Psalm 146:3 kjv
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psalm 146:3 nkjv
Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psalm 146:3 niv
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
Psalm 146:3 esv
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
Psalm 146:3 nlt
Don't put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
Psalm 146 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 17:5 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man...'" | Do not trust in man, reliance on God. |
| Jer 17:7-8 | "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD... like a tree planted by waters" | Blessedness from trusting God alone. |
| Ps 118:8-9 | "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man; it is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes." | Direct parallel, affirming God over man. |
| Isa 2:22 | "Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for of what account is he?" | Human fragility and mortality. |
| Isa 31:1-3 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... horses and chariots, because they are many; and horsemen, because they are very strong; but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD! Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, both he who helps and he who is helped will fall down together; they will all utterly perish." | Warning against trusting human alliances. |
| Ps 62:9 | "Surely men of low degree are vanity, men of high degree are a lie..." | Human weakness and unreliability. |
| Ps 108:12 | "Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless." | The ineffectiveness of human assistance. |
| Ps 121:1-2 | "My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth." | God is the source of all true help. |
| Job 12:10 | "In whose hand is the life of every living thing..." | God's sovereign control over life. |
| Dan 4:35 | "...He does according to His will in the army of heaven..." | God's absolute sovereignty. |
| 1 Sam 2:9-10 | "...For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces..." | Human strength is futile before God. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | "There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD." | God's counsel trumps human strategy; victory is His. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | "No king is saved by the multitude of an army... a horse is a vain hope for safety..." | Military power is insufficient for salvation. |
| Acts 4:12 | "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." | Salvation only through Christ. |
| Mark 10:27 | "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." | God's boundless ability contrasts human limits. |
| Rom 3:4 | "...Let God be true though every man be a liar..." | God's truthfulness against human fallibility. |
| Lam 3:25-26 | "The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." | Waiting on God for salvation. |
| Mic 7:5-7 | "Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion..." | Warning against misplaced personal trust. |
| Ps 49:6-7 | "Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him..." | Inability of wealth or humans to redeem. |
| Rom 1:25 | "who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator..." | Idolatry of trusting creation over Creator. |
| Ps 147:10 | "He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man." | God's disinterest in human power sources. |
| Ps 44:6 | "For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me." | Human military strength is not salvation. |
Psalm 146 verses
Psalm 146 3 Meaning
Psalm 146:3 is a vital call to redirect our hope and reliance away from human authorities and any mere person, understanding their inherent limitations. It asserts that human beings, regardless of their status or power, ultimately lack the ability to provide true, lasting deliverance or ultimate salvation. Their finite nature means their capacity to help is temporal and often insufficient, a stark contrast to the infinite and unfailing help found in the Divine.
Psalm 146 3 Context
Psalm 146 is the first of the five "Hallelujah" psalms (146-150), acting as an exultant call to praise the Lord. The preceding verses (1-2) establish the psalmist's commitment to praise God for life, setting the stage for why one should praise Him. Verse 3 then pivots, providing a negative command that explains why the Lord is the only worthy object of such praise and trust: because all other potential objects of trust are insufficient. The subsequent verses (4-10) elaborate on human limitations (mortality) and, in stark contrast, God's eternal power, faithfulness, justice, and providential care for the needy, the oppressed, and the afflicted. This verse therefore serves as a crucial theological premise, shifting focus from unreliable human help to the supremely capable Divine Helper. Historically, Israel often succumbed to the temptation to form alliances with powerful neighboring nations (like Egypt or Assyria), trusting their military might or political influence, only to be bitterly disappointed and face judgment for forsaking the Lord.
Psalm 146 3 Word analysis
- Do not put your trust (אַל־תִּבְטְחוּ): The Hebrew verb "בטח" (baṭaḥ) implies a deep reliance, confidence, or security. The imperative "אל-תבטחו" is a strong prohibition, warning against leaning on something or someone for safety and deliverance. This is not merely about receiving temporary assistance, but about placing ultimate hope and security.
- in princes (בִּנְדִיבִים): "נְדִיבִים" (nədiḇīm) means "nobles," "willing ones," or "generous ones," but here refers to rulers, high-ranking officials, or powerful individuals. These are precisely the people whom society often looks to for solutions, protection, and provision due to their influence, wealth, or military might. The psalm specifically singles them out because they represent the epitome of human power and authority, thus making the warning even more emphatic: even the highest of humanity are not to be fully trusted.
- nor in a son of man (וּבֶן־אָדָם): "וּבֶן־אָדָם" (ūḇen-ādām) literally "and in a son of Adam." This is a common Hebrew idiom for humanity in general, emphasizing their common mortality, fragility, and earth-bound origin (from Adam, meaning "man" or "ground"). By adding this phrase, the psalm broadens the warning from just "princes" (those in authority) to include every single human being, reinforcing that no person, regardless of their status or connection, can offer ultimate security or salvation.
- in whom there is no help (אֵין לוֹ תְּשׁוּעָה): "תְּשׁוּעָה" (təšūʿāh) means "salvation," "deliverance," or "help." It stems from the root "יָשַׁע" (yashaʿ), "to save" or "to deliver." The phrase "אין לו" (ein lo) means "there is not for him" or "he has no." This clause clarifies why humans should not be trusted: they simply lack the capacity to provide true, lasting, and complete deliverance. Their power is finite, their wisdom limited, and their lives fleeting, making genuine salvation beyond their scope. This stands in stark contrast to God, who is called the ultimate "Salvation."
- "Do not put your trust in princes" (אַל־תִּבְטְחוּ בִּנְדִיבִים): This phrase challenges the prevailing ancient Near Eastern worldview where rulers were often considered divine or semi-divine, imbued with power to bring prosperity and peace. The psalm asserts a counter-cultural truth: even those at the pinnacle of human power are limited.
- "nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help" (וּבֶן־אָדָם אֵין לוֹ תְּשׁוּעָה): This extends the warning universally to all humanity and explicitly states the reason for their unreliability. The inability to offer "təšūʿāh" (salvation/deliverance) highlights human finitude and fallibility, underscoring that while humans can offer temporary aid, ultimate or eternal help can only come from a divine source.
Psalm 146 3 Bonus section
The word "təšūʿāh" (תְּשׁוּעָה) carried significant weight for the Israelites. It encompassed military victory, liberation from oppression, physical healing, and spiritual redemption. To say that "no help" (no təšūʿāh) comes from human sources implies that humans cannot secure these ultimate forms of deliverance. This perspective directly informed the prophetic critique of Israel's foreign alliances (e.g., relying on Egypt or Assyria), consistently emphasizing that these partnerships would not bring lasting security because "help" belonged to the Lord. The Psalm positions the finite nature of man against the eternal, unchanging nature of God, presenting a powerful apologetic for monotheistic faith and true worship.
Psalm 146 3 Commentary
Psalm 146:3 is a foundational statement about the object of faith. It's not a denigration of human dignity or the necessity of human effort, but rather a profound theological redirection of ultimate reliance. Humans, even those in positions of great authority, are transient, limited in power, wisdom, and capacity, and fundamentally incapable of delivering true, comprehensive salvation or enduring help from the deeper issues of life like sin, death, or true brokenness. The verse provides a boundary: ultimate trust, confidence, and reliance for deliverance must be placed in God alone, as highlighted by the psalm's subsequent verses. Practical examples of this warning include a nation trusting in military alliances over God's protection, an individual seeking security solely in wealth or political connections, or anyone hoping that human programs or policies can definitively solve spiritual or eternal problems without divine intervention.