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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 107:10–16.
We are to take notice of the goodness of God towards prisoners and captives. Observe, 1. A description of this affliction. Prisoners are said to sit in darkness (Psa 107:10), in dark dungeons, close prisons, which intimates that they are desolate and disconsolate; they sit in the shadow of death, which intimates not only great distress and trouble, but great danger. Prisoners are many times appointed to die; they sit despairing to get out, but resolving to make the best of it. They are bound in affliction, and many times in iron, as Joseph. Thus sore a calamity is imprisonment, which should make us prize liberty, and be thankful for it. 2. The cause of this affliction, Psa 107:11. It is because they rebelled against the words of God. Wilful sin is rebellion against the words of God; it is a contradiction to his truths and a violation of his laws. They contemned the counsel of the Most High, and thought they neither needed it nor could be the better for it; and those that will not be counselled cannot be helped. Those that despise prophesying, that regard not the admonitions of their own consciences nor the just reproofs of their friends, contemn the counsel of the Most High, and for this they are bound in affliction, both to punish them for and to reclaim them from their rebellions. 3. The design of this affliction, and that is to bring down their heart (Psa 107:12), to humble them for sin, to make them low in their own eyes, to cast down every high, proud, aspiring thought. Afflicting providences must be improved as humbling providences; and we not only lose the benefit of them, but thwart God's designs and walk contrary to him in them if our hearts be unhumbled and unbroken, as high and hard as ever under them. Is the estate brought down with labour, the honour sunk? Have those that exalted themselves fallen down, and is there none to help them? Let this bring down the spirit to confess sin, to accept the punishment of it, and humbly to sue for mercy and grace. 4. The duty of this afflicted state, and that is to pray (Psa 107:13): Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, though before perhaps they had neglected him. Prisoners have time to pray, who, when they were at liberty, could not find time; they see they have need of God's help, though formerly they thought they could do well enough without him. Sense will make men cry when they are in trouble, but grace will direct them to cry unto the Lord, from whom the affliction comes and who alone can remove it. 5. Their deliverance out of the affliction: They cried unto the Lord, and he saved them, Psa 107:13. He brought them out of darkness into light, welcome light, and then doubly sweet and pleasant, brought them out of the shadow of death to the comforts of life, and their liberty was to them life from the dead, Psa 107:14. Were they fettered? He broke their bands asunder. Were they imprisoned in strong castles? He broke the gates of brass and the bars of iron wherewith those gates were made fast; he did not put back, but cut in sunder. Note, When God will work deliverance the greatest difficulties that lie in the way shall be made nothing of. Gates of brass and bars of iron, as they cannot keep him out from him people (he was with Joseph in the prison), so they cannot keep them in when the time, the set-time, for their enlargement, comes. 6. The return that is required from those whose bands God has loosed (Psa 107:15): Let them praise the Lord for his goodness, and take occasion from their own experience of it, and share in it, to bless him for that goodness which the earth is full of, the world and those that dwell therein.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
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"Them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, fast bound in beggary and iron" [Psalm 107:10]. Whence this, but that you were attributing things to yourself? That you were not owning the grace of God? That you were rejecting the counsel of God [Luke 7:30] concerning you? For see what He adds: "Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord through pride" [Psalm 107:11], not knowing the righteousness of God, and wishing to establish their own, [Romans 10:3] "and they were bitter against the counsel of the Most High." "And their heart was brought low in labour" [Psalm 107:12]. And now fight against lust; if God cease to aid you may strive, you can not conquer. And when you shall be pressed by your evil, your heart will be brought low in labour, so that now with humbled heart you may learn to cry out, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" [Romans 7:24] ...Freed, you will confess the mercies of the Lord. "And they cried unto the Lord when they were troubled, and He delivered them out of their distresses" [Psalm 107:13]. They were freed from the second temptation. There remains that of weariness and loathing. But first see what He did for them when freed. "And He led them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds asunder" [Psalm 107:14]. "Let them confess to the Lord His mercies, and His wonders to the children of men" [Psalm 107:15]. Wherefore? What difficulties has He overcome? "Because He broke the gates of brass, and snapped the bars of iron" [Psalm 107:16]. "He took them up from the way of their iniquity, for because of their unrighteousnesses they were brought low" [Psalm 107:17]. Because they gave honour to themselves, not to God, because they were establishing their own righteousness, not knowing the righteousness of God, [Romans 10:3] they were brought low. They found that they were helpless without His aid, who were presuming on their own strength alone.
Let the word weakness teach us that Jesus was not nailed to the tree as the Almighty, the uncircumscribed, the immutable and invariable, but that the nature enlivened by the power of God, according to the apostle’s teaching, died and was buried—both death and burial being proper to the nature of a servant. “He broke the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder” and destroyed the power of death and in three days raised his own temple. These are proofs of the divine nature in accordance with the Lord’s words “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Thus through the sufferings of the one Christ we contemplate the manhood and through the miracles we apprehend the godhead.
