New English Translation
Proverbs 21:31
31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.
Context of Proverbs 21:31
29A wicked person shows boldness with his face, but as for the upright, he discerns his ways. 30There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the Lord. A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from the Lord.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:31 word by word
ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:31
- Psalms 20:7Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the Lord our God.
- Psalms 33:17A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory; despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.
- Psalms 147:10He is not enamored with the strength of a horse, nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs.
- Ecclesiastes 9:11Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge – for time and chance may overcome them all.
- Isaiah 31:1Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt’s many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from the Lord.
- Psalms 3:3But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me.
- Psalms 68:20Our God is a God who delivers; the Lord, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death.
- Psalms 144:10the one who delivers kings, and rescued David his servant from a deadly sword.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31The horse is prepared against the day of battle - Horses were not used among the Jews before the time of Solomon. There was a Divine command against them, Deuteronomy 17:16; but Solomon transgressed it; see 1 Kings 10:29. But he here allows that a horse is a vain thing for safety; and that however strong and well appointed cavalry may be, still safety, escape, and victory, are of the Lord. Among the ancient Asiatics, the horse was used only for war; oxen…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-31Verses 30-31 Means are to be used, but, after all, our safety and salvation are only of the Lord. In our spiritual warfare we must arm ourselves with the whole armour of God; but our strength must be in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 30-31Human wisdom is powerless against the Lord (see Proverbs 16:1, 3, 9, 33). Similarly, military power, symbolized by the horse, is powerless without the Lord's blessing.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 30-3130-31. Men's best devices and reliances are vain compared with God's, or without His aid (Pr 19:21; Psa 20:7; 33:17).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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