Their misery and despair become an opportunity for divine rescue.
There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery... (v.10). This vivid image from Psalm 107:10 (excerpt) introduces a group of people trapped in deep despair. The “darkness” and “shadow of death” highlight both their physical and spiritual captivity—a place where God feels distant, and hope seems beyond reach. Yet, as the larger psalm makes clear (Psalm 107:1; 107:25), those who cry out to the LORD find that He responds with deliverance and restores them to the light of His presence. In Israel’s history, this could apply to times of exile or oppression when they literally felt imprisoned by foreign powers; but the words also speak to anyone weighed down by spiritual bondage, longing for God to break their chains.
The phrase Prisoners in misery indicates the heavy toll such captivity takes, both physically and mentally. In the larger context of Psalm 107, the LORD is shown to be merciful and powerful enough to rescue even the most desperate soul. Just as He can calm the stormy seas (Psalm 107:25), He can also pierce the darkness of a prison cell—whether that cell is made of iron bars or formed by guilt and fear within our hearts. God’s boundless lovingkindness, exalted throughout the psalm (Psalm 107:1), extends hope to every prisoner.
This verse also fits into the broader message of Psalm 107, which repeatedly highlights mankind’s distress followed by God’s dramatic intervention. The sequence of affliction and deliverance underscores that the LORD’s compassion is constant; no gloom is too thick for His light to penetrate. In recognizing Him as Savior, the formerly bound can testify to the joy and freedom He gives, turning their misery into thanksgiving.
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Psalms 107:10 meaning
There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery... (v.10). This vivid image from Psalm 107:10 (excerpt) introduces a group of people trapped in deep despair. The “darkness” and “shadow of death” highlight both their physical and spiritual captivity—a place where God feels distant, and hope seems beyond reach. Yet, as the larger psalm makes clear (Psalm 107:1; 107:25), those who cry out to the LORD find that He responds with deliverance and restores them to the light of His presence. In Israel’s history, this could apply to times of exile or oppression when they literally felt imprisoned by foreign powers; but the words also speak to anyone weighed down by spiritual bondage, longing for God to break their chains.
The phrase Prisoners in misery indicates the heavy toll such captivity takes, both physically and mentally. In the larger context of Psalm 107, the LORD is shown to be merciful and powerful enough to rescue even the most desperate soul. Just as He can calm the stormy seas (Psalm 107:25), He can also pierce the darkness of a prison cell—whether that cell is made of iron bars or formed by guilt and fear within our hearts. God’s boundless lovingkindness, exalted throughout the psalm (Psalm 107:1), extends hope to every prisoner.
This verse also fits into the broader message of Psalm 107, which repeatedly highlights mankind’s distress followed by God’s dramatic intervention. The sequence of affliction and deliverance underscores that the LORD’s compassion is constant; no gloom is too thick for His light to penetrate. In recognizing Him as Savior, the formerly bound can testify to the joy and freedom He gives, turning their misery into thanksgiving.