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Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Psalms 33:17

An horse is a vain thing, &c.— The expression is the same in this and the preceding verse; and therefore the meaning must be the same. After having particularized the stout man and the horse; that is to say, the infantry and cavalry, the strength and the swiftness of an army; and said, that neither of them could save a king; he repeats again what he had said before in general, that no number of forces could do it; pointing out in the next verses, wherein is the true defence, and the only sure dependance of man.

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See also Psalms 33:17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 33:17. _A HORSE_ IS _A VAIN THING FOR SAFETY_] Even the horse, with all his fleetness, is no sure means of escape from danger: the _lion_ or the _tiger_ can overtake him or he may stumble...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AN HORSE - The reference here is undoubtedly to the war-horse. See the notes at Psalms 20:7. IS A VAIN THING - literally, is a “lie.” That is, he cannot be confided in. FOR SAFETY - For securing safe...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 33 The Future Praise of Jehovah _ 1. The call to praise Jehovah (Psalms 33:1)_ 2. His praise as the Creator (Psalms 33:4) 3. His praise of His governmental dealings ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XXXIII. A SONG OF PRAISE. This Ps. has no title in MT. It may have been added at a later time to an older collection, probably Psalms 33:3. The LXX prefix, By David, when he changed his face before Ab...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The delusiveness of material resources is contrasted with Jehovah's care for His people. The discomfiture of Pharaoh with his host and horses and chariots (Exodus 14:17; Exodus 15:4) may have been in...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    From the nations the Psalmist turns to the chosen people. Jehovah's care for Israel constitutes His special claim on their praise. Happy the nation which is the particular object of the choice and car...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _A horse_to the Israelites cavalry seemed the most formidable part of an army _is but a vain thing_lit. _a lie_, a delusion _for safety_for victory (Psalms 21:1): _neither can it give escape by the gr...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Psalms 32, 33 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE Felicitations to the Forgiven, and Examples of the Songs that they Sing. ANALYSIS Part I., Psalms 32. Stanza I., Psalms 32:1-4, Happy the Forgiven; yet Divine Discipl...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AN HORSE IS A VAIN THING FOR SAFETY: NEITHER SHALL HE DELIVER ANY BY HIS GREAT STRENGTH._ An horse ... War-horses and chariots were forbidden to Israel (Deuteronomy 17:16); hence, in respect to this...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    This is an anonymous Ps. of national deliverance, called forth by some historical occasion which it is now impossible to fix with any certainty. From its central conception of God as the ruler of all...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    AN HORSE] The Israelites had no cavalry, and the chariots and horsemen of their enemies appeared specially formidable to them: see Deuteronomy 17:16; Psalms 20:7; Psalms 147:10;...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 1:41 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ Words in boxes are from the Bible. The notes explain some of the words with a *star by them. Tap the * before a word to show an explanation. The translated Bible tex...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    _(_17_)_ SAFETY. — Better, _victory._ (Comp. Habakkuk 3:8.) The allusion is to the war-horse....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭ סּוּס לִ תְשׁוּעָ֑ה וּ בְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 33:1 This is the last of the four psalms in Book 1 which have no title, the others being Psalms 1:1; Psalms 2:1, which are introductory, and 10 which is closely connected with 9. Some have ende...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “THE EYE OF JEHOVAH” Psalms 33:13 _ The comprehensiveness of God's providence,_ Psalms 33:13. No one, however lowly or abject, is beneath notice. It is not that all hearts are alike in their aptitude...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is a triumphant song of praise, opening with a call to vocal and instrumental music. "Rejoice," "praise," "give thanks," "sing praises," "sing," "play"-thus all modes of expression are appealed t...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _To cut, &c. St. Peter leaves this out; perhaps because temporal punishments would not be so often inflicted upon the wicked under the new law; as God tries his faithful, and teaches them to wait till...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    What a beautiful advance the Psalm makes, in still going on through the courts of nature and of providence, to that of grace. How blessed indeed must be the Church and people, who have the Lord for th...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    Psalms 32 _ Proper Psalm for Ash Wednesday_ (_Morning_). PSALMS 32-34 = _ Day 6_ (_Evening_)....

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    17._A horse is a deceitful thing for safety. _In this verse, the Psalmist, by the figure synecdoche under the name of _horse, _is to be understood as meaning any kind of help. The sense is, that in ge...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 33 has its just place after the forgiveness of the people. Before we pass on to these psalms, remark how the guilelessness of heart produced by complete forgiveness leads to that intimacy with...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    An horse [is] a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver [any] by his great strength. Ver. 17. _An horse is a vain thing_] And yet a warlike creature, full of terror _See Trapp on "_ Psa 32:9...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _No king is saved by the multitude of a host_ But only by God's providence, who disposeth of victory and success as he pleaseth, and that frequently to the weakest side. He instances in kings and migh...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    An horse is a vain thing for safety, for a man to rely on; NEITHER SHALL HE DELIVER ANY BY HIS GREAT STRENGTH; as it is a delusion for help and victory, so it will disappoint him who absolutely relies...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PRAISE TO THE RULER OF THE WORLD AS THE PROTECTOR OF HIS PEOPLE. This entire psalm is a call to lively and joyful praise of God for His wonderful and glorious attributes and works, as displayed in cr...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AN HORSE; though he be strong, JOB 39:19, &c., and _fit for battle_, PROVERBS 21:31; or for flight, if need requires. And so this is put for all warlike provisions; of which horses were and are a very...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 33:17 horse H5483 hope H8267 safety H8668 deliver H4422 (H8762) great H7230 strength H2428 An horse -...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    3). DECLARATION OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE WORLD (13-19). a). God looks down on men and sees all that they do (13-15). Psalms 33:13 YHWH looks from heaven, He beholds all the sons of men, From...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 33:1. _Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright._ Notice the connection between the words «rejoice «and «praise.» Joy is the soul of praise. God is not extolle...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 33:1. _Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright._ False gods were worshipped with dolorous sounds, accompanied by cutting with knives and with lancets; but our...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Praise of God's wisdom and power. CHARACTERS: Psalmist, God. CONCLUSION: The righteous who know the goodness of God should never be empty of His praises. Though the residence of God's glor...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Psalms 33:2. _The psaltery,_ a little harp of sweet sound, and very generally used in unison with the voice. Psalms 33:6. _By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,_ as in Genesis 1. By the Word...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous._ THE SPIRIT OF REJOICING: LIFE ADJUSTED TO THE WILL OF GOD “Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.” It is the vital condition of all spiritual rejoicing that we ar...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 33:1. This is a hymn of praise to the God who made all things, who rules all things for his own purposes, and who has chosen a people to be his own and to bless the whole wo...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION “This psalm is a fit companion, but by no means the second half, of the preceding one, being distinct from it both in matter and form. It indicates a more tranquil frame of mind, such as...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THIS psalm has no title in the Hebrew, and in some manuscripts it is joined on to the preceding psalm, and forms one with it. But the difference of subject-matter and of tone render it high...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely [or beautiful] for the upright (Psalms 33:1). Now, this is something that you might not be able to do as you read it. Praise the LORD with a...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Kings 7:6; 2 Kings 7:7; Ecclesiastes 9:11; Hosea 14:3; Isaiah 30:16;

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE TRIUNE GOD Psalms 33:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS It is important for us to get a scriptural vision of the triune God. In the Book of Genesis we read, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the e...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    An horse — Though he be strong and fit for battle, or for flight, if need requires. And so this is put for all warlike provisions. Vain things — Heb. a lie; because it promises that help and safety wh...

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