The Meaning of Psalms 105:17 Explained

Psalms 105:17

KJV: He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

YLT: He hath sent before them a man, For a servant hath Joseph been sold.

Darby: He sent a man before them: Joseph was sold for a bondman.

ASV: He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold for a servant:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He sent  a man  before  them, [even] Joseph,  [who] was sold  for a servant: 

What does Psalms 105:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 105:16-30 - Wonders In Egypt
The psalmist retells the story of Joseph, as a link in the chain of providences which secured the fulfillment of the Covenant. It may be that it was also introduced to comfort Israel amid the afflictions of the Captivity. Another reading of the second clause of Psalms 105:18 is, "The iron entered his soul." This is what pain does for us all; it puts iron into our blood. In Psalms 105:19 we learn that God's promise, while unfulfilled and apparently contradicted by present facts, serves as a test of a man's reliance upon God. It brings into clear relief his unwavering faith. Joseph was tested and not found wanting.
In Psalms 105:23-27 carry us a step farther in the unfolding of God's purpose. The sojourn in Egypt, with its terrible hardships and the trouble that befell the tyrant, is quoted with direct reference to the action and interposition of the Almighty. The psalmist sees only one hand at work. He does not hesitate to ascribe to God even, the hatred which the Egyptians entertained toward Israel, and which, in Pharaoh's case, meant the hardening of his heart. Such is the inevitable effect when man's pride conflicts with divine tenderness and love. Let us believe that God is in all the incidents of our daily life and of human history. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:17 mean?

He sent before them a man as a slave [who] was sold Joseph
שָׁלַ֣ח לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם אִ֑ישׁ לְ֝עֶ֗בֶד נִמְכַּ֥ר יוֹסֵֽף

שָׁלַ֣ח  He  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אִ֑ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
לְ֝עֶ֗בֶד  as  a  slave 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
נִמְכַּ֥ר  [who]  was  sold 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָכַר  
Sense: to sell.
יוֹסֵֽף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.