Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 21:31
The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.
31. safety ] Rather, victory (A.V. marg. R.V. text), or deliverance (R.V. marg.). “Two companion proverbs ( Pro 21:30-31). Nothing avails against, nothing without, God.” ( Speaker’s Comm.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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, De 17:16; but Solomon transgressed it; see 1Kg 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 laboured 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The horse; under which particular all warlike provisions are comprehended.
Safety is of the Lord; the success of the battle depends not upon any human strength or art, but merely upon Gods providence, who gives the victory when and to whom he pleaseth, and ofttimes to those that have least reason to expect it. Compare Ecc 9:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle,…. The horse is a warlike creature, and was much used formerly, as now, in war; these are prepared against the day of battle, to mount the cavalry with; and men are apt to put too great confidence in them: this is mentioned instead of all other military preparations and instruments of war;
but safety [is] of the Lord; a horse is a vain thing for safety,
Ps 33:17; victory is only of the Lord; salvation depends upon him; it is he that covers men’s heads in the day of battle, and gives them victory over their enemies: or “salvation [is] of the Lord” o; this is true of spiritual and eternal salvation, as well as of temporal salvation; it is of the Lord, Father, Son and Spirit; and so is the safety of the saints; and their final perseverance to eternal glory, which is owing to the love of God, covenant interest, security in Christ, the grace of the Spirit, and the power of God; see Ho 14:3.
o “a Domino autem (datur) salus”. Tigurine version; “Domino est salvatio”, Cocceius; “Jehovae est salus”, Schultens; so Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Victory Is of the Lord
Verse 31 further emphasizes that although there are many things man can use with the LORD’s blessing, none is important if the LORD bless them not, because his safety is of the LORD, Psa 20:7; Psa 33:16-21; Isa 31:1-3; Jer 3:23.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(31) The horse is prepared against the day of battle.These had been imported largely from Egypt in Solomons time, though this was in direct contravention of the Law (1Ki. 4:26, and Deu. 17:16).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. The horse is prepared against battle This verse connects with the preceding. Its import is, that no preparation for war, however great, however confided in, can be successful without God’s blessing. We find horses first in Egypt. Gen 49:17; Exo 9:3; Exo 14:6-28. They are mentioned by Job, (Job 39:19.) Egypt was celebrated for its horses, 1Ki 10:28; Isa 31:1; Isa 36:9; Eze 17:5. Joshua encountered chariots and horsemen in the north of Palestine. Jos 11:4-9. Anciently horses were generally used for war purposes: for the more peaceful avocations the ass was employed. Zec 9:9. Solomon first introduced the raising of horses among the Hebrews. The hundred reserved (2Sa 8:4; 1Ch 18:4) were for the use of David himself, whose example was imitated by Absalom. 2Sa 15:1. God had expressly forbidden the ruler of the Jews to multiply horses, (Deu 17:16🙂 but Solomon seems to have paid no attention to this injunction, and after his time the Hebrews were never destitute of horses. They had both horsemen and chariots of war.
Safety is of the Lord The deliverance belongs to Jehovah. It is his to give victory. Compare 1Sa 17:47; Psa 3:8; Psa 33:17. Miller singularly enough translates the last clause, “and salvation against Jehovah!” that is, as he explains, Salvation is “prepared,” “made ready,” against the “day of Jehovah!”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 31. The horse is prepared against the day of battle,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 21:31. The horse is prepared against the day of battle Solomon mentions the horse, instead of all warlike preparations, because it was the chief, and all nations placed much of their confidence in the number and strength of their horses. Indeed horses were then used chiefly for war. See Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTI0NS
Reader! amidst the mingled view this Chapter affords of grace and corruption, in all their opposite effects and consequences, as well as their origin and termination, oh! that God the Holy Ghost may be our teacher, to give us a right understanding in all things. If the heart of man be subject to divine direction, and man of himself cannot guide his steps aright; can there be any argument wanting to induce the soul to look unto him, with whom are the issues of life, and who turneth the heart like rivers of waters whithersoever he pleaseth?
Reader! look closely to what this chapter relates of the unawakened and ungodly. They are uncircumcised in heart and ears. How prone to all evil, how averse to all good; they are in drudgery to sin and Satan, and are led captive by him at his will. Oh! that the prey may be taken from the mighty; and the lawful captive delivered.
Look at the souls of the regenerate, and those of whom Jesus hath opened the eyes, and brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death. Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law do they exercise themselves day and night.. They have God for their Father, Christ for their portion, and the Holy Ghost for their teacher and guide. Lord, help both Writer and Reader, to be thus blessed, thus led, and thus made happy! May we be conducted on from strength to strength until that we appear before our God in Zion.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 21:31 The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.
