Psalms 33:16

16 No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength.

Psalms 33:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 33:16

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host
He may be at the head of a numerous army, and yet not get the victory over a lesser one, nor escape safe, but be taken by it: there have been such instances; and if he is saved, or gets the victory, it is not owing to the multitude with him, but to the Lord, that gives salvation to kings, ( Psalms 144:10 ) . Hence it appears that even such men need salvation themselves, and cannot save themselves, though they have ever so many at command, and therefore are not to be trusted in; salvation is only of the Lord;

a mighty man is not delivered by much strength;
as Goliath, with his great strength, could not deliver himself out of the hands of David, a stripling; wherefore the mighty man should not glory in his might.

Psalms 33:16 In-Context

14 From where he sits he overlooks all us earth-dwellers.
15 He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.
16 No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength.
17 Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone.
18 Watch this: God's eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.