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Psalm 107:14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.
12Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help.
13Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.
15Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
16For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron.
Notice
The broken chains make deliverance concrete: God brought people out of a darkness they could not escape, after their cry for help.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What stands out to you about God breaking the chains as he brings the prisoners out?
Write on thisWhat rescue, if any, comes to mind as you read these words?
Write on thisWhat would you want to say to God from within the darkness described here?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Isaiah 9:2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.Both passages describe people in darkness and the shadow of death whose condition changes through rescue or the coming of light.
Psalm 68:6God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.Both psalms name God as the one who brings prisoners out of captivity.
Isaiah 42:16I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked …Both passages portray God leading people out of darkness or changing the darkness before them.
Psalm 116:16LORD, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains.Both psalms credit the LORD with release from chains, one for a group and one for a single servant.
Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,Both passages describe a departure from darkness connected to the Lord; Ephesians speaks of becoming light in him.
Luke 1:79to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”Both passages name darkness and the shadow of death as the condition of people receiving rescue or light.
1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out …Both passages attribute people's departure from darkness to God's action on their behalf.
Zechariah 9:11–12As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.Both passages describe God freeing captives, with chains in the psalm and a waterless pit in Zechariah.
Psalm 107:10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron,The darkness, shadow of death, and iron bonds of verse 10 are the very conditions God overcomes in verse 14.
Isaiah 61:1The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim …Both passages concern release for captives: the psalm recounts God's rescue, while Isaiah describes a speaker sent to proclaim liberty.
Jeremiah 52:31–34In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evilmerodach king of …Both describe release from captivity, though Jeremiah names a king releasing Jehoiachin and the psalm names God breaking chains.
Nahum 1:13Now I will break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”Both passages depict God breaking what binds people, using the concrete language of chains, a yoke, and bonds.
Where this verse fits
Answered prayer. fear for the future. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The prisoners had reached the end of human help. Their cry reached YHWH, and the chains that held them did not withstand his rescue.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 107:14. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).