Psalm 33:16
New International Version
No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.

New Living Translation
The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.

English Standard Version
The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

Berean Standard Bible
No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.

King James Bible
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

New King James Version
No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

New American Standard Bible
The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not rescued by great strength.

NASB 1995
The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.

NASB 1977
The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.

Legacy Standard Bible
The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.

Amplified Bible
The king is not saved by the great size of his army; A warrior is not rescued by his great strength.

Christian Standard Bible
A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be delivered by great strength.

American Standard Version
There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

Contemporary English Version
Mighty armies alone cannot win wars for a king; great strength by itself cannot keep a soldier safe.

English Revised Version
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
No king achieves a victory with a large army. No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength.

Good News Translation
A king does not win because of his powerful army; a soldier does not triumph because of his strength.

International Standard Version
A king is not saved by a large army; a mighty soldier is not delivered by his great strength.

Majority Standard Bible
No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.

NET Bible
No king is delivered by his vast army; a warrior is not saved by his great might.

New Heart English Bible
There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

Webster's Bible Translation
There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

World English Bible
There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The king is not saved by the multitude of a force. A mighty man is not delivered, "" By abundance of power.

Young's Literal Translation
The king is not saved by the multitude of a force. A mighty man is not delivered, By abundance of power.

Smith's Literal Translation
The king was not saved by much strength: the strong one will not be delivered by much power.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The king is not saved by great power, nor will the giant be saved by his many powers.

New American Bible
A king is not saved by a great army, nor a warrior delivered by great strength.

New Revised Standard Version
A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The king is not saved by the multitude of a host; neither a mighty man delivers by much strength.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A King is not saved by a multitude of an army, neither is a mighty man delivered by the multitude of his power.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A king is not saved by the multitude of a host; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A king is not saved by reason of a great host; and a giant shall not be delivered by the greatness of his strength.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Praise to the Creator
15He shapes the hearts of each; He considers all their works. 16No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength. 17A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save.…

Cross References
Proverbs 21:31
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.

1 Samuel 17:47
And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Hosea 1:7
Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.

2 Chronicles 20:15
And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 30:15-16
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.” / “No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster.

2 Kings 6:16-17
“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Psalm 44:6-7
For I do not trust in my bow, nor does my sword save me. / For You save us from our enemies; You put those who hate us to shame.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. / The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?


Treasury of Scripture

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

no king

Psalm 44:3,6,7
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them…

Exodus 14:17,18,28
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen…

Joshua 11:4-8
And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many…

mighty

Joshua 14:12
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

1 Samuel 17:4,45-49
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span…

2 Samuel 21:16-22
And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David…

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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














No king
The term "king" in the Hebrew context refers to a sovereign ruler, often seen as the ultimate authority in a nation. Historically, kings were considered powerful figures, often believed to be divinely appointed. In the biblical narrative, kings like David and Solomon were revered, yet this verse reminds us that their power is not absolute. The emphasis here is on the limitations of human authority, suggesting that even the highest earthly power is subject to divine sovereignty.

is saved
The Hebrew root for "saved" is "yasha," which means to deliver or rescue. This term is often used in the context of divine intervention. The verse underscores the idea that salvation, in its truest form, comes not from human efforts or resources but from God. This reflects a central theme in the Bible: reliance on God for deliverance rather than on human capabilities.

by his vast army
The phrase "vast army" highlights the military might that kings often relied upon for security and conquest. In ancient times, the size of an army was a measure of a nation's strength and a king's power. However, the verse challenges this notion by asserting that numerical superiority does not guarantee victory. This is a reminder of biblical accounts where God delivered His people against overwhelming odds, such as Gideon's victory over the Midianites with just 300 men (Judges 7).

no warrior
A "warrior" is a person skilled in combat, often celebrated for bravery and strength. In the ancient world, warriors were esteemed figures, crucial to a nation's defense and expansion. Yet, this verse points out the futility of relying solely on human prowess. It echoes the biblical principle that true strength and victory come from God, not from human might.

is delivered
Similar to "saved," the term "delivered" in Hebrew is often associated with divine rescue. It suggests liberation from danger or oppression. The use of this word reinforces the message that ultimate deliverance is a divine act, not a human achievement. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God as the deliverer of His people.

by his great strength
"Great strength" refers to physical power or might, often seen as a source of confidence and security. In the context of ancient warfare, strength was a critical factor in determining the outcome of battles. However, the verse challenges the reliability of physical strength, emphasizing that it is insufficient for true deliverance. This reflects the biblical theme that God's power is made perfect in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

(16) There is no king.--Better, The king doth not triumph by the greatness of his force.

Verse 16. - There is no king saved by the multitude of an host; literally, the king is not saved by the greatness of his host. The article, however, is used generically, as it is with "horse" in the next verse, so that the translation of the Authorized Version gives the true sense. (For illustration of the sentiment, see 2 Chronicles 14:11; 1 Macc. 3:19.) A mighty man is not delivered by much strength (comp. 1 Samuel 17:47).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
No
אֵֽין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

king
הַ֭מֶּלֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

is saved
נוֹשָׁ֣ע (nō·wō·šā‘)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

by his vast
בְּרָב־ (bə·rāḇ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

army;
חָ֑יִל (ḥā·yil)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

no
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

warrior
גִּ֝בּ֗וֹר (gib·bō·wr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrant

is delivered
יִנָּצֵ֥ל (yin·nā·ṣêl)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

by his great
בְּרָב־ (bə·rāḇ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

strength.
כֹּֽחַ׃ (kō·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)


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OT Poetry: Psalm 33:16 There is no king saved by (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 33:15
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