---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "the LORD. Hebrew.  Jehovah. App-4 .  the rivers of water. Hebrew.  palgey mayim = the divisions of water [in a garden], from  palag, to divide (Genesis 1"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/proverbs/21"
---

**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 .
**the rivers of water.** Hebrew. *palgey mayim* = the divisions of water [in a garden], from *palag,* to divide ([Genesis 10:25](../../../kjv/genesis/10/25) ). The name given to the small channels which divide up an Eastern (walled) garden for purposes of irrigation. See note on "rivers", [Psalms 1:3](../../../kjv/psalms/1/3) . There is an Ellipsis in the second clause, and the verb must be supplied thus: The king's heart [is] in the hand of Jehovah, As the *palgey mayim* [are in the hand of the gardener]. See App-74 .
**He turneth, &c.** i.e. Jehovah directeth [the king's heart] whithersoever He will [as the gardener directeth the water with his foot] ([Deuteronomy 11:10](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/11/10) ), not needing or deigning to use a tool; so easily is it done. Illustrations: Ahab ([1 Kings 18:10](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/10) . Compare Pro 21:40 ); Ahasuerus ([Esther 6:1](../../../kjv/esther/6/1) ); Sennacherib ([2 Kings 19:27](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/27) , [2 Kings 19:28](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/28) , and [Isaiah 10:5-7](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/5-7) ); Nebuchadnezzar ([Ezekiel 29:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/16) . [Jeremiah 43:10-12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/43/10-12) ); the Jews ([Jeremiah 32:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/32/28) . [2 Kings 24:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/3) ); Cyrus ([Ezra 1:1](../../../kjv/ezra/1/1) .[Isaiah 45:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/1); [Isaiah 45:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/1) ); Darius ([Ezra 6:22](../../../kjv/ezra/6/22) ); Augustus ([Luke 2:1-7](../../../kjv/luke/2/1-7) . Compare [Micah 5:2](../../../kjv/micah/5/2) ).

**man.** Hebrew. *'ish* . App-14 .
**pondereth** = weigheth, and thus testeth. See all the occurrences of *takan,* to poise, [1 Samuel 2:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/2/3) . [2 Kings 12:11](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/11) ("told"). [Job 28:25](../../../kjv/job/28/25) .[Psalms 75:3](../../../kjv/psalms/75/3) (bear up). [Proverbs 16:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/2) ; [Proverbs 21:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/21/2) (pondereth); [Proverbs 24:12](../../../kjv/proverbs/24/12) (pondereth). [Isaiah 40:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/12) (meted), [Isaiah 40:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/13) (directed). In Ezekiel the *Niphal* is rendered "equal": Pro 18:25 , Pro 18:29 ; Pro 18:33 .

**justice** = righteousness.
**more acceptable, &c.** Illustrations: Saul ([1 Samuel 13:10-13](../../../kjv/1-samuel/13/10-13) ; [1 Samuel 15:22](../../../kjv/1-samuel/15/22) ); Israel ([Jeremiah 7:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/22) , [Jeremiah 7:23](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/23) .[Amos 5:21-24](../../../kjv/amos/5/21-24); [Amos 5:21-24](../../../kjv/amos/5/21-24) ); Judah ([Isaiah 1:11-17](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/11-17) ); Pharisees ([Matthew 9:13](../../../kjv/matthew/9/13) ). Note the contrast, [Proverbs 21:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/21/4) .

**And.** Omit this "And".
**plowing:** or tillage. See App-74 .
**the wicked** = lawless ones. Hebrew. *rasha'.* App-44 .
**sin.** Hebrew. *chata'.* App-44 . The special word for the sin offering. Render the verse "A lofty look and a proud heart, [which is] the tillage of the lawless, [is more acceptable to them than] the sin offering. "This supply of the Ellipsis ( App-6 .) from the preceding verse completes the sense, and shows that the two are strictly related.

