The Meaning of Psalms 33:17 Explained

Psalms 33:17

KJV: An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

YLT: A false thing is the horse for safety, And by the abundance of his strength He doth not deliver.

Darby: The horse is a vain thing for safety; neither doth he deliver by his great power.

ASV: A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth he deliver any by his great power.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

An horse  [is] a vain thing  for safety:  neither shall he deliver  [any] by his great  strength. 

What does Psalms 33:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 33:13-22 - "the Eye Of Jehovah"
The comprehensiveness of God's providence, Psalms 33:13-15. No one, however lowly or abject, is beneath notice. It is not that all hearts are alike in their aptitudes or intensity, but that there is not one that does not bear some trace, however defaced, of His image and superscription.
God's watchfulness, Psalms 33:16-19. The preparations that men make against peril and poverty often fail them. A horse is a vain thing for safety. If God is not with you, His fleet foot will not deliver you in the day of battle, when the enemy bears down on you in force. But God's unslumbering eye watches over them that fear Him, especially if they are not possessed of horses; and at the moment when He can help them best, He will intervene to deliver. Remember Psalms 20:7.
The certainty of God's help, Psalms 33:20-22. Let us await His time to act. Trust is certain to bear fruit in joy. They that hope in God shall have abundant cause to praise Him. Be of good cheer! Even now you can hear the footfall of the advancing angel-host! Get ready to praise Him! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 33

1  God is to be praised for his goodness
6  for his power
12  and for his providence
20  Confidence is to be placed in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 33:17 mean?

A vain [hope] a horse [is] for safety and by great its strength neither shall it deliver [any]
שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭סּוּס לִתְשׁוּעָ֑ה וּבְרֹ֥ב חֵ֝יל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּֽט

שֶׁ֣קֶר  A  vain  [hope] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
הַ֭סּוּס  a  horse  [is] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
לִתְשׁוּעָ֑ה  for  safety 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.
וּבְרֹ֥ב  and  by  great 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
חֵ֝יל֗וֹ  its  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
לֹ֣א  neither 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְמַלֵּֽט  shall  it  deliver  [any] 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַט 
Sense: to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered.