Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 33:16
16A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength.
Psalms 33:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
- New International Version (NIV)No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
- New King James Version (NKJV)No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
Context of Psalms 33:16
14He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from his dwelling place. 15He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works. A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength. 17The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power. 18But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him — those who depend on his faithful love
Read all of Psalms 33Psalms 33:16 word by word
אֵֽין־הַ֭מֶּלֶךְ נוֹשָׁ֣ע בְּרָב־חָ֑יִל גִּ֝בּ֗וֹר לֹֽא־יִנָּצֵ֥ל בְּרָב־כֹּֽחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 33:16
- Psalms 44:3For they did not take the land by their sword — their arm did not bring them victory — but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward them.
- Exodus 14:17As for me, I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh, all his army, and his chariots and horsemen.
- Joshua 11:4They went out with all their armies — a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore — along with a vast number of horses and chariots.
- Judges 7:2The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say, ‘I saved myself.’
- 1 Samuel 14:8“All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us.
- 1 Kings 20:10Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if Samaria’s dust amounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.”
- 2 Chronicles 14:9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and three hundred chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.
- 2 Chronicles 20:12Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.
- 2 Chronicles 32:8He has only human strength, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.
- Joshua 14:12Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.”
- 1 Samuel 17:4Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall
- 2 Samuel 21:16Then Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giant, whose bronze spear weighed about eight pounds and who wore new armor, intended to kill David.
- Jeremiah 9:23“‘This is what the Lord says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.
Commentaries on Psalms 33:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16There is no king saved by the multitude of a host - Even in the midst of the most powerful and numerous army, no king is in safety unless he have God's protection. A king is but a man, and may as easily lose his life as one of his common soldiers. A mighty man is not delivered by much strength - There are times in which his might can be of no avail to him: and unless the mighty, the wise, the honorable, etc., have the protection of God, there is no time…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16There is no king saved by the multitude of an host - By the number of his armies. His safety, however numerous and mighty may be his forces, is in God alone. He is the great Protector, whatever means men may use to defend themselves. The most numerous and the best organized armies cannot secure a victory. It is, after all, wholly in the hands of God. A wasting sickness in a camp may defeat all the plans of war; or success in battle may depend on…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-22Verses 12-22 All the motions and operations of the souls of men, which no mortals know but themselves, God knows better than they do. Their hearts, as well as their times, are all in his hand; he formed the spirit of each man within him. All the powers of the creature depend upon him, and are of no account, of no avail at all, without him. If we make God's favour sure towards us, then we need not fear whatever is against us. We are to give to him the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17army …great strength. … horse: Even military power is under God's control (see Psalm 33:10–11; Ecclesiastes 9:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1912-19. The inference from the foregoing in Psa 33:12 is illustrated by God's special providence, underlying which is His minute knowledge of all men.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 33:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 33
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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