The Meaning of Psalms 33:16 Explained

Psalms 33:16

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

YLT: The king is not saved by the multitude of a force. A mighty man is not delivered, By abundance of power.

Darby: The king is not saved by the multitude of his forces; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 33:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 33:16 mean?

No king [is] saved by the multitude of an army a mighty man not is delivered by great strength
אֵֽין־ הַ֭מֶּלֶךְ נוֹשָׁ֣ע בְּרָב־ חָ֑יִל גִּ֝בּ֗וֹר לֹֽא־ יִנָּצֵ֥ל בְּרָב־ כֹּֽחַ

אֵֽין־  No 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
הַ֭מֶּלֶךְ  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
נוֹשָׁ֣ע  [is]  saved 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
בְּרָב־  by  the  multitude 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
חָ֑יִל  of  an  army 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
גִּ֝בּ֗וֹר  a  mighty  man 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
יִנָּצֵ֥ל  is  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
בְּרָב־  by  great 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
כֹּֽחַ  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.