Psalms 33:17

17 ¹The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Psalms 33:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 33:17

A horse [is] a vain thing for safety
Though it is prepared for the day of battle, and is a very warlike creature, and of great service in war, yet safety only is of the Lord, ( Proverbs 21:31 ) ; this is put for all kinds of military preparations which men are apt to trust in, but should not, for they are "a lie" ^F9, as the horse is here said to be; that is, deceives and disappoints when trusted to; in like manner the olive is said "to lie", ( Habakkuk 3:17 ) ; when hope of fruit from it is disappointed; so "fundus mendax" in Horace ^F11;

neither shall he deliver [any] by his great strength;
in the time of battle; either by fighting for him, or fleeing with him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 (rqv) "mendacium", Pagninus, Montanus; "fallax", V. L.
F11 Epod. l. 1. Ode 16. ver. 45. Carmin. l. 3. Ode 1. v. 30. "Spem mentita seges", ib. Epist. l. 1. ep. 7. v. 87.

Psalms 33:17 In-Context

15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.

16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 20:7; Psalms 147:10; Proverbs 21:31; Hosea 1:7