Psalm 107 16

Psalm 107:16 kjv

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

Psalm 107:16 nkjv

For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.

Psalm 107:16 niv

for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

Psalm 107:16 esv

For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Psalm 107:16 nlt

For he broke down their prison gates of bronze;
he cut apart their bars of iron.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 16 Meaning

Psalm 107:16 declares the absolute power of God to shatter the mightiest of human strongholds and break the firmest chains. This verse explains how God delivers those who are held captive, emphasizing His irresistible strength to overcome what is humanly impossible. The imagery of "gates of brass" and "bars of iron" symbolizes seemingly insurmountable obstacles, impregnable prisons, or conditions of bondage from which there is no escape by human effort. God's action of "breaking" and "cutting in sunder" demonstrates His decisive, overwhelming, and liberating might, proving that no earthly confinement or adverse circumstance can withstand His divine intervention when He purposes to set His people free.

Psalm 107 16 Context

Psalm 107 is a "Great Hallelujah Psalm" of thanksgiving, recounting God's steadfast love and miraculous deliverance of His people from various distresses. The psalm begins by calling on the redeemed to give thanks to the Lord. It then illustrates four distinct scenarios of suffering and divine intervention, each followed by a refrain: wandering in the desert (vv. 4-9), imprisonment/captivity (vv. 10-16), sickness (vv. 17-22), and being caught in a storm at sea (vv. 23-32).

Verse 16 specifically falls within the second scenario (vv. 10-16), describing those who "sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons, because they rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High" (vv. 10-11). After their suffering, "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them from their distresses" (v. 13), and "He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart" (v. 14). Verse 16 serves as the explanation of how this powerful liberation occurred, attributing it directly to God's unparalleled strength. The historical context resonates with experiences of the Israelite exile in Babylon, or more generally, any period of captivity, oppression, or severe personal distress that feels inescapable. It's a testament to God's intervention when all human hope is lost.

Psalm 107 16 Word analysis

• For he hath broken (כִּי שִׁבַּר - kî shibbar)
  • "For" (kî): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement of deliverance (Psalm 107:14, where God "burst their bonds apart"). It confirms God's decisive agency.
  • "he hath broken" (shibbar): From the Hebrew verb shāvar (שָׁבַר), meaning "to break, break in pieces, shatter, crush." The verb is in the Piel stem, signifying an intensive, forceful, and complete action. It indicates a thorough and irreversible destruction of the barrier by divine power. This is an act only God can accomplish against such formidable obstacles.
• the gates of brass (דַּלְתוֹת נְחֹשֶׁת - dal'tōt něḥōšet)
  • "gates" (dal'tōt): Plural of delet (דֶּלֶת), meaning "door" or "gate." In ancient times, city gates were the primary point of entry and defense, massive structures symbolizing security, control, and impenetrability. Breaking them signified absolute conquest.
  • "brass" (něḥōšet): This refers to bronze or copper. Bronze was a highly durable and strong metal used for formidable constructions. "Gates of brass" represent an almost impervious barrier, indicating the strength of the prison or the situation.
• and cut (וּבְרִיחֵי - ūvəriḥē)
  • "and cut" (giddēa'): From the Hebrew verb gāḏa‘ (גָּדַע), meaning "to cut off, cut down, cut in sunder." Similar to shāvar, it is also in the Piel stem, implying a decisive and complete severing. This action reinforces the totality of the destruction; the bars are not just bent or weakened, but completely severed.
• the bars of iron in sunder (וּבְרִיחֵי בַרְזֶל גִּדֵּעַ - ūvəriḥē varzel giddēa')
  • "the bars" (bārîaḥ): Massive, heavy bolts or crossbars used to secure doors and gates from the inside, adding another layer of security to the gates themselves.
  • "of iron" (barzel): Iron is even stronger and more resilient than brass/bronze. The progression from "brass gates" to "iron bars" symbolizes an even greater, more formidable obstacle. It represents the ultimate in humanly constructed imprisonment and the seeming finality of their predicament.
  • "in sunder": Reinforces the complete separation and destruction.

Words-group Analysis:

• "For he hath broken... and cut... in sunder": This phrase highlights the singular divine agent ("He") and the definitive, powerful actions ("broken," "cut") involved in liberation. The repetition of an intense verb form (Piel stem) underscores the absolute and irresistible nature of God's intervention.
• "the gates of brass, and the bars of iron": These two images work in tandem to create a comprehensive picture of impregnable human defense and absolute confinement. "Gates" provide initial, broad security, while "bars" provide specific, inner locking mechanisms. The progression from "brass" to "iron" demonstrates that God overcomes not just significant strength, but the ultimate humanly constructed strength, emphasizing that nothing can stand in His way when He chooses to act. This imagery also implicitly includes a polemic against the efficacy of human-made fortresses as ultimate protection, asserting God's superiority.

Psalm 107 16 Bonus section

The emphasis on God as the active agent who breaks and cuts reveals that true liberation from overwhelming bondage is always a work of divine intervention. It's not a matter of human striving or incremental progress, but of God's forceful, decisive action. This theme echoes through scripture, emphasizing that salvation, both physical and spiritual, originates from Him alone. The verse also subtly alludes to God's sovereign control over kingdoms and their defenses, reminding listeners that even mighty empires are vulnerable to His will. This ancient image of breaking formidable gates ultimately points to the work of Christ, who, by His death and resurrection, "broke the gates of Hades" (Matt 16:18) and defeated the power of sin and death, thereby cutting the ultimate "bars of iron" that imprisoned humanity.

Psalm 107 16 Commentary

Psalm 107:16 is a resounding declaration of God's unrivaled power and His unwavering commitment to deliver those who cry out to Him from distress. It moves beyond simply stating deliverance to explaining the nature of that deliverance: it is not through minor adjustments or slight openings, but through the outright destruction of the barriers themselves. The "gates of brass" and "bars of iron" symbolize any seemingly impossible barrier—be it physical imprisonment, spiritual bondage, chronic illness, debilitating addiction, economic hardship, or profound grief that traps an individual. These are circumstances from which human strength, ingenuity, or resources offer no escape.

This verse proclaims that no matter how strongly secured a "prison" is, no matter how hopeless the situation appears, God possesses the might to utterly dismantle it. His breaking of "gates of brass" speaks to His ability to overcome any public, visible obstacle or systemic oppression, while His cutting of "bars of iron" addresses the deeper, more internal or private bondages that secure one's captivity. This powerful imagery teaches us to look beyond human limitations and instead trust in the God who can shatter the unbreakable. It reminds us that when God acts, His deliverance is complete and decisive, making a way where there was none. This truth serves as a cornerstone for faith and thanksgiving in the face of daunting challenges, assuring believers that their Deliverer is supremely powerful.