**thoughts** = reckonings, or calculatings.
**the diligent** = a diligent one.

**robbery** = rapacity. Illustrations: the princes of Judah ([Isaiah 1:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/23) , [Isaiah 1:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/24) ); the Jews ([Jeremiah 7:9-11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/9-11) , [Jeremiah 7:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/15) ; [Jeremiah 34:10-22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/34/10-22) .[Micah 3:9-12](../../../kjv/micah/3/9-12); [Micah 3:9-12](../../../kjv/micah/3/9-12) ).

**The way, &c.** Render, "The way of a man laden with guilt is unsteady". Some codices, with Aramaean and Syriac, read "of a man who is an alien".
**pure** = upright.

**better.** See note on [Proverbs 8:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/11) .

**the wicked** = a lawless one.

**scorner** = scoffer.
**instructed** = corrected.

**wickedness.** Hebrew. *ra a'.* App-44 . same as "evil" in [Proverbs 21:10](../../../kjv/proverbs/21/10) .

**poor** = weak. Hebrew. *dal.* See note on [Proverbs 6:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/11) .
**heard** = answered. Illustrations: the Jews ([Zechariah 7:9-14](../../../kjv/zechariah/7/9-14) .[Jeremiah 34:10-22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/34/10-22); [Jeremiah 34:10-22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/34/10-22) ); Parable ([Matthew 18:30-34](../../../kjv/matthew/18/30-34) ).

**the just** = a just one.

**man.** Hebrew. *'adam.* App-14 .
**congregation** = assembly.
**dead** = the Rephaim, who have no resurrection. See note on "deceased" and "dead" in [Isaiah 26:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/14) , [Isaiah 26:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/19) , and App-25 .

**poor** = destitute. Heb *heser.* See note on [Proverbs 6:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/11) .
**wine.** Hebrew. *yayin.* App-27 .

**the righteous** = a righteous one.
**transgressor** = traitor.

**Than, &c.** Supply the Ellipsis thus: Than [in a house, or palace].

**foolish.** Hebrew. *kesil.* See note on [Proverbs 1:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/7) .
**spendeth it up** = swalloweth it up.

**mercy** = lovingkindness, or grace.

**casteth down.** Illustrations: Joshua ([Joshua 6:3-21](../../../kjv/joshua/6/3-21) ; [Joshua 8:4-8](../../../kjv/joshua/8/4-8) ); wise woman ([2 Samuel 20:16-22](../../../kjv/2-samuel/20/16-22) . Compare [Ecclesiastes 9:13-15](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/13-15) ).

**keepeth** = guardeth.
**mouth . . . tongue.** Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), App-6 , for what is uttered by them.
**troubles.** Some codices, with five early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "trouble" (singular)

**coveteth greedily** = craving he craveth. Figure of speech *Polyptoton* , for emphasis.

**mind** = purpose.

**shall perish.** Illustrations: Pashur([Jeremiah 20:4-6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/20/4-6) ); Hananiah ([Jeremiah 28:1-4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/28/1-4) , [Jeremiah 28:10-17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/28/10-17) ); the false prophets ([Jeremiah 29:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/21) ); Shemaiah ([Jeremiah 29:31](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/31) , [Jeremiah 29:32](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/32) ); Amaziah ([Amos 7:10-17](../../../kjv/amos/7/10-17) ).
**speaketh.** Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "speaketh [the truth] evermore. "

**no wisdom . . . against the LORD.** Illustrations: Pharaoh ([Exodus 1:10](../../../kjv/exodus/1/10) . See App-23 ); Balak ([Numbers 24:10](../../../kjv/numbers/24/10) ); Ahaziah ([2 Kings 1:9-17](../../../kjv/2-kings/1/9-17) ); Sennacherib ([2 Chronicles 32:21](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/21) ; [Isaiah 30:31](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/31) ); Haman ([Esther 5:11-13](../../../kjv/esther/5/11-13) ; [Esther 7:10](../../../kjv/esther/7/10) ).

**safety, &c.** = to Jehovah [belongeth] the salvation.

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