For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
For the transgression of a land many (are) the princes thereof (there is a constant succession of princes, 1 Kings 16:21-28 ; 2 Kings 15:8 ; 2 Kings 15:30 ): but by a man of understanding (and) knowledge the state (thereof) shall be prolonged. The Hebrew х keen (H3651)] hardly bears the sense "the state;" it usually means 'so:' translate 'so (and in no other way, the prince's reign) shall be prolonged.' Frequent changes of princes are detrimental to the people, and cause disorders, tumults, and oppression. "A man" stands collectively for 'men' - i:e., the people generally, answering to "a land" in the parallel clause. If "a man" were used for one man, whether a subject or the prince, distinguished by "understanding," not the general term 'aadaam (H120), but the special term for an excellent man, 'iysh (H376), would have been used. As by the "transgression of a land" its princes are continually changed, so by the "understanding and knowledge" - that is, the piety of the same (the people of the "land") - each prince's reign "shall be prolonged." So Gejer, Maurer, etc.