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 parallel Luke 8:29Acts 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, Philippians 1:13–17 Paul in chains for Christ; Colossians 4:3, Colossians 4:18; 2 Timothy 1:16, 2 Timothy 2:9; Philemon 1:10, Philemon 1:13; Hebrews 11:36

Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

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

This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”

Spiritual bondage to sin

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

Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have broken my bonds.

God's binding of sinful angels

Jude 1:6 See also Revelation 20:1–2

And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling— these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.

The domination of others

Ecclesiastes 7:26

And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

Chains as a form of ornament

As emblems of honour or rank

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

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

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

For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

As adornment of idols

Isaiah 40:19

To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?

As adornment of places of worship

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

He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork.