Topical Encyclopedia
A "fetter" refers to a chain or shackle used to bind the feet, often employed to restrain prisoners or animals. In biblical times, fetters were commonly made of iron and symbolized captivity, oppression, and the loss of freedom. The term is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures, illustrating various spiritual and physical states of bondage.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, fetters are frequently mentioned in the context of imprisonment and subjugation. For instance, Joseph, after being sold into slavery by his brothers, was bound with fetters during his time in Egypt.
Psalm 105:18 recounts, "They bruised his feet with shackles; his neck was put in irons." This imagery highlights the suffering and humiliation Joseph endured before his eventual rise to power.
Fetters also appear in the narratives of the judges and kings of Israel. Samson, after being betrayed by Delilah, was captured by the Philistines and bound with bronze shackles (
Judges 16:21). This act of binding the once-mighty judge serves as a powerful symbol of his fall from divine favor due to his disobedience and moral compromise.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the concept of fetters is used metaphorically to describe spiritual bondage and the liberating power of Christ. The Apostle Paul, often imprisoned for his faith, uses the imagery of chains to express both his physical state and his spiritual freedom in Christ. In
Acts 26:29, Paul, speaking before King Agrippa, declares, "I wish that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains."
Spiritual SignificanceFetters in the Bible often symbolize the spiritual bondage of sin and the oppressive nature of evil. The breaking of fetters is associated with deliverance and redemption. In
Psalm 107:14, the psalmist praises God for His power to liberate: "He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains."
The imagery of fetters is also used to describe the transformative power of God's intervention. In the prophetic literature, the Messiah is depicted as one who will set captives free and break the chains of oppression.
Isaiah 61:1, a passage Jesus applies to Himself in
Luke 4:18, proclaims, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
ConclusionThe concept of fetters in the Bible serves as a poignant reminder of the human condition under sin and the hope of liberation through divine intervention. Whether used to describe physical captivity or spiritual bondage, fetters underscore the need for redemption and the transformative power of God's grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a bond; a shackle.
2. (n.) Anything that confines or restrains; a restraint.
3. (p. pr. & vb. n.) To put fetters upon; to shackle or confine the feet of with a chain; to bind.
4. (p. pr. & vb. n.) To restrain from motion; to impose restraints on; to confine; to enchain; as, fettered by obligations.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FETTERfet'-er:
Found only in the plural in both Old Testament and New Testament; fetters of iron (Psalm 105:18;Psalm 149:8; so probablyMark 5:4Luke 8:29) or brass (Judges 16:212 Kings 25:7) were frequently used for securing prisoners.
SeeCHAIN.
Figurative: of trouble (Job 36:8).
Greek
3976. pede -- afetter, shackle... a
fetter, shackle. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: pede Phonetic
Spelling: (ped'-ay) Short Definition: a shackle Definition: a shackle,
fetter...1195. desmeuo -- to bind together, tofetter
... to bind together, tofetter. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: desmeuo Phonetic
Spelling: (des-myoo'-o) Short Definition: I bind, put in chains Definition...
254. halusis -- a chain
... bonds, chain. Of uncertain derivation; afetter or manacle -- bonds, chain. (alusei) --
2 Occurrences. (aluseis) -- 2 Occurrences. (alusesi) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
3525. kebel -- afetter... 3524, 3525. kebel. 3526 . a
fetter. Transliteration: kebel Phonetic Spelling:
(keh'-bel) Short Definition: fetters. Word
...fetter. From
...2784. chartsubbah -- bond,fetter, pang
... 2783, 2784. chartsubbah. 2785 . bond,fetter, pang. Transliteration: chartsubbah
Phonetic Spelling: (khar-tsoob-baw') Short Definition: bonds....
2397. chach -- hook, ring,fetter
... 2396, 2397. chach. 2398 . hook, ring,fetter. Transliteration: chach Phonetic
Spelling: (khawkh) Short Definition: hooks. Word Origin...
2336. choach -- briar, bramble, hook, ring,fetter
... 2335, 2336. choach. 2337 . briar, bramble, hook, ring,fetter. Transliteration:
choach Phonetic Spelling: (kho'-akh) Short Definition: bush....
