Psalms 107:14 — Word Study
WLCיֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת וּמוֹסְר֖וֹתֵיהֶ֣ם יְנַתֵּֽק׃
BSAHe brought them outyâtsâʼ▸ [from a place of captivity, complete darkness] of darknesschôshek [misery, spiritual gloom] and the shadow of deathtsalmâveth [deep distress, the grave, the grave, eternal separation] and broke away their chainsmôwçêr [tore, pulled apart, bonds, restraints, ropes]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם | he brought out them | Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ | from darkness | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת | and deep darkness | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וּמוֹסְר֖וֹתֵיהֶ֣ם | and fetters their | Conjunction, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| יְנַתֵּֽק׃ | he tore apart | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains. |
| KJV | He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. |
| ASV | He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder. |
| YLT | He bringeth them out from the dark place, And death-shade, And their bands He draweth away. |
| WEB | He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains. |
| BBE | He took them out of the dark and the black night, and all their chains were broken. |
Where they part company is יְנַתֵּֽק — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of a main action followed by descriptive phrases that clarify the nature of the deliverance.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָתַק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 107:14
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Deliverancegenerated
Psalm 107:14 is situated in a passage that celebrates God's ability to save those in distress. The psalmist recounts how the Lord hears the cries of the afflicted and delivers them from their troubles, emphasizing His mercy and power. This verse specifically highlights the transition from darkness and death to freedom, illustrating God's role as a liberator.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 107:10 | Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains, |
| 2 | Psalm 68:6 | God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. |
| 3 | Job 3:5 | May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it. |
| 4 | Job 10:21–22 | before I go—never to return— to a land of darkness and gloom, |
| 5 | Job 15:22–30 | He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 24 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְנַתֵּֽק, ye.na.Tekgenerated
The verb נָתַק (nathaq) means to tear or pull apart. It conveys the action of breaking free from something that binds or restrains, emphasizing God's intervention in delivering people from their troubles.
In this verse, the use of the Piel form indicates a strong, active effort by God to separate and liberate. The imagery of tearing apart chains suggests a powerful and decisive act of salvation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם (he brought out) governs the structure of the verse, indicating the action of delivering. The sentence follows with a prepositional phrase describing the source of the deliverance, followed by a conjunction linking to another action verb.
The verb יְנַתֵּֽק (he tore apart) concludes the verse, emphasizing the act of liberation from chains, thus highlighting the sequence of actions from darkness to freedom.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word יְנַתֵּֽק is rendered as διέρρηχεν (dierrechēn), meaning 'to break through' or 'to tear apart.' This choice underscores the forceful nature of God's deliverance.
The Greek translation captures the essence of liberation while also reflecting the urgency and power of God's actions in saving His people.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 107:14 tells us that God brings people out of darkness and the shadow of death, breaking their chains. This verse emphasizes God's power to save and liberate those who are in distress and bondage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's action of rescuing individuals from despair, ignorance, or spiritual oppression.
The shadow of death represents a state of extreme danger or calamity, often associated with the grave.
God's breaking of chains symbolizes His power to free people from bondage, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.
Giving thanks acknowledges God's loving devotion and the wonders He performs for humanity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I feel trapped, and how can I seek God's help to break free?
- How can I recognize and appreciate God's deliverance in my daily life?
- What does it mean to me personally to be brought out of darkness?
- How can I share the message of God's saving power with others?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 107:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe brought them out of darkness,.... In which they were by nature, into marvellous light; to see their interest in Christ, and his salvation; and to have the light of joy and comfort in him.
Read John Gill on Psalms 107 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 107 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.Ver. 14. He brought them out of darkness] He sent his mandamus , as Psalms 44:4, and that did the deed, as Acts 5:19; Acts 12:7. Originally applied generically to a number of ancient writs, letters missive, or mandates, issued by the sovereign, directing the performance of certain acts.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 107 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14) Break their bands in sunder.—See Psalms 2:3.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 107 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 14. He brought then out of darkness] 1. Gave them again peace and prosperity. 2. Repealed the sentence of death. 3. "Unbound the poor prisoners." 4. Broke their iron bonds in sunder.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 107 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10–16. A second example of Divine goodness, in the liberation of prisoners, or captives languishing in the dungeon of exile in punishment for their rebellion against God. The Targ. interprets the passage of Zedekiah and the nobles of Judah in captivity at Babylon.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 107 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death - From their captivity; from calamity which seemed to be as gloomy as the shadow of death.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 107 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible14. Darkness—Compare Isaiah 42:7, and Psalms 107:10, above.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 107 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.
He brought them out of the utter darkness, and tore off their shackles.
Tyndale line
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
He brought them out of darkness and the shades of death, and broke their bands asunder.
He brought them out of darkenes, and out of the shadowe of death, and brake their bandes asunder.
Strictly literal
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bands in sunder.
He bringeth them out from the dark place, And death-shade, And their bands He draweth away.
He brings them out from the dark place, || And death-shade, || And He draws away their bands.
He bringeth them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and teareth their bands asunder.
He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their bonds.
From the Latin
Through God we shall do mightily: and he will bring our enemies to nothing.
Simplified
He brought them out of complete darkness, he broke their chains to pieces.
He took them out of the dark and the black night, and all their chains were broken.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls agree closely in wording, with minor restoration in the scrolls. Both versions affirm the themes of rescue from darkness and the breaking of chains.
יֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת וּמוֹסְר֖וֹתֵיהֶ֣ם יְנַתֵּֽק׃
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויוציא׳ם מחושך וצלמות ומוסרותי׳הם ינתק
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 107:14
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָצָא (yatsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to go or come out, with various applications including departure, escape, and emergence. It can refer to both animate and inanimate subjects and emphasizes the idea of origin or source. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating actions like leading out or being brought forth.
יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out
Qal
go or come out or forth
from (מִן) a place
go forth from (the presence of) a person
in technical senses
of flight, involving escape
depart
of inanimate things
with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
of children as going forth from loins (of father)
go forth to a place
go forward, proceed to or toward something
come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
of combinations
Hiph.
cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
bring out animals
inanimate obj.
fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
Hoph. be brought forth
base
H3318 יָצָא go or come out .. go or come out or forth . from (מִן) a place
. go forth from (the presence of) a person
. in technical senses
. of flight, involving escape
. depart
. of inanimate things
. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
. of children as going forth from loins (of father)
. . go forth to a place
. go forward, proceed to or toward something
. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
. of combinations
. . cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
. bring out animals
. inanimate obj.
. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
. be brought forth
3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'
a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great
variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct
and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X
begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come
(abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned,
depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact,
fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence,
out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out),
going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out,
lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X
scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring
out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any
time, X to (and fro), utter.
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: come.
: come/go_out/escape
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: send.
: send/take_out/release
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVhi3ms/Sp3mp
חֹ֫שֶׁךְ (choshek) refers to darkness or obscurity, both in a literal sense and in various figurative contexts such as distress, ignorance, and evil. It can also denote secret or hiding places. The word is built from a root meaning 'dark' and encompasses a range of meanings related to judgment and confusion.
חֹ֫שֶׁךְ n.m. darkness, obscurity
darkness (opp. אוֹר)
= secret place(s); = hiding-place
fig.
= distress
= dread, terror, symbol. of judgment
= mourning
= perplexity; confusion
= ignorance
= evil, sin
= obscurity
base
H2822 חֹ֫שֶׁךְ darkness, obscurity . darkness (opp. אוֹר)
. = secret place(s); = hiding-place
. fig. . = distress
. = dread, terror, symbol. of judgment
. = mourning
. = perplexity; confusion
. = ignorance
. = evil, sin
. = obscurity
2822 choshek kho-shek'
from 2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness;
figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow,
wickedness:--dark(-ness), night, obscurity.
see HEBREW for 02821
חֹ֫שֶׁךְ (cho.shekh) — darkness.
1) darkness, obscurity
1a) darkness
1b) secret place
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
Darkness
The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21) is described as darkness “which may be felt.” It covered “all the land of Egypt,” so that “they saw not one another.” It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23).
When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the “sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”
is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks, --the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (Job 10:21,22) and frequently, figuratively, for ignorance and unbelief, as the privation of spiritual light. (
The absence of natural light, Ge 1:2, and hence figuratively a state of misery and adversity, Job 18:6 Ps 107:10 Isa 8:22 9:1; also the absence of the sun and stars, and hence the fall of chief men and national convulsions, Isa 13:10 Ac 2:20. "Works of darkness," are the impure mysteries practiced in heathen worship, Eph 5:11. "Outer darkness" illustrates the gloom of those on whom the gates of heaven are closed, Mt 8:12. The darkness in Egypt,
צַלְמָ֫וֶת (tsalmaveth) means 'death-shadow' or 'deep shadow,' often used to describe the grave or a state of calamity. It combines elements of 'shade' and 'death,' indicating deep darkness or distress. The term appears in poetic contexts, emphasizing extreme danger or the realm of the dead.
