Psalm 147:10

Psalm 147:10

ESV: His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

KJV: He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

NIV: His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

NKJV: He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

NLT: He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
or in human might.

Meaning

Psalm 147:10 declares that the Most High God does not take pleasure or delight in the physical strength of horses (often symbolic of military power) or in the human capability represented by the legs of a man. This verse emphasizes that God’s approval and active engagement are not contingent upon or impressed by worldly might, military prowess, or human physical power and achievements. Instead, His delight and power operate on a completely different set of principles than those valued by humanity.

Cross References

Context

Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise to God, emphasizing His greatness, power, and benevolent care over both His creation and His chosen people, particularly Israel's restoration. The psalm opens by inviting praise, then proceeds to recount God's magnificent attributes: His comprehensive knowledge (counting the stars), His power to heal the brokenhearted, His provision for nature (sending rain, causing grass to grow), and His specific favor toward Jerusalem and Jacob's descendants (establishing laws and statutes). Within this context of praising God for His diverse and mighty acts, verse 10 stands as a crucial distinction. It sets boundaries on what constitutes true power and what God delights in, directly preceding verse 11 which reveals God's true delight: in those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. Historically, nations including Israel often put their trust in military strength, chariots, and valiant warriors. This verse provides a polemic against such misplaced reliance, asserting that divine favor and power do not stem from these conventional sources of might, common in the ancient Near East.

Word analysis

• לֹא (lo'): The Hebrew particle for "not" or "no." Its immediate placement before "in the strength of the horse" establishes a firm negation, indicating a direct rejection or absence of God's delight in the following.

• בִגְבוּרַת (bigvurāt): "in the strength of," or "in the might of." Derived from gevurah, meaning strength, power, or might. In this context, it refers to military or physical capability. God does not find His pleasure in raw, external might, contrasting human inclination to trust in such displays.

• הַסּוּס (hasūs): "the horse." Horses, especially warhorses, symbolized significant military power in the ancient world (cf. Pharaoh's chariots, Solomon's horse imports). This specific imagery targets a common source of national and personal pride or reliance in ancient armies, signifying the futility of trusting in worldly military assets.

• חָפֵץ (chāfētz): "delights," "takes pleasure in," "desires." This verb expresses an intrinsic and deep enjoyment or preference. The negation "lo' chafetz" implies God does not derive any joy or satisfaction from this kind of power, nor is it the means by which He achieves His will.

• אֶל (ʾel): "in," "to." While often directional, here it signifies the object of delight, serving a similar function to "in" or "upon."

• שׁוֹקֵי (shōqēi): "legs of." This is the plural construct form of shoq, meaning leg or thigh. It represents human physical ability, speed, and endurance, which would be crucial for a soldier or runner. This points to the vanity of relying on individual human athletic or fighting prowess.

• אִישׁ (ʾîsh): "man." Refers to an individual male, often in the sense of a valiant or mighty person in battle, a champion. Coupled with "legs," it speaks of a man's physical capacity or personal strength.

• יִרְצֶה (yir'tseh): "takes pleasure," "is pleased with," "accepts favorably." Similar in meaning to chāfētz, its use in parallel here intensifies the negation. The parallelism emphasizes the divine indifference to human and animal physical might as a basis for favor or power.

• "His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor His pleasure in the legs of a man": This forms a poetic parallelism. The first clause ("strength of the horse") points to collective, military power and equipment. The second clause ("legs of a man") points to individual human prowess, agility, or valor. Both are negated as objects of divine delight. The passage sets God apart from human values, demonstrating that His kingdom and power do not operate on principles of brute force or physical achievement, which were universally esteemed in that era. It prepares the audience for the subsequent revelation of what God does value (Ps 147:11). This also forms a subtle polemic against any notion that Israel's military might was the source of its victories or God's favor.

Commentary

Psalm 147:10 serves as a pivotal statement within a psalm celebrating God's omnipotence and benevolent rule. It fundamentally refutes the common human inclination to trust in visible, tangible power—represented by the warhorse's might and a strong man's speed or agility. For God, whose power is limitless and works beyond human comprehension, such forms of strength hold no intrinsic appeal or effectiveness in accomplishing His will or earning His favor. He does not require these elements to enact His purposes; indeed, relying on them often indicates a lack of faith in Him. The verse underscores that God's ways are radically different from human ways, redirecting the worshipper to understand that divine pleasure rests not in external shows of might but in the internal spiritual posture of His people, as explicitly stated in the subsequent verse. This challenges any form of self-reliance or trust in worldly resources above divine provision and purpose.

Bonus section

This verse contrasts divine criteria with worldly ones. In the ancient Near East, the strength of a nation was often measured by its cavalry and the prowess of its infantry. Kings like Solomon acquired many horses and chariots (1 Kgs 10:26-29) and later kings continued this trend despite explicit prohibitions in Mosaic law (Deut 17:16). This verse in Psalm 147 challenges this pervasive mindset by declaring God's disinterest in these things. It highlights that God operates outside human conventional standards of power and success, instead favoring humility, fear of the Lord, and hope in His covenant love (Ps 147:11). The spiritual principle derived is that outward display and human effort, no matter how impressive, are ultimately inconsequential in securing divine favor or enabling God's true work.

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