Psalms 107:10-11
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The imagery here doesn't just describe physical chains; "affliction and in irons" suggests that the very hardships and suffering they endure have become their inescapable prison. This isn't just about being locked up, but about being bound by their troubles themselves.
This psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to His people through various trials, and this section describes a group of people suffering in the deepest misery of captivity. They are "sitting in darkness," confined to the gloomiest dungeons, so isolated and hopeless they are metaphorically in the "shadow of death." Their suffering is physically expressed as being bound tightly with irons, enduring hardship, a stark picture of utter despair before they cry out to God for deliverance.
Imagine being locked away, not just physically, but in a place so bleak it feels like the edge of existence. This isn't just a bad day; it's a profound state of despair.
This verse paints a vivid picture of extreme suffering. "Darkness" and "shadow of death" aren't just about physical imprisonment, but a spiritual and emotional void. It describes a state where hope is virtually extinguished, a place of deep misery and hopelessness.
Why do people end up in such dire straits? The psalm suggests a connection between their suffering and their own actions, leading to a desperate plea.
Psalms 107 often highlights a cycle: rebellion, consequence, cry, and deliverance. In this second example, the prisoners' plight is directly linked to their past actions.
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.
marah · Hebrew Verb
To act in opposition to an authority, specifically God's revealed will or covenant; it implies a willful defiance of God's sovereign rule.
Psalm 107:10 vividly captures the despair of Israelites exiled in Babylon, chained and languishing in dark dungeons, a stark reality following Jerusalem's destruction.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Captivity
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants. This marks a period of intense suffering and displacement for the Israelites.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judeans, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon. This is the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion in Judah, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of the population, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This deepens the sense of captivity and despair.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining significant population to Babylon. This event solidifies the experience of exile and profound loss for the Judean people.
This passage uses similar imagery of opening blind eyes and bringing prisoners out of darkness, directly echoing the experience of those trapped in despair and captivity described in Psalms 107:10.
Luke 4:18Jesus quotes from Isaiah, declaring His mission is to bring deliverance to the oppressed and release to the captives, a spiritual fulfillment of the physical liberation described in Psalms 107.
Acts 12:6-7This New Testament account shows Peter literally chained in prison, sitting in darkness, with guards present, mirroring the physical description of prisoners in Psalms 107:10 before his miraculous release.
Job 36:8This verse speaks of the afflicted being bound in fetters and held by cords of affliction, directly paralleling the description of prisoners bound in affliction and iron in Psalms 107:10.
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 imagery here doesn't just describe physical chains; "affliction and in irons" suggests that the very hardships and suffering they endure have become their inescapable prison. This isn't just about being locked up, but about being bound by their troubles themselves.
This psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to His people through various trials, and this section describes a group of people suffering in the deepest misery of captivity. They are "sitting in darkness," confined to the gloomiest dungeons, so isolated and hopeless they are metaphorically in the "shadow of death." Their suffering is physically expressed as being bound tightly with irons, enduring hardship, a stark picture of utter despair before they cry out to God for deliverance.
This psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to His people through various trials, and this section describes a group of people suffering in the deepest misery of captivity. They are "sitting in darkness," confined to the gloomiest dungeons, so isolated and hopeless they are metaphorically in the "shadow of death." Their suffering is physically expressed as being bound tightly with irons, enduring hardship, a stark picture of utter despair before they cry out to God for deliverance.
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na'ats · Hebrew Verb
To treat something with contempt or disregard, often referring to despising God’s instructions or rejecting His authority.
etsah · Hebrew Noun
The advice, plan, or purpose of God. It signifies His divine wisdom and guidance offered to humanity, which they are responsible to heed.
Elyon · Hebrew Adjective
A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty, majesty, and supremacy over all other powers or authorities in heaven and earth.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon. This marks a turning point, as Cyrus will soon issue a decree allowing the exiles to return to their homeland.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple. This ushers in the period of return and restoration.
"Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High." — The imagery here doesn't just describe physical chains; "affliction and in irons" suggests that the very hardships and suffering they endure have become their inescapable prison. This isn't just abou…
