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Selected Verse: Psalms 105:22 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 105:22	King James	To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
To bind--Not literally bind; but exercise over them absolute control, as the parallel in the second clause shows; also Gen 41:40, Gen 41:44, in which not literal fettering, but commanding obedience, is spoken of. It refers to Psa 105:18. The soul that was once bound itself now binds others, even princes. The same moral binding is assigned to the saints (Psa 149:8). teach . . . senators wisdom--the ground of his exaltation by Pharaoh was his wisdom (Gen 41:39); namely, in state policy, and ordering well a kingdom.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

To bind--Not literally bind; but exercise over them absolute control, as the parallel in the second clause shows; also Gen 41:40, Gen 41:44, in which not literal fettering, but commanding obedience, is spoken of. It refers to Psa 105:18. The soul that was once bound itself now binds others, even princes. The same moral binding is assigned to the saints (Psa 149:8).

teach . . . senators wisdom--the ground of his exaltation by Pharaoh was his wisdom (Gen 41:39); namely, in state policy, and ordering well a kingdom.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
To bind his princes at pleasure - Giving him absolute power. The power here referred to was that which was always claimed in despotic governments, and was, and is still, actually practiced in Oriental nations. Literally, "to bind his princes 'by his soul;'" that is, at his will; or, as he chose. And teach his senators wisdom - This is now an unhappy translation. The word "senator" in fact originally had reference to "age" (see Webster's Dictionary), but it is now commonly applied to a body of men entrusted with a share in the administration of government - usually a higher body in a government - as the Senate of the United States. As these were usually "aged men," the word has acquired its present meaning, and is now ordinarily used without reference to age. But there was no such constituted body in the government of Egypt - for despotism does not admit of such an arrangement. The Hebrew word here means "aged men," and is employed with reference to those who were connected with the administration, or whom the monarch would consult - his counselors. The meaning of the phrase "to teach them wisdom" is, that he would instruct them "what to do;" literally, he would "make them wise," that is, in reference to the administration. He had the right of commanding them, and directing them in the administration. At the same time, it is doubtless true that Joseph was endowed with practical wisdom in the affairs of government far beyond them, and that in instructing them what to do, he actually imparted "wisdom" to them.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

To bind his princes at pleasure - Giving him absolute power. The power here referred to was that which was always claimed in despotic governments, and was, and is still, actually practiced in Oriental nations. Literally, "to bind his princes 'by his soul;'" that is, at his will; or, as he chose.

And teach his senators wisdom - This is now an unhappy translation. The word "senator" in fact originally had reference to "age" (see Webster's Dictionary), but it is now commonly applied to a body of men entrusted with a share in the administration of government - usually a higher body in a government - as the Senate of the United States. As these were usually "aged men," the word has acquired its present meaning, and is now ordinarily used without reference to age. But there was no such constituted body in the government of Egypt - for despotism does not admit of such an arrangement. The Hebrew word here means "aged men," and is employed with reference to those who were connected with the administration, or whom the monarch would consult - his counselors. The meaning of the phrase "to teach them wisdom" is, that he would instruct them "what to do;" literally, he would "make them wise," that is, in reference to the administration. He had the right of commanding them, and directing them in the administration. At the same time, it is doubtless true that Joseph was endowed with practical wisdom in the affairs of government far beyond them, and that in instructing them what to do, he actually imparted "wisdom" to them.

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