Tehillim 33:17

17 A sus is a sheker (vain, false thing) for teshu’ah (deliverance, salvation, safety); neither shall it save any by its great strength.

Tehillim 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.

Tehillim 33:17 In-Context

15 He formeth their hearts yachad; He considereth all their ma’asim (deeds).

16 There is no melech saved by the multitude of an army; a gibbor is not delivered by rav ko’ach.

17 A sus is a sheker (vain, false thing) for teshu’ah (deliverance, salvation, safety); neither shall it save any by its great strength.

18 Hinei, the eye of Hashem is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His chesed;

19 To deliver their nefesh from mavet (death), and to keep them alive in ra’av (famine).