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Summary
Psalms 107:16 serves as a powerful declaration of the Lord's absolute sovereignty and irresistible might in delivering His people from seemingly impregnable obstacles. Through the vivid imagery of shattered "gates of brass" and sundered "bars of iron," the verse triumphantly underscores God's unique ability to dismantle humanly impossible barriers, bringing profound liberation and rescue to those held captive by distress and bondage. It stands as a testament to divine intervention, highlighting God's readiness to act decisively on behalf of those who cry out to Him in their deepest need.
Context
Literary Context
Psalms 107 is a majestic hymn of thanksgiving, meticulously structured around a recurring refrain that celebrates God's enduring goodness and His miraculous deliverance. The psalm recounts four distinct scenarios of human distress—wanderers lost in the wilderness, prisoners in bondage, those afflicted by illness, and sailors imperiled by storms—each followed by the people's desperate cry to the Lord and His subsequent, powerful rescue. Verse 16 falls within the second scenario, specifically detailing God's intervention for those "bound in affliction and iron" because they had rebelled against God's words and despised His counsel, as elaborated in Psalms 107:10-12. After their repentance and desperate plea, the psalm records, "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses" (Psalms 107:13). The preceding verse, Psalms 107:14, states that God "brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder," setting the immediate narrative stage for the powerful imagery of verse 16, which vividly illustrates how God accomplishes this profound and complete liberation.
Historical & Cultural Context
In the ancient Near East, city gates and prison doors were constructed with formidable materials to ensure maximum security and prevent escape or intrusion. "Gates of brass" (or bronze, a common and highly durable alloy in antiquity) were massive, heavy structures, signifying immense strength, impenetrability, and often, the ultimate line of defense for a city or fortress. Such gates were typically reinforced with "bars of iron," which provided additional, seemingly unbreakable security for strongholds, cities, and especially prisons. The imagery in Psalms 107:16 thus evokes the strongest possible human-made barriers—structures designed to be unyielding and inescapable. For a prisoner, or indeed an entire city under siege, these materials represented absolute confinement and insurmountable odds. The breaking or cutting asunder of such barriers would have been understood as an act requiring supernatural power, far beyond human capability, thereby emphasizing the divine nature and overwhelming might of the deliverance described.
Key Themes
Psalms 107:16 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and the broader biblical narrative, highlighting God's active involvement in the lives of His people.
Divine Deliverance and Redemption
The primary message conveyed is God's active, powerful, and compassionate intervention to free His people from various forms of captivity. The "gates of brass" and "bars of iron" symbolize not just physical prisons but any seemingly impregnable obstacle or form of bondage that holds people captive. God's action signifies a supernatural, redemptive release, demonstrating that no situation is beyond His capacity to transform or deliver from.
God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty
This verse powerfully underscores God's absolute and unchallengeable power. No barrier, no matter how strong or securely fashioned by human hands, can withstand His will. He effortlessly shatters what is humanly unbreakable, demonstrating His sovereign control over all circumstances, both natural and man-made. This echoes the profound truth found in passages like Jeremiah 32:27, where God declares, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"
Freedom from Bondage
While the immediate context of Psalms 107:10-14 is physical imprisonment, the imagery extends metaphorically to spiritual, emotional, and circumstantial bondage. The psalm's broader narrative, encompassing various forms of distress, highlights God's comprehensive power to liberate individuals from the chains of sin, despair, addiction, oppression, or any overwhelming life situation. It points to God as the ultimate liberator, providing genuine and complete freedom.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root (H7665) means "to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), crush, destroy." In Psalms 107:16, it conveys a violent, decisive, and comprehensive dismantling. It implies not just a weakening, but a shattering into pieces, emphasizing the totality of God's destructive power over the obstacles.
This term (H5178) refers to "copper, hence, something made of that metal," commonly understood as bronze in the ancient world. Bronze was a highly valued metal known for its strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion. When applied to "gates," it signifies immense fortification, security, and impenetrability, representing barriers designed to be virtually unyielding to human force.
Derived from the root meaning "to flee" or "to pass through," this word (H1280) specifically denotes "a bolt" or "bar." In the context of gates or prisons, these were heavy, solid pieces of wood or metal (here, "of iron") used to secure doors, making them exceptionally difficult to open or break. Their destruction signifies the complete removal of the means of confinement.
Verse Breakdown
"For he hath broken the gates of brass"
This clause immediately identifies the divine agent ("he," referring to the Lord) and His decisive, powerful action. The act of "breaking" the "gates of brass" signifies the Lord's ability to overcome the most formidable and seemingly impenetrable obstacles. These gates, representing ultimate security and confinement, are utterly shattered by His power, indicating that no humanly constructed barrier can withstand His will. This action is a direct, supernatural response to the cries of those in distress, demonstrating God's active and overwhelming intervention in their impossible situation.
