The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
The breaker is come up before them (עָלָה הַפֹּרֵץ לִפְנֵיהֶם, alah happore ts lifneihem). פֹּרֵץ (porets, breaker/one who breaks through) depicts a military leader breaking through enemy lines or a shepherd breaking down obstacles for his flock. This figure leads the way, clearing paths, removing barriers. Historically, this may picture leaders like Zerubbabel or Nehemiah; messianically, it points to Christ who breaks through sin's barriers, death's grip, and Satan's kingdom.
They have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it (פָּרְצוּ וַיַּעַבְרוּ שַׁעַר וַיֵּצְאוּ בוֹ, paretsu va-ya'avru sha'ar va-yetse'u vo). The verbs depict forceful exodus—breaking through (פָּרַץ, parats), passing through (עָבַר, avar), going out (יָצָא, yatsa). They escape captivity, passing through gates that once imprisoned them. This echoes the Exodus—God's people liberated from bondage, marching to freedom under divine leadership.
And their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them (וַיַּעֲבֹר מַלְכָּם לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיהוָה בְּרֹאשָׁם, va-ya'avor malkam lifneihem va-YHWH be-rosham). מֶלֶךְ (melekh, king) leads them; explicitly identified as יְהוָה (YHWH) at their רֹאשׁ (rosh, head). This is messianic—the divine King personally leads His people's exodus. Jesus fulfills this: He is both King of Israel (John 1:49, 12:13) and Yahweh incarnate (John 1:1, 14, 20:28; Philippians 2:6-11). He broke through death's barrier (Romans 4:25), passed through Hades' gates (Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18), and leads His people to freedom (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9).
Historical Context
The imagery draws from exodus typology—God leading Israel from Egyptian bondage through the Red Sea (Exodus 14) toward the promised land. The pillar of cloud/fire represented Yahweh's presence at their head (Exodus 13:21-22). This pattern repeats: Cyrus's edict freed exiles from Babylon (538 BC); God led the return through wilderness (Isaiah 40:3-5, 43:16-21, 48:20-21). Yet historical returns only partially fulfilled these prophecies, pointing forward to greater exodus.
The New Testament presents Christ as the new Moses leading the new exodus. He liberates from sin's bondage (John 8:34-36; Romans 6:17-22), passes through death's waters (baptism imagery—Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12), and leads to eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Revelation depicts Him as conquering King leading His people to new creation (Revelation 19:11-16, 21:1-5). The Breaker breaks every chain—sin, death, Satan, hell—securing complete redemption for His people.
Questions for Reflection
How does the title 'the Breaker' describe Christ's work in breaking through barriers of sin, death, and Satan's kingdom?
What does the explicit identification of Israel's King as 'the LORD' teach about Messiah's divine identity?
In what ways does understanding redemption as a new exodus—with Christ as the new Moses—enrich our appreciation of salvation?
Analysis & Commentary
The breaker is come up before them (עָלָה הַפֹּרֵץ לִפְנֵיהֶם, alah happore ts lifneihem). פֹּרֵץ (porets, breaker/one who breaks through) depicts a military leader breaking through enemy lines or a shepherd breaking down obstacles for his flock. This figure leads the way, clearing paths, removing barriers. Historically, this may picture leaders like Zerubbabel or Nehemiah; messianically, it points to Christ who breaks through sin's barriers, death's grip, and Satan's kingdom.
They have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it (פָּרְצוּ וַיַּעַבְרוּ שַׁעַר וַיֵּצְאוּ בוֹ, paretsu va-ya'avru sha'ar va-yetse'u vo). The verbs depict forceful exodus—breaking through (פָּרַץ, parats), passing through (עָבַר, avar), going out (יָצָא, yatsa). They escape captivity, passing through gates that once imprisoned them. This echoes the Exodus—God's people liberated from bondage, marching to freedom under divine leadership.
And their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them (וַיַּעֲבֹר מַלְכָּם לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיהוָה בְּרֹאשָׁם, va-ya'avor malkam lifneihem va-YHWH be-rosham). מֶלֶךְ (melekh, king) leads them; explicitly identified as יְהוָה (YHWH) at their רֹאשׁ (rosh, head). This is messianic—the divine King personally leads His people's exodus. Jesus fulfills this: He is both King of Israel (John 1:49, 12:13) and Yahweh incarnate (John 1:1, 14, 20:28; Philippians 2:6-11). He broke through death's barrier (Romans 4:25), passed through Hades' gates (Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18), and leads His people to freedom (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9).