Psalms 33:17 - Exposition

A horse is a vain thing for safety ; literally, the horse ; i.e. the species, horse, is not to be depended on for safety—it is "a vain thing," quite unable to secure victory, or even escape, to those who trust in it. The use of the horse in war seems certainly to be implied here as familiar to the writer, whence it is rightly concluded that he must have lived later than the time of David. Solomon was the first Israelite king who enrolled a chariot and a cavalry force ( 1 Kings 10:26 ). Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength . (On the "great strength" of the horse, see Job 39:19 ; Psalms 147:10 .)