Bible Strands
Psalms 147:10
He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist contrasts God’s care for creation with human reliance on military power, immediately noting God feeds wild animals and preceding a declaration that God is pleased with those who fear Him. The words — The Hebrew יֶחְפָּץ (yechpatz) means "he delights," paired with לֹא (lo) "not," to state that God does not find pleasure in the strength (גְבוּרָת, gevurat) of the horse or the legs (שׁוֹקֵי, shokei) of man. The thread — This dismissal of military might runs through Psalms 20:7 and Psalms 33:16, which similarly contrast trust in chariots and vast armies with trust in the Lord. Why it lands — The text asks readers to identify their true source of security, directing them away from human or military power and toward the Lord, who finds pleasure in those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
- Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
- Psalms 33:16 No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
- Proverbs 21:31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
- 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.
- Ecclesiastes 9:11 I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
- 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.”
- Job 39:19 Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane?
- 2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.
- 2 Samuel 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,