Psalms 107:16

For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

For he hath broken {H7665} the gates {H1817} of brass {H5178}, and cut {H1438} the bars {H1280} of iron {H1270} in sunder {H1438}.

For he shattered bronze doors and cut through iron bars.

For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Commentary

Psalms 107:16 declares God's immense power and ability to deliver His people from seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This verse is part of a larger psalm of thanksgiving, highlighting various instances of God's wonderful works in rescuing those in distress.

Context

Psalm 107 is a powerful hymn celebrating God's enduring goodness and His readiness to deliver those who cry out to Him. It recounts four specific scenarios of distress and divine rescue: wanderers in the wilderness, prisoners in bondage, those afflicted by illness, and sailors in a storm. Verse 16 falls within the section describing God's deliverance of those who were imprisoned, bound in affliction and iron, because they had rebelled against the words of God (Psalms 107:10-12). After they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, He saved them out of their distresses, bringing them out of darkness and the shadow of death (Psalms 107:14). Verse 16 provides the vivid imagery of how God accomplishes this liberation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance and Redemption: The core message is God's active intervention to free His people from captivity. The "gates of brass" and "bars of iron" represent impregnable prisons, impossible for humans to escape. God's action signifies a supernatural release.
  • God's Omnipotence: This verse underscores God's absolute power. No barrier, no matter how strong or secure, can withstand His will. He effortlessly breaks down what is humanly unbreakable, demonstrating His sovereign control over all circumstances. This echoes themes found in verses like Jeremiah 32:27, "Is anything too hard for me?"
  • Freedom from Bondage: While the immediate context is physical imprisonment, the imagery also speaks to spiritual, emotional, or circumstantial bondage. God's power extends to liberating individuals from sin, despair, and oppressive situations.

Linguistic Insights

The terms used are highly evocative:

  • "Gates of brass" (Hebrew: nechoshet, נְחֹשֶׁת): In the ancient world, brass (or bronze) was a robust and expensive material used for fortifications, signifying immense strength and security for city gates or prison entrances.
  • "Bars of iron" (Hebrew: barzel, בַּרְזֶל): Iron bars were the standard for securing prisons and reinforcing gates, representing unbreakable confinement and a complete lack of escape.
  • The verbs "broken" (shibbar, שִׁבַּר) and "cut in sunder" (giddea, גִּדֵּעַ) are strong, active verbs that convey a decisive, complete, and forceful dismantling of these barriers, not merely weakening them.

Practical Application

Psalms 107:16 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that:

  • No situation is too difficult for God: Whatever "gates of brass" or "bars of iron" you face—whether they are addiction, debt, fear, despair, or seemingly impossible circumstances—God possesses the power to break through them.
  • God answers prayer: The broader context of Psalm 107 emphasizes that God delivers those who cry out to Him. This verse reinforces the truth that when we turn to Him in our distress, His mighty hand is able to act.
  • Hope in Deliverance: It instills hope that true freedom comes from God alone. He is the ultimate liberator, capable of setting us free from any form of captivity, physical or spiritual.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 45:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

  • Isaiah 45:2 (7 votes)

    I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

  • Micah 2:13 (3 votes)

    The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.

  • Judges 16:3 (3 votes)

    And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put [them] upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that [is] before Hebron.