2203b. zeq -- afetter
... zeq. 2204 . afetter. Transliteration: zeq Short Definition: chains. Word Origin
from an unused word Definition afetter NASB Word Usage chains (2), fetters (...
5178. nechosheth -- copper, bronze
... bronze (1). brasen, brass, chain, copper,fetter of brass, filthiness, steel.
For nchuwshah; copper, hence, something made of that...
2131. ziqah -- a missile, spark
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a missile, spark NASB Word Usage
brands (1), firebrands (2). chain,fetter, firebrand, spark. (Isa....
5914. ekes -- an anklet, bangle
... stocks, tinkling ornament. From akac; afetter; hence, an anklet -- stocks, tinkling
ornament. see HEBREW akac. 5913, 5914. ekes. 5915 . Strong's Numbers.
3729. kephath -- to bind
... root Definition to bind NASB Word Usage bound (1), tie (1), tied (2). bind. (Aramaic)
a root of uncertain correspondence; tofetter -- bind. 3728, 3729....
Library
Read the Book on the Resurrection by St. Methodius
... Methodius, Bishop and Martyr, of which that which follows is a selection, that the
body is not thefetter of the soul, as Origen thought, nor are souls called...
Bibliography.
... inquiring into the possibility of more friendly relations on the part of this Church
with the Anglican Church" (Moravian Publication Office, 32,Fetter Lane, EC...
Yorkshire and the Settlement System.
... At Herrnhut the leader was the Lutheran, Christian David; atFetter Lane, James
Hutton, the Anglican clergyman's son; and in Yorkshire, the clergyman, Benjamin...
Wesley Begins Field-Preaching
... March 15."During my stay [in London] I was fully employed, between our own society
inFetter Lane and many others where I was continually desired to expound...
Table of Contents
... [5]05. Christ the Best Husband: Or an Earnest Invitation to Young Women to Come
and See Christ Preached to a Society of Young Women, inFetter-Lane. [6]06....
Some Errors.
... No matter how sharp the thorn, nor how galling thefetter, sanctification turns
the thorn into oil, and thefetter into a chain of plaited flowers. CLANS....
Moravians and Methodists, 1735-1742.
... Hutton's house became too small; and Hutton therefore hired first a large room,
and then a Baptist Hall, known as the Great Meeting House, inFetter Lane.112....
The Cords of Sin
... The tragedy of human life is that we weave for ourselves manacles thatfetter us
from following and securing the one good for which we are made....
Christ Precious to Believers
... I had but just escaped from the bondage of Egypt, I had not forgotten the broken
fetter; still did I recollect those flames which seemed to burn about my path...
Christian Morals. Part I.
... REST not in an ovation [30] but a triumph over thy passions. Let anger walk hanging
down the head; let malice go manicled, and envyfetter'd after thee....
Thesaurus
Fetter (4 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
FETTER.
...Fetter (4 Occurrences). Job 12:18 He weakeneth
the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a
fetter; (DBY).
...Band (150 Occurrences)
... strap, or any narrow ligament with which a thing is encircled, or fastened, or by
which a number of things are tied, bound together, or confined; afetter....
Hamper (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vt) To put a hamper orfetter on; to shackle; to ensnare; to inveigle; hence,
to impede in motion or progress; to embarrass; to encumber....
Weakeneth (4 Occurrences)
... mouth of the sword. (YLT). Job 12:18 He weakeneth the government of kings,
and bindeth their loins with afetter; (DBY). Job 12:21 He...
Iron (104 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To shackle with irons; tofetter or handcuff. 14. (vt) To furnish or arm
with iron; as, to iron a wagon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. IRON (1)....
Fettered (3 Occurrences)
Fetid (1 Occurrence)
Pinion (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A feather; a quill. 3. (n.) A wing, literal or figurative. 4. (n.) The joint
of bird's wing most remote from the body. 5. (n.) Afetter for the arm....
Bind (68 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; tofetter;
to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a prisoner....
Bolt (5 Occurrences)
... by the action of the key. 5. (n.) An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner;
a shackle; afetter. 6. (n.) A compact package or roll...
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