity of the saints. Now in this part he shows the vanity of human prosperity. And concerning this …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Neither the firmness and activity of his body nor the stoutness and resolution of his mind will stand him in any stead, any further than God is pleased to give him success. Let not the strong man then glory in his strength, but let us all strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God, go forth, and go on, in his strength. (4.) The strength of a horse is nothing without God (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
An horse - Though he be strong and fit for battle, or for flight, if need requires. And so this is put for all warlike provisions. Vain things - Hebrew. a lie; because it promises that help and safety which it cannot give.
A horse is a vain thing for safety,....
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If he be killed under him, he may be his death, instead of saving his life. It is therefore our interest to make sure God's favour towards us, and then we may be sure of his power engaged for us, and need not fear whatever is against us. We are to give God the glory of his special grace.
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
An horse is a vain thing for safety. Military strength among the Orientals lay much in horses and scythed chariots, but the psalmist calls them a lie, a deceitful confidence. Surely the knight upon his gallant steed may be safe, either by valour or by flight? Not so, his horse shall bear him into danger or crush him with its fall. Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Thus the strongest defences are less than nothing when most needed. God only is to be trusted and adored.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
On the war horse (compare Job 39:19-25). a vain thing--a lie, which deceives us. Contrasted is God's guidance and power to save from the greatest earthly evil and its most painful precursor, and hence from all.
An horse is a vain thing for safety. Military strength among the Orientals lay much in horses and scythed chariots, but the psalmist calls them a lie, a deceitful confidence. Surely the knight upon his gallant steed may be safe, either by valour or by flight? Not so, his horse shall bear him into danger or crush him with its fall. Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Thus the strongest defences are less than nothing when most needed. God only is to be trusted and adored. Sennacherib with all his calvary is not a match for one angel of the Lord, Pharaoh's horses and chariots found it vain to pursue the Lord's anointed, and so shall all the leaguered might of earth and hell find themselves utterly defeated when they rise against the Lord and his chosen.
A horse is a vain thing for safety - Even the horse, with all his fleetness, is no sure means of escape from danger: the lion or the tiger can overtake him or he may stumble, fall, and destroy his rider.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
An horse - The reference here is undoubtedly to the war-horse. See the notes at Psa 20:7. Is a vain thing - literally, is a “lie.” That is, he cannot be confided in. For safety - For securing safety in battle. He is liable to be stricken down, or to become wild and furious so as to be beyond the control of his rider; and however strong or fleet he may be, or however well he may be “broken,” yet none of these things make it certain that the rider will be safe. God is the only being in whom perfect confidence can be reposed. Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength - Safety cannot be found in his mere “strength,” however great that may be. These illustrations are all designed to lead the mind to the great idea that safety is to be found in God alone, Psa 33:18-19.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שֶׁ֣קֶר | sheker | [is] a vain hope | H8267 → | 113 times |
| הַ֭סּוּס | hasus | <the> horse | H5483 → | 140 times |
| לִתְשׁוּעָ֑ה | litshuah | for victory | H8668 → | 34 times |
| וּבְרֹ֥ב | uvero | and by [the] greatness of | H7230 → | 149 times |
| חֵ֝יל֗וֹ | cheilo | strength its | H2428 → | 246 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יְמַלֵּֽט׃ | yemalet | it delivers | H4422 → | 95 times |
שֶׁ֣קֶר[is] a vain hope
shekerH8267 →113 times
הַ֭סּוּס<the> horse
hasusH5483 →140 times
לִתְשׁוּעָ֑הfor victory
litshuahH8668 →34 times
וּבְרֹ֥בand by [the] greatness of
uveroH7230 →149 times
חֵ֝יל֗וֹstrength its
cheiloH2428 →246 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יְמַלֵּֽט׃it delivers
yemaletH4422 →95 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 20:7Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
it leads to
- Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy…
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 21:31
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.
- Psalms 33:16–17
No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
- 2 Chronicles 32:8
With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah…
- Isaiah 31:1
Through
Proverbs 21:31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
it leads to
- Psalms 20:7
Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 33:17–18
A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save.
- Psalms 147:10
He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man.
- Psalms 20:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arnobius the Younger, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 33; Arnobius the Younger, Commentary on the Psalms; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 33; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.