"and cut the bars of iron in sunder"
This second clause powerfully reinforces and amplifies the first through striking parallelism. The Lord not only breaks the main gates but also "cuts in sunder" (from the Hebrew gâdaʻ, H1438, meaning "to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything; cut asunder, in sunder, down, off") the reinforcing "bars of iron." The verb "cut in sunder" emphasizes a complete severing and demolition of the means of confinement. Iron bars, symbolizing unbreakable bonds and absolute imprisonment, are rendered useless. This dual action underscores the completeness of God's deliverance; He leaves no part of the oppressive structure intact, ensuring total and irreversible freedom for those He liberates.
Literary Devices
Psalms 107:16 is rich in literary devices that enhance its impact and communicate its profound meaning. The most prominent is Metaphor, where "gates of brass" and "bars of iron" serve as powerful representations of insurmountable obstacles, oppressive forces, or seemingly inescapable situations, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or circumstantial. These are not merely literal prison gates but stand for any form of human bondage or distress that defies human solution. The verse also employs striking Imagery, creating a vivid mental picture of immense, solid barriers being violently shattered and severed, conveying the overwhelming and destructive power of God against forces of confinement. Parallelism is evident in the symmetrical structure of the verse, with the two clauses ("broken the gates of brass" and "cut the bars of iron in sunder") mirroring each other in action and object, reinforcing the central message of divine destruction of barriers and the totality of liberation. Furthermore, the language uses Hyperbole to emphasize God's power; while literal gates and bars are broken, the language suggests an ease and totality of destruction that transcends normal human capability, highlighting the supernatural and effortless nature of God's intervention.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 107:16 stands as a profound theological declaration of God's unparalleled power and His unwavering commitment to deliver His people from all forms of bondage. It reveals a God who is not distant or passive but actively intervenes in the affairs of humanity, especially when His people are in dire straits and cry out to Him. The breaking of "gates of brass" and "bars of iron" is a testament to His omnipotence, demonstrating that no humanly constructed barrier, no system of oppression, and no depth of despair can withstand His liberating hand. This verse assures believers that God is capable of shattering the most formidable obstacles, whether they are physical prisons, the chains of sin, the grip of addiction, the weight of despair, or the seemingly impossible circumstances of life. It underscores His role as the ultimate Redeemer, who brings light out of darkness and freedom out of captivity, always in response to a repentant and desperate cry for help.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 107:16 offers a powerful beacon of hope and encouragement for every believer facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. It reminds us that no "gates of brass" or "bars of iron"—whether they represent a chronic illness, financial ruin, relational breakdown, spiritual oppression, deep-seated fear, the lingering effects of past trauma, or the weight of unconfessed sin—are too strong for God to break. Just as He delivered the ancient Israelites from literal and metaphorical prisons, He promises to intervene for us when we, in our distress, cry out to Him. This verse calls us to shift our focus from the enormity of our problems to the infinitude of God's power. It challenges us to trust in His ability to make a way where there appears to be none, to shatter the chains that bind us, and to lead us into a place of freedom and flourishing. Our part is to acknowledge our helplessness, turn to Him in genuine repentance and fervent prayer, and then stand in awe of His magnificent deliverance, knowing that His power is limitless.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does the imagery of 'gates of brass' and 'bars of iron' signify beyond physical prisons?
While the immediate context of Psalms 107:16 refers to literal imprisonment, the imagery of "gates of brass" and "bars of iron" extends far beyond physical confinement. Theologically and metaphorically, these strong, unyielding barriers represent any seemingly insurmountable obstacle or oppressive force that holds individuals captive. This can include spiritual bondage (such as the chains of sin, addiction, or spiritual darkness), emotional prisons (like despair, fear, anxiety, or unforgiveness), circumstantial difficulties (such as poverty, chronic illness, or overwhelming debt), or even societal injustices and systemic oppression. The strength and impenetrability of brass and iron emphasize that these are humanly impossible situations to overcome by one's own strength. The verse highlights that God's power is not limited to the physical realm but extends to every area of human experience, demonstrating His capacity to deliver us from any form of captivity that binds us, as seen in the broader themes of liberation throughout Scripture, such as John 8:36.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 107:16, with its declaration of God breaking the gates of brass and cutting the bars of iron, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the psalm speaks of God's deliverance from physical and metaphorical prisons, Christ's mission was to liberate humanity from the ultimate bondage: the dominion of sin and the power of death. He is the one who truly "broke the gates" of spiritual darkness and "cut the bars" of eternal condemnation. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus disarmed the powers of darkness, triumphing over them (as vividly described in Colossians 2:15). His glorious resurrection from the dead is the supreme demonstration of God's power to shatter the "bars of iron" that held humanity captive in the shadow of death, for He now holds "the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18). Jesus declared, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36), signifying His power to release us from the spiritual prison of sin, guilt, and the paralyzing fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Thus, Psalms 107:16 is a prophetic echo of the comprehensive, eternal liberation that only Christ can provide, making a way where there was no way, and bringing true freedom to all who believe.