Ver. 31. The horse is prepared against the day, &c. ] A very serviceable creature, and in battle full of terror; so swift in service that the Persians dedicated him to their god, the sun, , as Pausanias hath it. But as the sun in heaven can neither be outrun nor stopped in his race, so neither by men, though wise, nor by means, though likely, can God’s purposes be disappointed. “A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.” Psa 33:17
But safety (or victory) is of the Lord.] He gives it to which side he pleaseth, as he did to the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan, though they had no horses to help them, as their adversaries had, and chariots too, both Egyptians and Canaanites.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
safety, &c. = to Jehovah [belongeth] the salvation.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 21:31
Pro 21:31
“The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.”
“Pro 21:30 warns men not to fight against God, and Pro 21:31 warns them not to fight without him. This does not forbid the use of earthly resources; but it condemns reliance upon them. It is God who gives the victory. “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” (Ecc 9:11).
“Solomon here taught better than he practiced; because he provided 40,000 horses even though God had expressly forbidden the kings of Israel to multiply horses unto themselves, lest their hearts should be drawn away from the hope of Israel. This proverb verified the evil consequences of Solomon’s change in the management of Israel’s affairs, because Israel never again cut such a figure in war as they had done previously.
Pro 21:31. Horses were used in Bible days for war and not for agricultural purposes. This verse shows that even if horses were used (representing human military might), Israels victory really came from Jehovah and not the human arrangements. See the following passages that bear on the subject: Psa 20:7; Psa 33:17; Isa 31:1; Psa 3:8.
Proverbs of Solomon – Pro 21:1-31
Open It
1. When have you learned from another persons punishment?
2.What is a notable rationalization youve heard?
3. What sort of things do you crave?
Explore It
4. What themes run through the proverbs in this chapter? (Pro 21:1-31)
5. How are the righteous and the wicked compared in this chapter? (Pro 21:1-31)
6. What seems right to people? (Pro 21:2)
7. What does the Lord weigh? (Pro 21:2)
8. What is better than sacrifice? (Pro 21:3)
9. Whats wrong with a fortune made by a lying tongue? (Pro 21:6)
10.What did Solomon say about marriage? (Pro 21:9; Pro 21:19)
11. According to Solomon, how can punishment benefit a person? (Pro 21:11)
12. What happens to a person who is insensitive to the poor? (Pro 21:13)
13. How does the execution of justice impact the righteous as well as evildoers? (Pro 21:15)
14. Whats wrong with loving pleasure and wine? (Pro 21:17)
15. What promise is there for the person who pursues righteousness and love? (Pro 21:21)
16. How should we manage our words? (Pro 21:23)
17. What did Solomon say about cravings? (Pro 21:25-26)
18. How can some sacrifices not please God? (Pro 21:27)
19. How are our plans affected by Gods will? (Pro 21:30-31)
Get It
20, When do people often rationalize sinful behavior?
21. Why are motives sometimes more important than actions?
22. Why is sacrifice secondary to doing what is right and just?
23. In what way are riches fleeting?
24. What is the purpose of punishment?
25. What is the purpose of pleasure?
26. How should we enjoy pleasure?
27. How should we pursue righteousness and love?
28. When is it hard for you to guard what you say?
29. How are lazy people destroyed by their cravings?
30. What are some steps we can take to keep our cravings under control?
Apply It
31. When can you take time this week to reexamine your motives?
32. In what way can you pursue righteousness and love?
33. Concerning what cravings do you want to ask for Gods help?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
horse: Psa 20:7, Psa 33:17, Psa 33:18, Psa 147:10, Ecc 9:11, Isa 31:1
but: Psa 3:3, Psa 3:8, Psa 68:20
safety: or, victory, Psa 144:10, *marg.
Reciprocal: Exo 15:19 – horse Jos 8:7 – for the Lord 1Sa 17:47 – saveth not 2Sa 8:6 – the Lord 2Sa 23:12 – the Lord 1Ki 12:21 – an hundred 2Ki 5:1 – by him 2Ki 18:20 – vain words 1Ch 11:14 – deliverance 1Ch 18:6 – Thus the Lord 2Ch 11:1 – an hundred Job 39:21 – he goeth Psa 127:1 – The Lord Isa 36:5 – vain words Isa 36:9 – and put Dan 11:15 – shall not Zec 10:3 – as 1Co 15:57 – giveth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 21:31. The horse is prepared, &c. Under which particular all warlike preparations are comprehended; but safety is of the Lord The success of the battle depends not upon any human strength or art, but upon Gods providence, who gives the victory when and to whom he pleases, and frequently to those that have least reason to expect it.