Psalm 105:22 kjv
To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
Psalm 105:22 nkjv
To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.
Psalm 105:22 niv
to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.
Psalm 105:22 esv
to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.
Psalm 105:22 nlt
He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased
and teach the king's advisers.
Psalm 105 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 41:40 | "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command... only as regards the throne will I be greater than you." | Pharaoh's delegation of authority to Joseph |
| Gen 41:41 | "Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.'" | Direct appointment of Joseph as ruler |
| Gen 41:43 | "He had him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, 'Bow the knee!' Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt." | Joseph's exalted position and public respect |
| Gen 45:8 | "So it was not you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt." | Joseph's recognition of divine sovereignty |
| Ps 105:17 | "he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave." | Context of Joseph's earlier suffering |
| Ps 105:19 | "until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him." | God's word vindicating Joseph |
| Dan 2:48 | "Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts... and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon." | Parallel to Daniel's elevation and wisdom |
| Est 8:2 | "The king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman." | Delegation of royal authority (Mordecai) |
| Neh 7:2 | "I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the castle charge over Jerusalem... because he was a more faithful man..." | Entrusting authority to reliable men |
| Prov 8:15-16 | "By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just... princes rule..." | God as the ultimate source of all authority |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | God institutes all governing authority |
| 1 Cor 12:28 | "And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers..." | God appointing various roles/authorities |
| Prov 24:6 | "by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory." | Emphasizes need for wise counsel |
| Prov 11:14 | "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." | Value of wise counsel for leaders |
| 1 Ki 3:9 | "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil..." | Solomon's prayer for governing wisdom |
| Jas 3:17 | "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason..." | Divine wisdom character |
| Eph 1:22 | "And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church..." | Christ's supreme authority (parallel to Joseph's delegation) |
| Matt 28:18 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." | Christ's absolute authority |
| Deut 4:6 | "Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples..." | God's law as the source of wisdom |
| Isa 1:26 | "And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning..." | Future restoration of wise leadership |
| Acts 7:10 | "and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household." | Stephen's summary of Joseph's elevation |
| Job 12:13 | "With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding." | God as the ultimate source of all wisdom and power |
Psalm 105 verses
Psalm 105 22 Meaning
Psalm 105:22 describes the immense power and authority granted to Joseph in Egypt. After God providentially elevated him from prisoner to prime minister, Pharaoh conferred upon Joseph the right to exercise complete control over the kingdom's highest officials ("princes") and to instruct the most respected advisors ("elders") in wisdom. This verse emphasizes the unparalleled influence Joseph wielded, serving as God's instrument for the preservation of Jacob's family and the nation of Israel.
Psalm 105 22 Context
Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, serving as a song of thanksgiving and remembrance of God's covenant faithfulness to Israel. It traces God's providential care from the covenant with Abraham, through the lives of Isaac and Jacob, to the pivotal event of Joseph's story. Verses 16-22 specifically focus on Joseph, describing his imprisonment and subsequent exaltation. Verse 22 acts as the culmination of God's plan for Joseph, showcasing the extraordinary authority granted to him by Pharaoh. This powerful position enabled Joseph to preserve the life of Jacob's family during a severe famine, thereby safeguarding the covenant line that would eventually become the nation of Israel and the source of the Messiah. The Psalm transitions directly from Joseph's elevation to the increase of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the Exodus.
Psalm 105 22 Word analysis
To bind (לֶאְסֹר - lĕ'ĕsor):
- Root: אָסַר ('asar), meaning "to bind, imprison, harness, tie up."
- Significance: Implies complete control, absolute authority to restrain or compel. Joseph had the legal right and power to compel Pharaoh's officials to act according to his directives. This goes beyond mere instruction; it denotes enforceable power, even over those of high rank. It suggests Joseph could "imprison" or "restrain" princes as he saw fit, highlighting an extraordinary delegation of power typically reserved for the monarch.
His princes (שָׂרָיו - śārāyw):
- Root: שָׂר ('sar), meaning "prince, chief, official, commander."
- Significance: Refers to the highest-ranking officials, nobles, or regional governors in Egypt. For a foreigner, a former slave, to have power over such men was unprecedented and shocking, emphasizing the magnitude of Pharaoh's decree and God's work.
At his pleasure / According to his will:
- Implied meaning: The Hebrew phrase structure conveys the absolute discretion and will of Joseph. He could bind or control the princes without needing further approval or constraint. This stresses the scope of his executive authority.
To teach (לְלַמֵּד - lĕlammēḏ):
- Root: לָמַד (lamad), meaning "to learn, teach, instruct."
- Significance: Joseph was not only an administrator but also an educator and a source of wisdom. He imparted understanding, strategies, and discerning judgment to the most seasoned advisors of Egypt. His unique insight, derived from God, superseded even the accumulated wisdom of the Egyptians.
His elders (זְקֵנָיו - zĕqēnāyw):
- Root: זָקֵן (zaqen), meaning "old, elder, old man."
- Significance: In ancient cultures, elders were revered for their experience, wisdom, and leadership. They were the repository of traditional knowledge and advisors to the ruler. For Joseph to "teach" the "elders" indicates that his wisdom transcended theirs; he possessed a divine wisdom that even the most venerable and experienced officials lacked, a wisdom crucial for navigating the famine.
Words-group Analysis:
- "To bind his princes at his pleasure": This phrase underlines Joseph's ultimate executive authority. He was empowered to govern and direct the highest officials of the land according to his own judgment, free from internal opposition. This level of delegated authority is virtually unheard of for anyone but the king, indicating his status as Pharaoh's absolute deputy.
- "And teach his elders wisdom": This emphasizes Joseph's intellectual and spiritual superiority. He was not just a bureaucrat but a source of crucial insight. His divine wisdom, manifested in interpreting dreams and developing a strategy for the famine, was invaluable to the established council of the nation, marking him as uniquely gifted by God. This shows that his authority was not just coercive power but also derived from profound, God-given wisdom that transformed the state.
Psalm 105 22 Bonus section
The profound impact of Psalm 105:22 extends to understanding the nature of delegated authority and the display of God's wisdom in human affairs. Joseph's story illustrates that true wisdom often comes from unexpected sources, especially when those individuals are humble and consecrated to God. His ability to bind princes and teach elders signified a revolution in Egypt's internal hierarchy, brought about not by force or usurpation, but by a king recognizing God's hand on a faithful servant. This demonstrates God's strategic genius in using external, seemingly secular powers to protect and advance His chosen people, showcasing His providential oversight over all nations and their rulers.
Psalm 105 22 Commentary
Psalm 105:22 serves as a testament to God's ultimate sovereignty and His ability to elevate an ordinary individual to extraordinary power for His divine purposes. Joseph, though unjustly sold into slavery and imprisoned, was precisely positioned by God's providence to receive unparalleled authority in Egypt. He was given the unique right to control even the highest "princes" and to impart essential "wisdom" to the revered "elders." This was not merely political savvy; it was a divine gift that enabled him to implement the grain collection and distribution plan, thereby preserving the covenant family of Jacob. The verse powerfully demonstrates that God prepares His instruments, empowers them with necessary gifts—both authority and wisdom—and uses their elevation for the benefit of His people and the unfolding of His redemptive plan, ensuring the lineage from which the Messiah would eventually come. It reminds us that all human authority, though delegated, ultimately rests under God's supreme reign.