Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just warning against trusting powerful people; it's highlighting the inherent frailty of humanity itself, even those in positions of authority. "Princes" and "sons of man" are presented as ultimately incapable of providing true salvation because their very existence is temporary and breath-dependent.
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist begins by calling for personal praise to God, then immediately warns against placing trust in human leaders or any mortal person, highlighting their inherent limitations and mortality. This caution likely arises from experiences where people, perhaps even the Israelites returning from exile, placed too much hope in earthly rulers or alliances for salvation, only to be disappointed. The psalm pivots from this warning to declare the blessedness of those whose hope is in the eternal God, the Creator of all.
Why does the Psalmist warn specifically against trusting 'princes'? What does he mean by the broader term 'son of man'?
The verse targets two categories of human authority: 'princes' and the general category of 'son of man.'
The Peril of Princes
'Princes' represent the peak of human power, wealth, and influence in the ancient world. Historically, people often looked to rulers for security, prosperity, and deliverance, especially during times of crisis (think of alliances with powerful nations like Egypt or Assyria, as mentioned in historical commentaries).
However, the Psalmist reveals the fundamental flaw: these leaders are ultimately limited.
The Universal Frailty of Humanity
The phrase 'son of man' is a profound reminder that all humans, no matter how exalted their position, share the same essential nature. We are 'earth-born,' as one commentary notes, inheriting fragility and a fleeting existence. Their power, schemes, and promises vanish with their last breath.
This isn't just about corrupt leaders; it's about the inherent limitations of any human being placed in a position of ultimate trust.
The verse declares there is 'no salvation' in humans. What does this powerful statement truly mean, and where does true salvation lie?
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The critical phrase 'in whom there is no salvation' isn't just a negative assessment of human weakness; it's a declaration of divine exclusivity. Salvation, in its deepest sense—deliverance, help, and ultimate well-being—is solely the domain of God.
The Limits of Human Help
Humans, even kings and leaders, are fundamentally incapable of providing ultimate salvation. They may offer temporary relief, political solutions, or personal comfort, but they cannot rescue us from sin, death, or despair. Their 'help' is finite and temporal.
God's Unfailing Deliverance
By contrast, God is the source of eternal salvation. His power is unlimited, His faithfulness endures forever, and His promises are sure. The psalm contrasts the fleeting nature of human power with God's eternal reign and His active work in delivering the oppressed, guiding the lost, and sustaining the faithful.
Trusting in human leaders for salvation is like building your house on shifting sand; true security is found only in the Rock of Ages.
Understand the original words
nadib · Hebrew Noun
A person of noble status, a leader, or a ruler. The term emphasizes the limitations and mortality of human authority compared to divine sovereignty.
ben adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
The standard Hebrew expression for a human being, emphasizing mortality, frailty, and earthliness, especially in contrast to the eternal and sovereign God.
teshuah · Hebrew Noun
Deliverance, victory, or rescue. In a biblical context, it refers primarily to God's act of saving His people from their enemies, sin, or death, acknowledging that true rescue cannot come from human effort.
This psalm was written during a period of shifting empires and political instability, from the Babylonian exile to Roman rule. These historical events profoundly shaped the psalm's warning against trusting in 'princes' – human leaders who are inherently mortal and fallible – and its powerful assertion that true salvation and hope are found only in God.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens and scattering them among its vast territories. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the dangers of foreign alliances and reliance on human power.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, begins his campaigns against Judah, initiating the first wave of exiles to Babylon, including members of the royal family and educated elite. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and leading to a second, larger deportation of Judeans. The devastation emphasized the precariousness of political power and the need for spiritual reliance.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire. While he allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, this period of shifting empires highlights the instability of human rulers.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Judah, focusing on religious reform and the re-establishment of the Law. The challenges faced by Ezra and Nehemiah in rebuilding Jerusalem underscore the difficulties of relying on any human leadership.
1st century BC - 1st century AD
Period of Roman Domination
Judea comes under Roman control, with client kings and governors exercising authority. The presence of powerful foreign rulers and internal political struggles continued to test the people's trust, often leading to misplaced hope in earthly powers.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Writing of Psalm 146
The psalm is likely composed during or after the return from exile, reflecting on the failures of relying on human rulers and contrasting it with the steadfast faithfulness of God. The wisdom of the psalm speaks to the enduring human tendency to seek security in powerful figures.
This passage directly parallels the warning against trusting in humans, calling 'cursed' the one who makes 'flesh his arm' and whose heart turns away from the Lord, highlighting the danger of misplaced reliance.
Psalm 118:8This verse is a clear precursor, stating 'It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man,' reinforcing the same theme of finding security in God rather than in human leaders.
Isaiah 2:22This verse provides a stark image of human frailty, advising to 'stop putting your trust in man, who has mere breath in his nostrils,' directly echoing the idea that humans are temporary and lack lasting power.
Luke 12:48Jesus' teaching here, that 'from everyone who has been given much will be required,' implies the limited scope and accountability of human power, contrasting with the infinite and trustworthy nature of God.
Proverbs 3:5This verse offers the positive counterpoint, urging believers to 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,' providing the practical application of the warning found in Psalms 146:3.
ellicottPsalms 146:3: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."
(3, 4) Princes— The thought of Psalm 118:8-9 is here elaborated, with distinct allusion to Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 3:19 (Comp. 1 Maccabees 2:63 .) The verse, no doubt, was in Shakespeare’s mind when he made Wolsey say: “Oh, how wretched Is that poor man that hangs on princes’ favours!” as it was quoted by Strafford when the news reached him that Charles I. had given the royal assent to the bill of atta…
clarkePsalms 146:3: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."
Put not your trust in princes - This may refer, as has been stated above, to Cyrus, who had revoked his edict for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Perhaps they had begun to suppose that they were about to owe their deliverance to the Persian king. God permitted this change in the disposition of the king, to teach them the vanity of confidence in men, and the necessity of trusting in himself.
The verse isn't just warning against trusting powerful people; it's highlighting the inherent frailty of humanity itself, even those in positions of authority. "Princes" and "sons of man" are presented as ultimately incapable of providing true salvation because their very existence is temporary and breath-dependent.
The psalmist begins by calling for personal praise to God, then immediately warns against placing trust in human leaders or any mortal person, highlighting their inherent limitations and mortality. This caution likely arises from experiences where people, perhaps even the Israelites returning from exile, placed too much hope in earthly rulers or alliances for salvation, only to be disappointed. The psalm pivots from this warning to declare the blessedness of those whose hope is in the eternal God, the Creator of all.
The psalmist begins by calling for personal praise to God, then immediately warns against placing trust in human leaders or any mortal person, highlighting their inherent limitations and mortality. This caution likely arises from experiences where people, perhaps even the Israelites returning from exile, placed too much hope in earthly rulers or alliances for salvation, only to be disappointed. The psalm pivots from this warning to declare the blessedness of those whose hope is in the eternal God, the Creator of all.
"Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation." — The verse isn't just warning against trusting powerful people; it's highlighting the inherent frailty of humanity itself, even those in positions of authority. "Princes" and "sons of man" are prese…
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Last reviewed October 2026