Psalms 107:16
For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 107:16
For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about a literal prison break; it paints a picture of God's power to shatter even the most formidable and seemingly unbreakable barriers that hold us captive. The imagery of "gates of bronze" and "bars of iron" speaks to the overwhelming strength of afflictions, exile, or even deep-seated sin that feel utterly impossible to escape.
This verse continues the psalm's reflection on God's deliverance of those in deep distress, specifically those imprisoned and bound. Following the depiction of captives crying out in their suffering and near despair, these lines reveal the powerful, complete way God breaks through their confinement, shattering seemingly unbreakable barriers to set them free. This act of divine power serves as a testament to God's ability to overcome any obstacle, echoing prophecies of liberating his people from exile.
When God intervenes, it's not just a quiet rescue. It's a powerful declaration against all that holds us captive.
This verse vividly describes God's deliverance of His people from imprisonment. The imagery of "gates of bronze" and "bars of iron" speaks of formidable, seemingly impenetrable barriers. These weren't just weak locks; they represented the absolute power of oppressors and the hopelessness of the situation.
But God doesn't just unlock the door; He "shatters" and "cuts in two." This language signifies a complete, forceful, and undeniable demolition of any obstacle. It's a demonstration that God’s power is supreme, capable of dismantling even the strongest fortifications built by human hands or by the forces of darkness.
The strongholds God breaks aren't just physical prisons; they represent any situation that takes us away from His presence and purpose.
The "gates of bronze and bars of iron" are often understood to represent the fortified cities and prisons of exile, like Babylon. For the Israelites, being forcibly removed from their land and confined meant being cut off from God's promised presence and worship. Their captivity was a state of deep spiritual and national distress.
This verse assures us that when God remembers and acts on behalf of His people, He brings them out of such dire circumstances. The shattering of these barriers signifies not just physical escape, but a restoration to freedom, security, and the ability to live fully in the life God intends for them. It's a picture of liberation that has echoes of Jesus' victory over sin and death, freeing us from spiritual bondage.
This verse vividly describes the liberation of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity. The 'gates of bronze' and 'bars of iron' powerfully symbolize the seemingly impenetrable fortress-prison of Babylon, referencing the prophetic language used by Isaiah concerning Cyrus's conquest.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem is conquered by the Babylonians, its temple destroyed, and many of its people are taken captive to Babylon, symbolizing imprisonment and loss of freedom.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great, ruler of the Persian Empire, conquers the Neo-Babylonian Empire, effectively ending Babylonian rule.
538 BC— this verse
Edict of Cyrus Allows Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, signifying the breaking of their chains.
This passage directly echoes the language of Psalm 107:16, describing God's power to break down fortified barriers and grant freedom, specifically in the context of Cyrus's conquest of Babylon.
Acts 12:6-11This New Testament account shows God intervening to miraculously break open prison doors secured by iron chains, mirroring the forceful liberation described in the psalm.
Luke 4:18Jesus quotes from Isaiah, proclaiming his mission to 'set the oppressed free,' which aligns with the theme of God shattering powerful restraints for those in bondage.
Romans 6:22This verse speaks of being freed from the 'slavery of sin' and becoming servants of righteousness, illustrating a spiritual liberation comparable to the physical breaking of iron bars.
clarkePsalms 107:16: "For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder."
For he hath broken - This is the reason given for thanks to God for his deliverance of the captives. It was not a simple deliverance; it was done so as to manifest the irresistible power of God. He tore the prison in pieces, and cut the bars of iron asunder.
ellicottPsalms 107:16: "For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder."
-16 Isaiah 45:2 was present to the poet’s mind. Virgil’s picture of the shrine of war (Æn. vii. 607) has been compared to this.
This verse isn't just about a literal prison break; it paints a picture of God's power to shatter even the most formidable and seemingly unbreakable barriers that hold us captive. The imagery of "gates of bronze" and "bars of iron" speaks to the overwhelming strength of afflictions, exile, or even deep-seated sin that feel utterly impossible to escape.
This verse continues the psalm's reflection on God's deliverance of those in deep distress, specifically those imprisoned and bound. Following the depiction of captives crying out in their suffering and near despair, these lines reveal the powerful, complete way God breaks through their confinement, shattering seemingly unbreakable barriers to set them free. This act of divine power serves as a testament to God's ability to overcome any obstacle, echoing prophecies of liberating his people from exile.
This verse continues the psalm's reflection on God's deliverance of those in deep distress, specifically those imprisoned and bound. Following the depiction of captives crying out in their suffering and near despair, these lines reveal the powerful, complete way God breaks through their confinement, shattering seemingly unbreakable barriers to set them free. This act of divine power serves as a testament to God's ability to overcome any obstacle, echoing prophecies of liberating his people from exile.
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"For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron." — This verse isn't just about a literal prison break; it paints a picture of God's power to shatter even the most formidable and seemingly unbreakable barriers that hold us captive. The imagery of "gat…