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Psalm 33 · a question people ask

"A horse is a vain thing for safety" (33:17). Is the psalm saying it's wrong to have horses, or to prepare?

In the text

The psalm says what a horse can't do: "A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power" (33:17) (tap horse, safety). It doesn't say whether to keep horses. Proverbs has the same two Hebrew words, horse and teshu'ah, the word of 33:17's safety: "The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD" (Proverbs 21:31). There the horse is prepared, and the victory is the LORD's. Psalm 20 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7); its notes trace the chariots and horses, and these notes don't repeat them. Psalm 33 sets the horse beside the LORD's eye: "Behold, the LORD’s eye is on those who fear him" (Psalm 33:18). These verses stand side by side, and these notes don't add to them.

The verses

“A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power. Behold, the LORD’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness,”
Psalm 33:17-18 · World English Bible
“The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.”
Proverbs 21:31 · World English Bible
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 20:7 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 33

Psalm 33: By the LORD's word

"For he spoke, and it was done" (33:9) has the two Hebrew verbs of Genesis 1:3's "God said" and "there was light", and 33:6's "all their army" is the Hebrew of Genesis 2:1's "all their vast array". And the verb of the world that "stood firm" (33:9) is the verb of the LORD's counsel that "stands fast forever" (33:11).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions