Psalm 33:16
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
Cross-references
In Psalm 44:7, the positive counterpart: God alone gives victory over enemies, not human strength.
In Psalm 44:6, the psalmist echoes this same truth: no trust in bow or sword for victory.
In Psalm 44:3, Israel's victory came not by their own sword but by God's hand — parallel to the truth that no army or strength saves.
Psalm 147:10 echoes the same truth: God's pleasure is not in horse or warrior strength, reinforcing that human might does not save.
Psalm 144:10 credits God with giving victory to kings—affirming that deliverance comes from God, not from human armies.
Psalm 127:1 says unless the Lord builds, labor is vain—extending the principle that human effort without God is futile, like military strength.
Psalm 20:7 contrasts trust in chariots and horses with trust in God—a direct parallel to the psalm's rejection of military might for salvation.
In Jeremiah 9:23, the mighty are warned not to boast in their might — echoing the same truth that human strength does not bring salvation.
In 2 Chronicles 32:21, the angel destroys the Assyrian army — God saves without human might.
In 2 Chronicles 32:8, Hezekiah contrasts 'arm of flesh' with the LORD fighting for them.
In 2 Chronicles 20:23, God causes enemy confusion — deliverance without human strength.
In 2 Chronicles 20:12, Jehoshaphat prays acknowledging no power against the vast army — eyes on God.
In 2 Chronicles 14:9-13, Asa's outnumbered army wins as God strikes the Ethiopians — a direct example.
In 1 Kings 20:27-29, Israel's tiny army defeats Syria, showing victory comes from God, not numbers.
In 1 Kings 20:10, Ben-Hadad boasts of overwhelming force, yet God gives Israel victory despite the odds.
In 1 Samuel 17:45-49, David defeats Goliath in God's name — classic illustration that the battle is the LORD's.
In 1 Samuel 14:8-16, Jonathan attacks with only his armor-bearer, trusting God can save by many or few.
In Judges 7:12-25, Gideon's 300 men defeat Midian—deliverance comes from God, not army size.
In Judges 7:2, God reduces Gideon's army to prevent Israel from boasting 'my own strength saved me.'
In Joshua 11:4-8, a vast coalition with many horses is defeated by God—victory not from numbers.
In Exodus 14:28, the entire Egyptian army drowns—proving no king is saved by his army's size.
Jeremiah 46:6 describes swift and strong warriors stumbling, fulfilling the principle that no warrior escapes by strength.
Zechariah 4:6 declares victory comes 'not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' directly echoing the psalm's rejection of human strength.
Jeremiah 48:14 mocks Moab's boast of being valiant warriors, echoing the vanity of trusting in military prowess.
Isaiah 31:1 warns against relying on horses and chariots instead of God, directly paralleling the futility of military might.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 similarly observes that the battle is not to the strong, showing human effort does not guarantee success.
Hosea 1:7 explicitly states God saves not by bow, sword, or horses—directly reinforcing that deliverance is not by human strength.
Hosea 10:13 condemns Israel for depending on their own strength and warriors, paralleling the warning against trusting in military might.
Amos 2:15 declares that archers, swift runners, and horsemen will not save themselves, echoing the futility of human strength in battle.
Job 36:19 asks if your cry or strength can keep you from distress—questioning the value of human power, just as the psalm denies salvation by might.
2 Chronicles 25:8 warns Amaziah not to rely on mercenaries, saying God has power to help or cast down—reinforcing that victory is from God, not human strength.
2 Chronicles 13:8 has Abijah telling Jeroboam that his great multitude cannot withstand God's kingdom—directly echoing the psalm's point about reliance on God.
2 Chronicles 11:1 shows Rehoboam mustering 180,000 warriors to fight, but God then forbids the battle—illustrating that human strength is not decisive.
In 1 Samuel 17:47, David declares the LORD saves not with sword and spear — the same truth that victory is from God.
In 1 Samuel 2:9, it is stated 'not by might shall a man prevail' — a direct thematic parallel to Psalm 33:16.
In Judges 7:4, God reduces Gideon's army to show that salvation is not from numbers — a direct illustration of the psalm.
In Deuteronomy 20:1, Israel is told not to fear a larger army because the Lord is with them — directly supporting the principle that army size does not save.
In Judges 20:21, the larger Israelite army suffers defeat — showing that numerical superiority does not ensure victory.
In Micah 5:10, God promises to destroy horses and chariots, reinforcing that reliance on military might is futile.