Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5251 chains

Used to hold people in captivity, both physically and spiritually, but also an emblem of honour and public office.

Chains as a means of physical restraint

Mark 5:4 pp Luke 8:29 Acts 12:6-7 See also 2 Kings 23:33; Jeremiah 40:1-4; Acts 16:26; Acts 21:33; Acts 22:29; Acts 26:29; Acts 28:20; Ephesians 6:20; Philippians 1:7,13-17 Paul in chains for Christ; Colossians 4:3,18; 2 Timothy 1:16; Timothy 2:9; Phm 10,13; Hebrews 11:36

Chains as a metaphor of captivity

Political bondage

Isaiah 45:14 See also Job 36:8-9; Psalm 2:3; Psalm 107:10-14; Isaiah 28:22; Isaiah 52:2; Ezekiel 7:23; Nahum 3:10

Spiritual bondage to sin

Psalm 116:16 See also Isaiah 58:6-10; Lamentations 3:7

God's binding of sinful angels

Jude 6 See also Revelation 20:1-2

The domination of others

Ecclesiastes 7:26

Chains as a form of ornament

As emblems of honour or rank

Daniel 5:29 See also Genesis 41:42; Daniel 5:7,16

As a form of jewellery

Proverbs 1:9 See also Exodus 28:22-25 the high priest's breastplate; Exodus 39:15-18; Judges 8:26; Isaiah 3:20

As adornment of idols

Isaiah 40:19

As adornment of places of worship

2 Chronicles 3:16 See also Exodus 28:13-14; 1 Kings 6:21; Kings 7:17; 2 Chronicles 3:5

See also

4696  yoke
5246  captivity
5344  imprisonment
5482  punishment
5507  rope and cord
5878  honour
5915  ornaments
6658  freedom
6720  redemption
7446  slavery