צַלְמָ֫וֶת n.[m.] death-shadow, deep shadow, poet.
base
H6757 צַלְמָ֫וֶת death-shadow, deep shadow, poet.
6757 tsalmaveth tsal-maw'-veth
from 6738 and 4194; shade of death, i.e. the grave
(figuratively, calamity):--shadow of death.
see HEBREW for 06738
see HEBREW for 04194
צַלְמָ֫וֶת (tsal.ma.vet) — shadow.
1) death-shadow, deep shadow, deep darkness, shadow of death
1a) death-shadow
1b) death-shadow, deep shadow, darkness
1c) death-shadow (of distress, extreme danger) (fig)
1d) death-shadow (of place of the dead) (fig)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
Darkness
The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21) is described as darkness “which may be felt.” It covered “all the land of Egypt,” so that “they saw not one another.” It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23).
When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the “sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”
is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks, --the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (Job 10:21,22) and frequently, figuratively, for ignorance and unbelief, as the privation of spiritual light. (
The absence of natural light, Ge 1:2, and hence figuratively a state of misery and adversity, Job 18:6 Ps 107:10 Isa 8:22 9:1; also the absence of the sun and stars, and hence the fall of chief men and national convulsions, Isa 13:10 Ac 2:20. "Works of darkness," are the impure mysteries practiced in heathen worship, Eph 5:11. "Outer darkness" illustrates the gloom of those on whom the gates of heaven are closed, Mt 8:12. The darkness in Egypt,
מוֹסֵר (mowcer) refers to a 'band' or 'bond' and is associated with the concept of restraint or chastisement. It is derived from a root meaning to bind or restrain. The term appears in various contexts, including poetic usage, but the entries do not provide specific Old Testament references.
[מוֹסֵר] n.m. band, bond, poet. & late
base
H4147 מוֹסֵר band, bond, poet. & late
4147 mowcer mo-sare'
also (in plural) feminine mowcerah {mo-say-raw'}; or mocrah
{mo-ser-aw'}; from 3256; properly, chastisement, i.e. (by
implication) a halter; figuratively, restraint:--band, bond.
see HEBREW for 03256
מוֹסֵר (mo.ser) — bond.
band, bond
Conj | N-cp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
נָתַק (nathaq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pull, draw, or tear away. It encompasses various actions such as breaking, lifting, and rooting out, with different nuances in its grammatical forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hophal. The entries indicate that it can refer to both active and passive forms of tearing or drawing away.
[נָתַק] vb. pull, draw, tear away, apart, off
Qal
draw away
draw or pull off
pull, tear away
Niph.
be drawn away
be torn apart, or in two, snapped
be separated
Pi.
tear apart, snap
tear out, up
Hiph.
draw away
drag them away
Hoph. they were drawn away from the city
base
H5423 נָתַק pull, draw, tear away, apart, off
5423 nathaq naw-thak'
a primitive root; to tear off:--break (off), burst, draw
(away), lift up, pluck (away, off), pull (out), root out.
נָתַק (na.taq) — to tear.
1) to pull or tear or draw off or away or apart, draw out, pluck up, break, lift, root out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to draw away
1a2) to draw or pull off
1a3) to pull or tear away
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be drawn away, be drawn out
1b2) to be torn apart or in two, be snapped
1b3) to be separated
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to tear apart, snap
1c2) to tear out, tear up, tear away
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to draw away
1d2) to drag away
1e) (Hophal) to be drawn away
HVpi3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singularHVpi3ms
a-part' (badh, "separation," i.e. alone, by oneself; niddah, "uncleanness" i.e. something put away: "an abomination"): In Zec 12:12-14 the former word is used eleven times with powerful effect to indicate the separation of families and the isolation of wives through excessive grief in Jerusalem on account of the slain Messiah. The latter word signifies removal from ceremonial uncleanness (Le 15:19; 18:19; Eze 22:10). In Greek, kat' idian, "by themselves," of marked significance as expressing Christ's desire for privacy in prayer, alone or with His disciples; either in a desert (Mt 14:13); a mountain (Mt 14:23); or a…