Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" paints a picture of total despair, but the added detail "prisoners in affliction and in irons" emphasizes that this isn't just a feeling – it's a crushing reality of physical restraint and suffering. It reveals how deeply their captivity affected every aspect of their lives, leaving them not only in spiritual gloom but also in literal chains.
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage begins a new section in Psalm 107, describing those in the deep misery of captivity. It paints a vivid picture of prisoners confined to dark dungeons, bound by affliction and chains, as a consequence of their rebellion against God. The imagery of sitting in darkness and the shadow of death emphasizes their hopeless and near-death state, from which they will eventually cry out for deliverance.
Imagine a place where light never reaches, where despair is a constant companion. This verse paints a stark picture of suffering.
The imagery here is incredibly powerful. "Darkness" isn't just the absence of light; it represents a state of hopelessness, confusion, and spiritual blindness. Think of it like being locked in a deep, unlit dungeon, cut off from the world and any sense of well-being. The "shadow of death" takes this even further, suggesting a place so grim that death itself seems to loom over it, a constant threat or a suffocating presence. This isn't just physical confinement; it's a psychological and spiritual torment, a state where life feels extinguished or on the brink of it.
Beyond the darkness, the prisoners are physically restrained, their freedom stolen. What does this bondage truly represent?
The "affliction and in irons" part of the verse describes the tangible reality of their suffering. The "irons" are literal chains and fetters, a physical manifestation of their captivity. But "affliction" points to the pain, the hardship, and the deep distress that accompanies this bondage. It's the gnawing hunger, the physical abuse, the emotional anguish, and the utter helplessness. This isn't just being inconvenienced; it's being stripped of dignity and control, utterly at the mercy of their captors. The weight of these "irons" isn't just on their limbs; it's on their spirits, crushing their hope and their will.
Why do these people find themselves in such dire straits? The text hints at the cause, a consequence of their own choices.
Ask a follow-up
While the focus is on their suffering, the broader context of Psalm 107, and the insights from commentators, suggest that this state of captivity is often a result of rebellion against God. The "affliction and irons" can be seen as a disciplinary measure, a harsh but sometimes necessary consequence of straying from God's path. This doesn't mean God wants people to suffer, but that sin has natural, devastating consequences. When people ignore God's guidance and rebel, they can end up in situations that feel like a dark prison, bound by the results of their own disobedience. It’s a call to recognize that our choices have profound impacts, leading us into freedom or bondage.
Understand the original words
choshek · Hebrew Noun
A figurative expression denoting a place of profound gloom, ignorance, hopelessness, or the presence of judgment and separation from God's light.
tsalmaveth · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for the realm of the grave or the immediate presence of lethal danger; it signifies the experience of utter hopelessness or the brink of physical extinction.
oniy · Hebrew Noun
Describes a state of physical or spiritual oppression, misery, or humiliation that weighs heavily upon a person; often the result of sin or divine judgment.
This verse vividly describes the grim reality of exile, particularly the Babylonian captivity, where prisoners languished in dark dungeons, symbolizing utter hopelessness and the shadow of death, a direct result of their rebellion against God.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Captivity of Northern Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel faced repeated invasions and deportations by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the loss of its people and sovereignty. This period saw many Israelites taken into exile and scattered.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon began its conquest of Judah, starting with the first deportation of nobles and skilled workers, including figures like Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another significant wave of deportations occurred when Jerusalem rebelled. This time, King Jehoiachin and many more Judeans were taken captive to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, leading to the final and largest deportation of Judeans. Those left behind faced extreme hardship, while the exiles endured severe captivity.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, overthrew the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power eventually led to the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
538 BC onwards
Return from Exile
Following Cyrus's decree, waves of Jewish exiles began to return to Jerusalem, rebuilding their temple and community, though the memory of their suffering in captivity remained.
This passage uses similar imagery of opening blind eyes and bringing prisoners out of a dungeon, directly connecting the physical liberation described in Psalms 107 to a spiritual release.
Luke 4:18Jesus quotes from Isaiah, declaring His mission to proclaim freedom for prisoners and to let the oppressed go free, echoing the theme of liberation from affliction and darkness.
Acts 12:6-7This New Testament account depicts Peter literally bound in chains in prison, awaiting execution, mirroring the severe affliction and confinement described in the Psalm, highlighting God's power to deliver.
Psalm 23:4This well-known Psalm describes walking through the 'valley of the shadow of death,' a concept directly parallel to the 'shadow of death' mentioned in Psalms 107, emphasizing God's presence even in the darkest, most dangerous circumstances.
Job 36:8This verse speaks of the afflicted being 'bound in fetters and held in the cords of affliction,' which directly informs the description of being 'bound in affliction and iron' in Psalm 107, showing the tangible reality of such suffering.
clarkePsalms 107:10: "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;"
Such as sit in darkness - Here begins the Second similitude, which he uses to illustrate the state of the captives in Babylon viz., that of a prisoner in a dreary dungeon. 1. They sit in or inhabit darkness. They have no light, no peace, no prosperity. 2. "In the shadow of death." The place where death reigns, over which he has projected his shadow; those against whom the sentence of death h…
bensonPsalms 107:10: "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;"
Psalm 107:10-12 . Such as sit in darkness, &c. — In a disconsolate and forlorn condition, in dark prisons or dungeons; bound in affliction and iron — In afflicting or grievous irons: or, in the cords of affliction, as the expression is Job 36:8 , and particularly in iron fetters. Because they rebelled, &c. — As a just punishment for the crimes they had rebelliously committed against the expr…
The phrase "sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" paints a picture of total despair, but the added detail "prisoners in affliction and in irons" emphasizes that this isn't just a feeling – it's a crushing reality of physical restraint and suffering. It reveals how deeply their captivity affected every aspect of their lives, leaving them not only in spiritual gloom but also in literal chains.
This passage begins a new section in Psalm 107, describing those in the deep misery of captivity. It paints a vivid picture of prisoners confined to dark dungeons, bound by affliction and chains, as a consequence of their rebellion against God. The imagery of sitting in darkness and the shadow of death emphasizes their hopeless and near-death state, from which they will eventually cry out for deliverance.
This passage begins a new section in Psalm 107, describing those in the deep misery of captivity. It paints a vivid picture of prisoners confined to dark dungeons, bound by affliction and chains, as a consequence of their rebellion against God. The imagery of sitting in darkness and the shadow of death emphasizes their hopeless and near-death state, from which they will eventually cry out for deliverance.
"Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons," — The phrase "sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" paints a picture of total despair, but the added detail "prisoners in affliction and in irons" emphasizes that this isn't just a feeling – it's…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026