Proverbs 21 · Verse 31

Proverbs 21:31

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

Proverbs 21:31, King James Version

Proverbs 21:31 in other translations

BSB	A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
WEB	The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
ASV	The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.
YLT	A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance is of Jehovah!
DARBY	The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.
BBE	The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
Webster	The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is from the LORD.

What does Proverbs 21:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 21:30-31

30-31. Men's best devices and reliances are vain compared with God's, or without His aid (Pr 19:21; Psa 20:7; 33:17).

Read the full comment on Proverbs 21:30-31 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle - Horses were not used among the Jews before the time of Solomon. There was a Divine command against them, Deu 17:16; but Solomon transgressed it; see 1Kgs 10:29. But he here allows that a horse is a vain thing for safety; and that however strong and well appointed cavalry may be, still safety, escape, and victory, are of the Lord. Among the ancient Asiatics, the horse was used only for war; oxen labored in the plough and cart, the ass and the camel carried backloads; and mules and asses served for riding. We often give the credit of a victory to man, when they who consider the circumstances see that it came from God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 21:30-31

Means are to be used, but, after all, our safety and salvation are only of the Lord. In our spiritual warfare we must arm ourselves with the whole armour of God; but our strength must be in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 21:30-31 →

Proverbs 21:31 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ס֗וּסSusa horseH5483

מ֭וּכָןMu.khon[is] preparedH3559

לְי֣וֹםle.Yomfor a day ofH3117

מִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahbattleH4421

וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗הve.la.Yah.wehand [belongs] to YahwehH3068

הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה\׃ha.te.shu.'Ahthe victoryH8668

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 21:31

Psalms 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Isaiah 31:1
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!
Psalms 33:17-18
An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Psalms 147:10
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
Psalms 3:3
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Psalms 68:20
He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
Psalms 3:8
Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Psalms 144:10
It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
Jeremiah 3:23
Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

horse.
Ps 20:7; 33:17,18; 147:10; Ec 9:11; Isa 31:1
but.
Ps 3:3,8; 68:20
safety. or, victory.
Ps 144:10; *marg:

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

Read all of Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:31 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El caballo se apareja para el día de la batalla: mas de Jehová es el salvar.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Le cheval est préparé pour le jour de la bataille, mais la délivrance est à l’ Éternel.
German Elberfelder 1871	Das Roß wird gerüstet für den Tag des Streites, aber die Rettung ist Jehovas.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Equus paratur ad diem belli; Dominus autem salutem tribuit.