Psalms 107:10
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse paints a vivid picture of imprisonment, emphasizing not just the physical chains ("iron") but the profound spiritual desolation through "darkness and the shadow of death." This isn't merely a description of a dungeon; it's a metaphor for being utterly cut off from hope and life itself, trapped in a condition so dire it feels like a prelude to the grave.
This passage begins a description of people trapped in dire circumstances, specifically comparing them to prisoners in dark dungeons, bound by affliction and chains. It's part of a larger song celebrating God's deliverance, and this section paints a vivid picture of hopelessness, setting the stage for the cry for help that immediately follows. The imagery highlights utter despair before God intervenes.
Imagine a place with no light, no hope, and the ever-present chill of despair. This verse paints a vivid picture of such a state.
This verse uses powerful imagery to describe the extreme suffering of prisoners, likely referring to the Israelites exiled in Babylon.
Utter Darkness
'Darkness' here isn't just the absence of light; it signifies a complete lack of hope, joy, and prosperity. It's a state of spiritual and emotional void.
The Shadow of Death
'The shadow of death' amplifies this, suggesting a place where life itself is threatened, where death feels imminent and unavoidable. It's the deep gloom that hangs over those facing ruin.
Binding Affliction and Iron
'Affliction and in irons' speaks to the physical torment and confinement. These prisoners are not only miserable but physically restrained, unable to escape their dire circumstances.
When all hope seems lost and every effort to escape fails, where does one turn? This passage points to a surprising source of hope.
This verse sets the stage for a powerful narrative of God's intervention. The prisoners are not just suffering; they are in a state that often leads to crying out to God.
The Effect of Affliction
The commentators note that this desperate situation naturally leads to prayer. When people are brought to the absolute end of their own resources, their focus turns upward.
God's Remedial Discipline
This suffering isn't random. It's often presented as a consequence of rebellion, a way for God to discipline and humble His people. This doesn't mean God wants them to suffer, but He uses even harsh circumstances to turn their hearts back to Him.
The Turn to the Lord
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 psalm vividly describes the deep suffering of exiles, likening them to prisoners in dark dungeons, a state tragically familiar to the Judean people during the Babylonian captivity following the destruction of Jerusalem.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its citizens and scattering them throughout the empire. This marked a significant period of displacement and loss for the Israelites.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deports a significant portion of Judah's elite, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II utterly destroys Jerusalem and its temple, exiling the remaining population of Judah to Babylon. This event plunged the Judean people into deep despair and a sense of abandonment.
c. 586-538 BC
Babylonian Exile
The people of Judah live in exile in Babylon, deprived of their homeland, temple, and traditional religious practices. Many likely felt imprisoned by their circumstances and far from God.
This passage, referencing liberation from darkness and captivity, echoes the imagery of prisoners being brought out of dark places, aligning with the experience described in Psalms 107:10.
Luke 4:18Jesus quotes Isaiah, speaking of bringing the prisoner out of confinement, which parallels the spiritual freedom from bondage and darkness that deliverance from such dire circumstances represents.
Acts 12:6-7This narrative shows Peter imprisoned in chains, literally in darkness and bound, mirroring the physical plight described in Psalms 107:10 before his miraculous release.
Psalm 23:4The 'valley of the shadow of death' is a potent metaphor for extreme danger and despair, directly connecting to the 'shadow of death' mentioned in Psalms 107:10, emphasizing the hopelessness of the situation.
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 verse paints a vivid picture of imprisonment, emphasizing not just the physical chains ("iron") but the profound spiritual desolation through "darkness and the shadow of death." This isn't merely a description of a dungeon; it's a metaphor for being utterly cut off from hope and life itself, trapped in a condition so dire it feels like a prelude to the grave.
This passage begins a description of people trapped in dire circumstances, specifically comparing them to prisoners in dark dungeons, bound by affliction and chains. It's part of a larger song celebrating God's deliverance, and this section paints a vivid picture of hopelessness, setting the stage for the cry for help that immediately follows. The imagery highlights utter despair before God intervenes.
This passage begins a description of people trapped in dire circumstances, specifically comparing them to prisoners in dark dungeons, bound by affliction and chains. It's part of a larger song celebrating God's deliverance, and this section paints a vivid picture of hopelessness, setting the stage for the cry for help that immediately follows. The imagery highlights utter despair before God intervenes.
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The implication, carried into the following verses, is that in this state of utter helplessness, the prisoners cry out to the Lord. It's a cry born of desperation but ultimately directed towards the One who can actually help.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This conquest opens the door for the exiled Jews to return to their homeland.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus allows return to Judah
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. This marked a moment of hope and the beginning of repatriation.
"Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons," — The verse paints a vivid picture of imprisonment, emphasizing not just the physical chains ("iron") but the profound spiritual desolation through "darkness and the shadow of death." This isn't merely…
